best book on drawing graphic novels

One of the great books is 'Drawing Words & Writing Pictures' by Jessica Abel and Matt Madden. It offers comprehensive guidance on creating graphic novels from start to finish.

Sure, 'How to Draw Graphic Novels' is a great one. It has useful tips on character design, layout, and perspective which are all important in drawing graphic novels.

Adobe Photoshop is great too. It has powerful editing tools that can be used for drawing and enhancing graphic novel art. You can manipulate layers easily, which is very useful when working on different elements of a page such as characters, backgrounds, and speech bubbles. Its color correction and adjustment tools are also top - notch.

One popular option is Clip Studio Paint. It has a wide range of brushes and tools specifically designed for creating detailed illustrations, which are essential for graphic novels. It also offers features like panel management, making it easier to organize your story.

One important tip is to study anatomy. Understanding the basic structure of the human body, like the proportions of limbs and torso, helps create more realistic characters. For example, the average height is about 7 - 7.5 heads tall. Also, pay attention to different body types, from slender to muscular. Another tip is to observe real people in various situations, such as at the park or in a coffee shop. Notice how they move, gesture, and interact. This can add authenticity to your graphic novel characters.

One important tip is to master the use of different line weights. Thick lines can be used for outlines and to emphasize important elements, while thin lines are great for details. Another tip is to study anatomy well, especially if you're drawing characters. Understanding how the body moves and is proportioned will make your characters more believable. Also, don't forget about perspective. It helps create a sense of depth in your scenes, whether it's a cityscape or a simple room.

"Drawing with calligraphy" was an important concept of painting. It referred to the application of calligraphy's strokes and features into painting. Zhao Mengfu was one of the advocates of this idea. He believed that calligraphy and painting were interlinked. Paintings could express one's artistic personality through the use of calligraphy's strokes and techniques. He often used calligraphy in his paintings and integrated the aesthetic line of calligraphy into his paintings to make his works more vivid and powerful. Zhao Mengfu's idea of "painting with calligraphy" had an important impact on the later development of literati painting and Chinese painting. Other artists such as Huang Binhong and Wu Changshuo also used the techniques and characteristics of calligraphy to make their works more unique and artistic. In general,"painting with calligraphy" was a creative method that combined calligraphy and painting. It enriched the forms of expression of Chinese painting and provided more creative possibilities for artists.

One key technique is composition. You need to arrange the elements on the page in a way that guides the reader's eye. For example, using leading lines to draw attention to the main character or action. Another important aspect is character design. Make your characters distinct and recognizable, with unique features and costumes. Also, mastering different shading techniques can add depth and dimension to your drawings.

First, you need to have a good story idea. It could be something inspired by your own experiences, dreams, or things you're passionate about. Then, start sketching out your characters. Focus on their unique features and personalities. After that, plan the layout of your pages, thinking about how the panels will flow to tell the story effectively.

Use references. Look at photos of people in different poses, or study other artists' works in comics and graphic novels. It gives you inspiration and helps you learn different styles. When it comes to facial expressions, exaggerate them for a more dramatic effect, which is often needed in comics. For example, really wide eyes for surprise or a deeply furrowed brow for anger.