I hope this hate I'm about to post doesn't hurt you but I'm concerned that you haven't uploaded in a year I mean sure a break is OK but that long? Are you OK?
Honestly facts I’ve been dead silent on TH-cam. School takes a lot of my waking hours, so I’ve not had much time for TH-cam. A lot has changed since I made this video too- I’ve redirected my goals somewhat and have put creating a graphic novel on the “down the road” list of things I want to accomplish. I’m hoping to get back into TH-cam around June, but it will likely be slightly different than these videos- I’ve shifted from the goal of becoming a full time graphic novelist to becoming a video game concept artist; still art and storytelling, just a different medium :) Thanks for asking by the way :) (If you are interested in keeping up to date with what I’m doing, I’m a little more active on Instagram, but in recent weeks even that has been a little more quiet than usual. it’s my senior year, and I have multiple senior projects that are eating up all of my time and brain space 😅).
Totally relate to this. Many of the projects I really want to do and am passionate about are on the back burner while I learn and improve as much as I can to do it justice. Thank you for being authentic and sharing your journey !
Hello dear yoyng man, artist, you are indeed an artist, do not doubt yourself. I have been an illustrator for 40 years and every time I start a new book I feel like it is my first time. Keep up the effort with gladness because you are achieving something and the results will be satisfying.Good luck to you.
Truly honest and impressive. I've seen many such challenges before, however when they failed, most of them just left without saying a word. People should admire this true courage more. Personally, I was planning a similar challenge, and I appreciate the opportunity to completely reconsider my challenge plan. I think this will be much harder compared to my current skills. Best of luck with your work! I look forward to reading your graphic novel soon.
Well I’m so bad at art and you think I’m selfish for talking about my self and you think nobody cares. And it’s true alright. Whatever I will never do anything
Good luck! Honestly this is really inspiring - knowing that there are other people out there who are struggling but still trying to better themselves and their work is just really heartening. I wish you the very best with your graphic novel!
Thank you! Admittedly I do feel that doubt fuels me to get better, but I appreciate the affirmation and the reminder that constant doubt isn't always good! 😄
I was tearing up at your intro about life getting in the way and hoping to learn from the masters. Great videos explaining your journey. Don't give up! Your first graphic novel doesn't have to be a masterpiece. You have inspired me to try a graphic novel.
Self doubt is a big part of an artist's journey. You will always have it in your mind no matter what. The best student in my art class was probably the less confident in his work infortunatly... What you should is just draw. Draw until you're tired. Draw until you think it's useless. Draw until you think you're not making any progress. Then you'll realise what you do is not as bad as you thought it was and that you are too tough with yourself. (your sketchbook with drawings imagining 3D objects is really cool tho)
Thank you Adeline! I've had many of my art professors tell me the same thing, but it's easy to forget (especially in the midst of doubt). And you give good advice: to draw until you think it's useless/draw until you think you're not making any progress. I will take it!
Ahh we can all wait, I feel you for every little thing I make i over estimate my ability and instead of trying to improve and redraw it I decide to be really hard on myself and tell myself I'm not good enough, and to anyone who thinks that DONT you are good enough your more than good enough just practice I'm not gonna say practice makes perfect but practice does make IMPROVEMENT!
I really appreciate the honesty. My recommendation is make smaller goals. Like have a goal to get the script done, a goal to get the rough draft done, a goal to get all the character designs done. All the while accepting that anything can change and will change as you grow.
This literally me right now. Family and friends think I’m wasting my life away drawing. When through my eyes I’m sitting on gold. I’m creating worlds. I’m a God when I make my characters and stories. But I’m bogged down by life and it’s responsibilities unfortunately. Sometimes as an artist you wish you could just escape to the times of when you were a kid making art. But this is the closest thing to it. This video was extremely relatable.
I kinda feel touched by what you're saying, is funny because I'm an autodidact ilustrator and I'm not even close of the skill level I'd want to have (or your level lol), but I think that's the real skill of an artist, being able to recognize that is a long way, but never stop. I hope you're doing well, tho. I can't wait to see what you are cooking bro
I relate to this very much. I have overestimated what I could do for years. Never give up but also know what you are actually able to do, be realistic about yourself. Everytime i overestimated my skills, i always fail to meet deadlines on projects and the project itself didn't end up how I imagined. In the past, I reacted to failure negatively, but now I know failure is not the ending of your journey but the beginning of becoming better than how you were before you failed if you choose to react that way. Learn from failure, grow and always self improve. Your journey of self-improvement is never going to be easy, put always, ALWAYS keep on moving forward and grow into the best possible version of yourself!
I really appreciate your comment and insights you brought! It's definitely a difficult journey, but absolutely worth it! :) (i'm still on that journey, and am trying my best!)
My first project took me 3 years! And I originally planned for it to take only about 1 year. Even then I thought I gave myself more than enough time but it is very hard to finish something you care about. I think you should just push thru it and finish the comic you can right now because having one under your belt is going to make the next one easier and you will learn a lot. Dont give up! :) It will all be worth it
Don’t be so hard on yourself man. Be kind to yourself. Your first work will not be the best thing you create anyway. With any long endeavor (like creating a graphic novel) you will find fault in everything. It’s really easy to find those faults because you are getting better while you are working on it anyway. The other thing is attachment. The larger the creative project you work on, the more you will hate it. You start tunnel visioning on ever minor thing. For me a big part in these kind of projects is to accept that and lean into it. It’s better to finish a “shitty” project then daydream all day about a perfect graphic novel. I think the first years of any artist should be create create create. You are not your artworks!
Well said! Definitely a mind set I’ve been leaning into this past year (thus my lack of uploads, also because life can be busy). But as you said, over personalizing our art can be detrimental to us because it can create attachment and a sort of tunnel vision for said project. Definitely far more important to simply push through the “bad” projects onto the next potentially better projects.
Hi Pierce, don’t be so hard at yourself. You did and I am sure you will do a great job! Try to enjoy life, Miyazaki also needed some years to get were he is now :)
You make a good point Michaela, it did take Miyazaki years to get to where he is now! I think the reason I am hard on myself is because I feel driven to get better, and part of that is trying my best to be disciplined in the craft of art, but you are also right in that I need to enjoy life alongside the discipline. There is a definite balance I need to find :)
huge respect for; the humility to realise your weaknesses. the strength to improve. the intelligence to work smart and learn from relevant masters. the intelligence to realise the flimsy myth of talent and instead focus on self development. subbed. looking forward to what you produce x
I know how you feel bud, I’ve been working on a sketch of my comic to tell a story I’ve been working on but a lot harder and so much taking my time from it mostly, I wanted to make a story but thought the scenery to write and action are not entirely my strength, but thought maybe do some illustrations to make both and did a little experiment to make short comic stories to practice.
So I just watched part 1 of this, and as soon as I saw the number of panels on the page and got an impression of the scope of the story you were trying to tell, I had a feeling you would struggle to complete in 3 months. I'm about 70% of the way through a graphic novel myself and my god, it is so easy to underestimate how long they take. The format tests every single element of your technical and storytelling skills, even highlighting new skills you didn't know you needed! It's such a huge challenge and always humbles new artists. I've been through this exact thing and 100% relate. I had to go right back to basics and learn to draw from scratch. What you had planned wasn't simple so I would not feel bad about being unable to complete it in the very short time frame you chose. How many pages are you aiming for?
I appreciate the thoughtful comment! (and well said too) For this particular graphic novel I am aiming for around 150 pages for the first volume. (although to have a complete story, it's probably going to be around 3 volumes long.
I can't just say THANK YOU, this is no doubt the best video I saw in youtube in the last five years at least. You're so incredibly sincere and honest with yourself, with your work, with your passion. I really wish you good luck for all you do, and if you are still following the path you talk about in this video, I'm sure your becoming a better person every day. I'd like to say much more but this just a comment on youtube, so I'll just say thank you so much again, I support you and your mission as an artist! Take care! Lorenzo
I think you more underestimated the amount of work that goes into making a graphic novel, than your own skillset. It’s hard work! 3 months is not a lot of time if you can’t do it full time. Still think you could pull it of with more time and dedication, but it’s far from an easy task. Still a great video for other new creators to see, and understand how much time and effort that goes into creating great things. Thanks! I’m sure you’ve grown from the experience, so it wasn’t all for nothing :)
Mr. Ekpap. I hope when u read this you are well and in very great health. Having said that now I say this... Dude! WTF!? You are a very talented individual! You BETTER do that Novel or else! Or better yet, you've already done it. Everyone, and I mean everyone has their own style be it mimicking someone else's and then you evolve and create your own style. Everything takes time and there are ups and downs, but if you treat it as a wondrous journey it will be liberating. You will know yourself and find out inner strength. You have a good soul and you will make great things and will continue to make better things. So get to it! Peace!
watching this late, but best of luck. Don't be too hard on yourself and work on it as best you can, when you can. People will care and appreciate a finished project irregardless of the time it takes to complete it.
maybe this book could help you The Art of Comic book Writing: The Definitive Guide to Outlining, Scripting and Pitching Your Sequential Art Stories by Kneece, Mark or this book Comics Experience Guide to Writing Comics: Scripting Your Story Ideas from Start to Finish by Andy Schmidt i hope this books help you
Here are a few things that keep us back: -we try to do too many things and aspire to excel in everyone of them -we talk about everything we do -we spend a lot of time analyzing what we do.
It's amazing that Hayao Miyazaki is your inspirational artist with that thick manga. It's mostly like you're telling the things I'm saying in this vid. I wanna make vids about sharing my art with a voice over but I suck at talking straight up with straying to the another topic. I did few vids but not that good. I do art at night cause the day is about work (and overthinking from socializing and facing kids of what to teach them). There are times that my brain is running too much cause of my art ideas, so I take melatonin. Guess that's the daily grind of adulting.... 😅 Again, this vid is amazing along with the art you learned. Looking forward for your new arts in IG. Have a great day, Pierce.
I hope all your dreams come true Mr. Ekpap! I think you're taking great steps. No matter what we all decide to do with our time and life, the chances of success is the same with equal perseverance! :D
James Cameron said that if _he_ wants to see something, he trusts that someone else will want to as well. He trusts that feeling. Steven Spielberg calls it 'the tickle', without which there is no good reason to direct a film.
Creating sequential art can be long and hard. It’s taken me since 2005 when I was 12 (earlier if I count reusing a character I made in an older story) to develop the story and characters for my own comic series (it’s meant to be a graphic novel but I’ve separated it into comic issues to make it not seem as daunting of a task) and it’s only been since 2020 that I got to where I want my comic to be and yet I’m still making changes as I go even after self-publishing it. I wish you all the best with your creative journey! :)
ik this is late but when i saw pt1 and heard you said you're gonna make a graphic novel in 3 months without a story yet (ground 0) and without even mentioning if you have past experience with making comics, i was kinda doubtful. but when i saw the thumbnail for pt2 it got me curious. now having watched it, i absolutely empathise with you dude. making comics ain't easy especially if you have 0 experience and a tall order of expectation (ambition?) in yourself. doesn't mean you should stop though, maybe lower or tighten the scope a bit. like decreasing page count and limiting narrative perspective. but yeah hope you're doing well! would be interesting to see an update on your story too
I'm not sure if I've heard of anyone making a graphic novel in three months, so I don't think it makes sense to get down on yourself for not knocking it out on your first try. Especially given that you're still a student. Concerning how you plan to move forward on this project... have you ever considered working on some short comics while this is on the backburner? Working on improving your writing is great, working on improving your illustration skills is great (although based on what you show off in this video, I think you're short-selling yourself on that front), but making comics is a discipline in its own right and requires some skills outside of just writing and illustration (panel composition and flow, lettering, anticipation, etc.) that you'll only really learn by... making comics. If you could find the time in your schedule I think you'd do well to take some of the ideas you were hoping to explore in your graphic novel and exploring them through some short comics. Or maybe even just adapt some of the stories that you're writing for practice/class. Maybe 5, 10, or 20 pages, but not much more than that. Making some finished shorts and showing them to your peers and teachers or even putting them up online could provide valuable feedback and experience for when you sit down to focus on the graphic novel.
The best advice I received when I first started writing, is write the vomit draft. Just vomit it out. The first draft is always going to be crap. The rest of the work comes after working with an editor. They can be expensive though which sucks, and time is a huge factor as well. I have two young kids, work pretty much full time, and have just decided to do a double degree in Arts and Commerce as an "older student" (I'll be 28 soon). It took me a year to write a simple vomit draft, but I'm working through edits now with friends feedback, and then will be going through developmental edits with an editor. So it may take a few years, but it'll be worth it and the hard part of vomiting out the simple draft is finally done. I kept saying I'm not good enough etc, but writing something, even if it's trash right now, is better than not writing at all. Then work on the next story idea. You don't have to publish what you've done with the first graphic novel. The more stories/graphic novels you write and draw, the better you get at it, and you can always archive them and come back to them again at a later time and do some further edits :) I can't draw at all, but came across your video to see if I can find a way to help my 9 yr old nephew create his hand drawn and written graphic novels into a book, so I hope to see some more videos about yours soon! :D If it's any help at all, I think your illustrations that you've shown on the video are fantastic!
Your insights into the 'vomit draft' and your life story are truly inspiring to me. I've been working as a full-time engineer and recently quit the job to follow my dream - be an artist. Well, you're living a much more inspiring life than I am! Keep it up!
@user-ge3hb1nt7b thank you. You're more inspiring for sure. Since this comment unfortunately I've become permanently injured. I work full time still and dropped out of University. But I work on my books and edits still in my spare time. I hope all your dreams come true and you keep working hard towards your dreams!
I don’t think you need to be the best drawer ever. As long as your drawings are able to get across what you’re trying to tell in your story and look at least half decent then I say that’s fine. That said I am no expert. Just started climbing the mountain of making a graphic novel myself. But I don’t look at it as something I have to do or else my life has no meaning. Just more like something I think would be cool to read. If that makes sense
Absolutely! You put that very well. I am far from being the best drawer in the world, and don’t think I’ll ever be the best drawer in the world. As someone else in the comments said, over-personalizing our art can be detrimental to the process of creating, and I have for sure felt that in the past. Thank you for sharing your insight!
Haha - true. I'm working full time now in the games industry, and honestly feel that the 40 hour workweek is much more destructive because it leaves me sapped and not able to create as well. Not making a graphic novel in the same sense - working on two different projects now: Project Contrast - video game that takes some similar themes from this graphic novel. Unfinished, and will remain that way until I finish the game I'm working on fulltime w/ the studio that hired me. Unannounced illustrated novel - about 25% done with it. started on it 3 months ago. Hope to announce next year. Wish I had more time to share on YT and socials, love sharing on these platforms, but it takes time.
I don’t know if you check on here anymore, but I have a free suggestion (for what it’s worth). Do a 24 page comic book sized prequel to your story. Set up the world or characters or both. Let it suck. I mean absolutely be horrible. Fail. but finish it. I guarantee that you will learn more in that failure than you will in a lifetime of taking classes.
U are so good at doing graphic novels. Mine is so trash and rubbish I will not succeed, I’m only in 4th grade and mine is so childish, don’t tell me to get of and do homework I don’t have homework
hi, are you still doing the graphic novel? i'm really curious, i hope you are okay since you did not upload for a year and didn't come back in June as you mentioned. i mean take your time if life gets in the way, i also put aside art for a few years, just be sure to not let it kill the passion or anything. by the way if you can't decide between concept art or graphic novels you might wanna try storyboarding, cause concept art is more about marketable design than storytelling.
Brother, in order to grow as a person as you said, you really need to ground your aspirstions and ambitions which you said are carrying out a message or a greater than life lesson with your work. You cant force it like that on yourself man
Like I expected. 3 months for 100 pages made from scratch is definitely too little and the detail of the artstyle isn't even the biggest reason of it. Masters of popular manga series make 30 or even less pages in one month and you'rea total beginner; the amount of the creative planning and preparing should never be underestimated. And human brain has a tendency to shut down even more when there's too big pressure. Creating a story should be an exciting journey, not a competition filled with fear and stress. I hope you managed to figure these issues out and create a healthier schedule.
I’m so bad at art I’m so so so young and I’m not really interested in anime and manga and other stuff similar. I’m interested in humans with to vertical eyes and a regulars smile with no teeth. I will never suceed. You inspire me but I will never be able to do that. I’m not even going to be an artist when I grow up. My dad and me says I should be a doctor so yeah. I’m hoping to publish a book during my career. I don’t want to be famous for art. I don’t even want to be an art teacher. Teaching kids is something I can’t do because people say I’m too kind. And don’t want to hurt peoples feelings but want kids to do the right thing. Whatever. No one even cares about what ims saying.
I hope this hate I'm about to post doesn't hurt you but I'm concerned that you haven't uploaded in a year I mean sure a break is OK but that long? Are you OK?
Honestly facts I’ve been dead silent on TH-cam. School takes a lot of my waking hours, so I’ve not had much time for TH-cam. A lot has changed since I made this video too- I’ve redirected my goals somewhat and have put creating a graphic novel on the “down the road” list of things I want to accomplish. I’m hoping to get back into TH-cam around June, but it will likely be slightly different than these videos- I’ve shifted from the goal of becoming a full time graphic novelist to becoming a video game concept artist; still art and storytelling, just a different medium :)
Thanks for asking by the way :)
(If you are interested in keeping up to date with what I’m doing, I’m a little more active on Instagram, but in recent weeks even that has been a little more quiet than usual. it’s my senior year, and I have multiple senior projects that are eating up all of my time and brain space 😅).
@@Ekpap phew I’m just happy your ok
Cararagami legs.
The graphic novel should be his main priory
priority
Totally relate to this. Many of the projects I really want to do and am passionate about are on the back burner while I learn and improve as much as I can to do it justice. Thank you for being authentic and sharing your journey !
Thank you for the comment and affirmation :) I appreciate it!
This really helped my, I do this a lot and was wandering if it was just me.
Hello dear yoyng man, artist, you are indeed an artist, do not doubt yourself. I have been an illustrator for 40 years and every time I start a new book I feel like it is my first time. Keep up the effort with gladness because you are achieving something and the results will be satisfying.Good luck to you.
Thank you so much! Your comment means a lot, thank you for taking the time to write it :) I will keep at it!
Truly honest and impressive. I've seen many such challenges before, however when they failed, most of them just left without saying a word. People should admire this true courage more. Personally, I was planning a similar challenge, and I appreciate the opportunity to completely reconsider my challenge plan. I think this will be much harder compared to my current skills. Best of luck with your work! I look forward to reading your graphic novel soon.
I really enjoy watching your progression not only as an artist but as an amazing person.
This is such a kind comment, you are too awesome bro.
You are such a honest person. That itself makes you a great artist!
Thank you!! Very kind of you :) I’m trying my best!
Well I’m so bad at art and you think I’m selfish for talking about my self and you think nobody cares. And it’s true alright. Whatever I will never do anything
Keep going! It took me a bit over two years to finish "Renfield"
Good luck! Honestly this is really inspiring - knowing that there are other people out there who are struggling but still trying to better themselves and their work is just really heartening. I wish you the very best with your graphic novel!
Having my content be called inspiring is such a kind affirmation 😊 Thank you!
Don't doubt yourself, I think you're doing really well!
Thank you! Admittedly I do feel that doubt fuels me to get better, but I appreciate the affirmation and the reminder that constant doubt isn't always good! 😄
@@Ekpap just make sure to believe in yourself
I am quite offended, my phone didn't give me a notification that you posted and it's way to late at night so I have to watch this tomorrow
I hope you enjoy watching tomorrow :)
I was tearing up at your intro about life getting in the way and hoping to learn from the masters. Great videos explaining your journey. Don't give up! Your first graphic novel doesn't have to be a masterpiece. You have inspired me to try a graphic novel.
Thank you, your comment made my day! And heck yeah, go for it! The world needs more graphic novels.
Self doubt is a big part of an artist's journey. You will always have it in your mind no matter what. The best student in my art class was probably the less confident in his work infortunatly... What you should is just draw. Draw until you're tired. Draw until you think it's useless. Draw until you think you're not making any progress. Then you'll realise what you do is not as bad as you thought it was and that you are too tough with yourself. (your sketchbook with drawings imagining 3D objects is really cool tho)
Thank you Adeline! I've had many of my art professors tell me the same thing, but it's easy to forget (especially in the midst of doubt). And you give good advice: to draw until you think it's useless/draw until you think you're not making any progress. I will take it!
@@Ekpap The road is long for everyone but we can do it!
You’re an inspiration dude. Show the world your novel! We waiting on ya 🤙🏾✨
Thank you ☺️ your kindness is greatly appreciated!
Ahh we can all wait, I feel you for every little thing I make i over estimate my ability and instead of trying to improve and redraw it I decide to be really hard on myself and tell myself I'm not good enough, and to anyone who thinks that DONT you are good enough your more than good enough just practice I'm not gonna say practice makes perfect but practice does make IMPROVEMENT!
Facts! You couldn't have said it better. We are good enough, and practice will most definitely lead to improvement :)
I really appreciate the honesty. My recommendation is make smaller goals. Like have a goal to get the script done, a goal to get the rough draft done, a goal to get all the character designs done. All the while accepting that anything can change and will change as you grow.
Keep up the good work. I look forward to reading your graphic novel in the future
This literally me right now. Family and friends think I’m wasting my life away drawing. When through my eyes I’m sitting on gold. I’m creating worlds. I’m a God when I make my characters and stories. But I’m bogged down by life and it’s responsibilities unfortunately. Sometimes as an artist you wish you could just escape to the times of when you were a kid making art. But this is the closest thing to it. This video was extremely relatable.
I kinda feel touched by what you're saying, is funny because I'm an autodidact ilustrator and I'm not even close of the skill level I'd want to have (or your level lol), but I think that's the real skill of an artist, being able to recognize that is a long way, but never stop. I hope you're doing well, tho. I can't wait to see what you are cooking bro
I relate to this very much. I have overestimated what I could do for years. Never give up but also know what you are actually able to do, be realistic about yourself. Everytime i overestimated my skills, i always fail to meet deadlines on projects and the project itself didn't end up how I imagined. In the past, I reacted to failure negatively, but now I know failure is not the ending of your journey but the beginning of becoming better than how you were before you failed if you choose to react that way. Learn from failure, grow and always self improve. Your journey of self-improvement is never going to be easy, put always, ALWAYS keep on moving forward and grow into the best possible version of yourself!
I really appreciate your comment and insights you brought! It's definitely a difficult journey, but absolutely worth it! :) (i'm still on that journey, and am trying my best!)
My first project took me 3 years! And I originally planned for it to take only about 1 year. Even then I thought I gave myself more than enough time but it is very hard to finish something you care about. I think you should just push thru it and finish the comic you can right now because having one under your belt is going to make the next one easier and you will learn a lot. Dont give up! :) It will all be worth it
Thank you for the words of wisdom! That’s what others keep telling me, to just push through the first one and get it done 👍
Don’t be so hard on yourself man. Be kind to yourself. Your first work will not be the best thing you create anyway. With any long endeavor (like creating a graphic novel) you will find fault in everything. It’s really easy to find those faults because you are getting better while you are working on it anyway. The other thing is attachment. The larger the creative project you work on, the more you will hate it. You start tunnel visioning on ever minor thing. For me a big part in these kind of projects is to accept that and lean into it. It’s better to finish a “shitty” project then daydream all day about a perfect graphic novel. I think the first years of any artist should be create create create. You are not your artworks!
Well said! Definitely a mind set I’ve been leaning into this past year (thus my lack of uploads, also because life can be busy). But as you said, over personalizing our art can be detrimental to us because it can create attachment and a sort of tunnel vision for said project. Definitely far more important to simply push through the “bad” projects onto the next potentially better projects.
This is great, thank you :)
Of course! And thank you! 😄
Hi Pierce, don’t be so hard at yourself. You did and I am sure you will do a great job! Try to enjoy life, Miyazaki also needed some years to get were he is now :)
You make a good point Michaela, it did take Miyazaki years to get to where he is now! I think the reason I am hard on myself is because I feel driven to get better, and part of that is trying my best to be disciplined in the craft of art, but you are also right in that I need to enjoy life alongside the discipline. There is a definite balance I need to find :)
Another banger!!!
Thanks Darrow 🙏
huge respect for;
the humility to realise your weaknesses.
the strength to improve.
the intelligence to work smart and learn from relevant masters.
the intelligence to realise the flimsy myth of talent and instead focus on self development.
subbed. looking forward to what you produce x
I know how you feel bud, I’ve been working on a sketch of my comic to tell a story I’ve been working on but a lot harder and so much taking my time from it mostly, I wanted to make a story but thought the scenery to write and action are not entirely my strength, but thought maybe do some illustrations to make both and did a little experiment to make short comic stories to practice.
So I just watched part 1 of this, and as soon as I saw the number of panels on the page and got an impression of the scope of the story you were trying to tell, I had a feeling you would struggle to complete in 3 months. I'm about 70% of the way through a graphic novel myself and my god, it is so easy to underestimate how long they take. The format tests every single element of your technical and storytelling skills, even highlighting new skills you didn't know you needed! It's such a huge challenge and always humbles new artists. I've been through this exact thing and 100% relate. I had to go right back to basics and learn to draw from scratch.
What you had planned wasn't simple so I would not feel bad about being unable to complete it in the very short time frame you chose. How many pages are you aiming for?
I appreciate the thoughtful comment! (and well said too) For this particular graphic novel I am aiming for around 150 pages for the first volume. (although to have a complete story, it's probably going to be around 3 volumes long.
Thanks for taking me on your journey of graphic novelling :-) it really helps me to have realistic dreams and to know the effort it takes
I can't just say THANK YOU, this is no doubt the best video I saw in youtube in the last five years at least. You're so incredibly sincere and honest with yourself, with your work, with your passion. I really wish you good luck for all you do, and if you are still following the path you talk about in this video, I'm sure your becoming a better person every day. I'd like to say much more but this just a comment on youtube, so I'll just say thank you so much again, I support you and your mission as an artist! Take care!
Lorenzo
Thanks Lorenzo! I really appreciate the comment, it made my day ! :)
I think you more underestimated the amount of work that goes into making a graphic novel, than your own skillset. It’s hard work! 3 months is not a lot of time if you can’t do it full time. Still think you could pull it of with more time and dedication, but it’s far from an easy task. Still a great video for other new creators to see, and understand how much time and effort that goes into creating great things. Thanks! I’m sure you’ve grown from the experience, so it wasn’t all for nothing :)
I suggest mini comic. They're a great way grow in the craft. Anyway everyone been here and so it just part of the process.
Great point! One of my professors had us do that, draw one panel an hour for a mini comic, it was a lot of fun!
Mr. Ekpap. I hope when u read this you are well and in very great health. Having said that now I say this... Dude! WTF!? You are a very talented individual! You BETTER do that Novel or else! Or better yet, you've already done it. Everyone, and I mean everyone has their own style be it mimicking someone else's and then you evolve and create your own style. Everything takes time and there are ups and downs, but if you treat it as a wondrous journey it will be liberating. You will know yourself and find out inner strength. You have a good soul and you will make great things and will continue to make better things. So get to it!
Peace!
I;m new here and I honestly love the content, and how your actually trying to get better, and growing as a person, it's contagious!
Pierce great inspiring story thanks !!!!
i hear resonance in the background......reminds me of good old 2016 and 2017....
Yess! Thank you for noticing 😄
@@Ekpap lol, np I have been trying to start my own comic up! Sadly when ideas come and I draw them I just stop
watching this late, but best of luck. Don't be too hard on yourself and work on it as best you can, when you can. People will care and appreciate a finished project irregardless of the time it takes to complete it.
maybe this book could help you
The Art of Comic book Writing: The Definitive Guide to Outlining, Scripting and Pitching Your Sequential Art Stories
by Kneece, Mark
or this book
Comics Experience Guide to Writing Comics: Scripting Your Story Ideas from Start to Finish
by Andy Schmidt
i hope this books help you
Here are a few things that keep us back:
-we try to do too many things and aspire to excel in everyone of them
-we talk about everything we do
-we spend a lot of time analyzing what we do.
It's amazing that Hayao Miyazaki is your inspirational artist with that thick manga. It's mostly like you're telling the things I'm saying in this vid. I wanna make vids about sharing my art with a voice over but I suck at talking straight up with straying to the another topic. I did few vids but not that good.
I do art at night cause the day is about work (and overthinking from socializing and facing kids of what to teach them). There are times that my brain is running too much cause of my art ideas, so I take melatonin. Guess that's the daily grind of adulting.... 😅
Again, this vid is amazing along with the art you learned. Looking forward for your new arts in IG.
Have a great day, Pierce.
I hope all your dreams come true Mr. Ekpap! I think you're taking great steps. No matter what we all decide to do with our time and life, the chances of success is the same with equal perseverance! :D
James Cameron said that if _he_ wants to see something, he trusts that someone else will want to as well.
He trusts that feeling.
Steven Spielberg calls it 'the tickle', without which there is no good reason to direct a film.
Creating sequential art can be long and hard. It’s taken me since 2005 when I was 12 (earlier if I count reusing a character I made in an older story) to develop the story and characters for my own comic series (it’s meant to be a graphic novel but I’ve separated it into comic issues to make it not seem as daunting of a task) and it’s only been since 2020 that I got to where I want my comic to be and yet I’m still making changes as I go even after self-publishing it. I wish you all the best with your creative journey! :)
ik this is late but when i saw pt1 and heard you said you're gonna make a graphic novel in 3 months without a story yet (ground 0) and without even mentioning if you have past experience with making comics, i was kinda doubtful. but when i saw the thumbnail for pt2 it got me curious. now having watched it, i absolutely empathise with you dude. making comics ain't easy especially if you have 0 experience and a tall order of expectation (ambition?) in yourself. doesn't mean you should stop though, maybe lower or tighten the scope a bit. like decreasing page count and limiting narrative perspective. but yeah hope you're doing well! would be interesting to see an update on your story too
I'm not sure if I've heard of anyone making a graphic novel in three months, so I don't think it makes sense to get down on yourself for not knocking it out on your first try. Especially given that you're still a student.
Concerning how you plan to move forward on this project... have you ever considered working on some short comics while this is on the backburner? Working on improving your writing is great, working on improving your illustration skills is great (although based on what you show off in this video, I think you're short-selling yourself on that front), but making comics is a discipline in its own right and requires some skills outside of just writing and illustration (panel composition and flow, lettering, anticipation, etc.) that you'll only really learn by... making comics.
If you could find the time in your schedule I think you'd do well to take some of the ideas you were hoping to explore in your graphic novel and exploring them through some short comics. Or maybe even just adapt some of the stories that you're writing for practice/class. Maybe 5, 10, or 20 pages, but not much more than that. Making some finished shorts and showing them to your peers and teachers or even putting them up online could provide valuable feedback and experience for when you sit down to focus on the graphic novel.
no need to be perfect, just do it
0:56 Good Old Nausicaaa! 1:29 Brother it takes time! All the Masters started with small Projects.
A Great Project will break you.
cool
The best advice I received when I first started writing, is write the vomit draft.
Just vomit it out.
The first draft is always going to be crap.
The rest of the work comes after working with an editor. They can be expensive though which sucks, and time is a huge factor as well.
I have two young kids, work pretty much full time, and have just decided to do a double degree in Arts and Commerce as an "older student" (I'll be 28 soon). It took me a year to write a simple vomit draft, but I'm working through edits now with friends feedback, and then will be going through developmental edits with an editor. So it may take a few years, but it'll be worth it and the hard part of vomiting out the simple draft is finally done. I kept saying I'm not good enough etc, but writing something, even if it's trash right now, is better than not writing at all.
Then work on the next story idea. You don't have to publish what you've done with the first graphic novel. The more stories/graphic novels you write and draw, the better you get at it, and you can always archive them and come back to them again at a later time and do some further edits :)
I can't draw at all, but came across your video to see if I can find a way to help my 9 yr old nephew create his hand drawn and written graphic novels into a book, so I hope to see some more videos about yours soon! :D
If it's any help at all, I think your illustrations that you've shown on the video are fantastic!
Your insights into the 'vomit draft' and your life story are truly inspiring to me. I've been working as a full-time engineer and recently quit the job to follow my dream - be an artist. Well, you're living a much more inspiring life than I am! Keep it up!
@user-ge3hb1nt7b thank you. You're more inspiring for sure. Since this comment unfortunately I've become permanently injured. I work full time still and dropped out of University. But I work on my books and edits still in my spare time. I hope all your dreams come true and you keep working hard towards your dreams!
I’ve been working on my novel for 2 years my friend
2 years too late, but this is me right now
I don’t think you need to be the best drawer ever. As long as your drawings are able to get across what you’re trying to tell in your story and look at least half decent then I say that’s fine. That said I am no expert. Just started climbing the mountain of making a graphic novel myself. But I don’t look at it as something I have to do or else my life has no meaning. Just more like something I think would be cool to read. If that makes sense
Absolutely! You put that very well. I am far from being the best drawer in the world, and don’t think I’ll ever be the best drawer in the world. As someone else in the comments said, over-personalizing our art can be detrimental to the process of creating, and I have for sure felt that in the past. Thank you for sharing your insight!
Damn… this is a classic example of schools and universities destroying someone’s dreams. I hope you finished your novel.
Haha - true. I'm working full time now in the games industry, and honestly feel that the 40 hour workweek is much more destructive because it leaves me sapped and not able to create as well.
Not making a graphic novel in the same sense - working on two different projects now:
Project Contrast - video game that takes some similar themes from this graphic novel. Unfinished, and will remain that way until I finish the game I'm working on fulltime w/ the studio that hired me.
Unannounced illustrated novel - about 25% done with it. started on it 3 months ago. Hope to announce next year.
Wish I had more time to share on YT and socials, love sharing on these platforms, but it takes time.
you have to do full time drawing from live models for a few years.
I don’t know if you check on here anymore, but I have a free suggestion (for what it’s worth). Do a 24 page comic book sized prequel to your story. Set up the world or characters or both. Let it suck. I mean absolutely be horrible. Fail. but finish it. I guarantee that you will learn more in that failure than you will in a lifetime of taking classes.
Any updates? Where you at in progrès? I’d love to see
Any updates on the graohic novel?
Did you have a protected childhood?
U are so good at doing graphic novels. Mine is so trash and rubbish I will not succeed, I’m only in 4th grade and mine is so childish, don’t tell me to get of and do homework I don’t have homework
Hi did you get to complete the graphic novel yet. I know it's pretty tuff to do.
hi, are you still doing the graphic novel? i'm really curious, i hope you are okay since you did not upload for a year and didn't come back in June as you mentioned. i mean take your time if life gets in the way, i also put aside art for a few years, just be sure to not let it kill the passion or anything. by the way if you can't decide between concept art or graphic novels you might wanna try storyboarding, cause concept art is more about marketable design than storytelling.
New video is up as an update! thanks for checking in :)
Brother, in order to grow as a person as you said, you really need to ground your aspirstions and ambitions which you said are carrying out a message or a greater than life lesson with your work. You cant force it like that on yourself man
what song is in the beginning??
Resonance by Home (slowed down so I don’t get copyright striked haha)
Did you finish it or keep on drawing it?
Like I expected. 3 months for 100 pages made from scratch is definitely too little and the detail of the artstyle isn't even the biggest reason of it. Masters of popular manga series make 30 or even less pages in one month and you'rea total beginner; the amount of the creative planning and preparing should never be underestimated. And human brain has a tendency to shut down even more when there's too big pressure. Creating a story should be an exciting journey, not a competition filled with fear and stress. I hope you managed to figure these issues out and create a healthier schedule.
I’m so bad at art I’m so so so young and I’m not really interested in anime and manga and other stuff similar. I’m interested in humans with to vertical eyes and a regulars smile with no teeth. I will never suceed. You inspire me but I will never be able to do that. I’m not even going to be an artist when I grow up. My dad and me says I should be a doctor so yeah. I’m hoping to publish a book during my career. I don’t want to be famous for art. I don’t even want to be an art teacher. Teaching kids is something I can’t do because people say I’m too kind. And don’t want to hurt peoples feelings but want kids to do the right thing. Whatever. No one even cares about what ims saying.
Disponibleric.coke.