Draw! #21 Fall 2011 (magazine review).
The main section of Draw # 11 is devoted to an interview with artist Dan Panosian by Mike Manley as they discuss the comicbook business. Panosian has worked as both an inker and penciller. He dropped out for nearly a decade into advertising and filmwork and then had to reestablish himself in the industry.
Rather tellingly, you’re forgotten in comicsbiz if you’re not there for 6 months. Oh, one of his background characters for a computer game became Kung Fu Panda. There’s an interesting display of illustrations although I wish there was a logo free version of his cover picture.
Bob McLeod’s examination of Samantha Gough’s digital comicstrip panels does a literal deconstruct and putting it back together is an education and shows how much we take for granted that needed work. When I looked at the original, I put a lot of it down to just poor art as much as panel construction. The final result shows a lot of subtle changes in positioning, panel size and what is important to make it work. I still think the second panel has a mistake with the head looking like its sinking into the panel edge could have done with more work but is certainly an eye-opener.
It was also brave of Gough to let her work being done this way but I bet she learnt a lot and wanted it shared. As this is McLeod’s second appearance in ‘Draw!’, you’re seeing his early days here compared to what we’ve seen later. I do tend to think that some artists have some innate talent in storytelling that makes them better than others.
I haven’t come across Dean ‘Dino’ Haspiel’s work but Danny Fingeroth’s interview covers his history and evolution as an artist. I thought Haspiel’s art was very stylised and you can see his cartoon roots and yet, oddly, he does a superb Ben Grimm as the Thing. He also demonstrates the use and needs of networking with friends in the business.
Jamar Nicholas’s look at comicbook artboards is focused on the American market. Finding some sources, let alone being able to feel the tooth (that’s the texture of the paper which is basically how rough or smooth it is) of the paper, when off the pads are sealed is a lot harder in the UK. I was only able to get some Bristol board on discount about 5 years ago and discovered it was the smoothest tooth I’ve felt and yet it was less card like compared to the American version on the original comicbook pages that I own.
Finally, the Comic Art Bootcamp has Bret Blevins and Mike Manley exploring drawing hair from simplistic lines to some of the old pros who really went detailed. For flourish, I have to confess that wavy hair works a lot better than straight hair because it bulks out better and gives shape and volume and there are some useful lessons here. You never get tired of drawing hair.
When I checked on the TwoMorrows website, I noted that this issue is selling out which should speak for itself. There’s plenty to read and learn from ‘Draw!’ so don’t miss getting your issues.
GF Willmetts
January 2021
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $ 7.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6882. Direct from them, you can get it for $ 7.95 (US) and selling out)
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com, www.draw-magazine.blogspot.com and www.penciltopencil.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_59&products_id=982
