This is a great video. A side note though, if you really want to work on a larger project, approaching it in 6 page increments can work the same way. Think of it like a chapter in a book. If you set the goal of writing a chapter, it's easier to complete and feel accomplished than if your goal is to write a full novel. Seeing the bigger goal on the horizon can often make you lose drive and feel like you aren't making much progress. This is advice I was given a long time ago, and it works really well with most types of creative projects.
On my own journey, the writing part is the hardest one( drawing is STILL hard!) But the advice on the 6 page might the be solution I need to overcome this.
Great video John! I might comment on it later on Discord, but I wanted to add to the ink part: when inking traditionally, white correcting fluid is absolutely essential and a life saver, it salvaged my mental health a hundred times over
Good practical advice. I like that you focus on making something that communicates rather than something that is "good." Inking is definitely about line weights but also about a graphic breakup of the page - really important to have some solid areas of black to balance the visual energy of the lines and make the page more readable. Making short stories is the way to go. You get through the entire process and take what you learn to the next one. You get a feeling of accomplishment without needing to do a large project. You learn how to do the intro, the middle and the conclusion as well without too much investment. Since I've started my own journey I've been reading lots of comic anthologies and getting a better idea of how to craft a short story. To anyone reading this try reading one of the 2000 AD's "Future Shock" collections. Lots of great little 3 and 4 page comic stories often with a twist ending. Some great and some '"so so" but you can start to notice why some work better than others. Again great video!
this video is a goldmine. a lot of concise and specific notions crammed in just fifteen minutes. I embarked on this exact journey a month ago (a seven page story). I approached it a little differently, forcing myself to finish one page at a time, with the thought that if i don't get to the end, at least i have a page. what you're saying makes perfect sense and i've made several of the mistakes you point out. I feel like you made this video for me personally and now i'm torn between watching more of your videos and not wasting any more time and finishing the comic 😅
Thank you, John!!! I was sitting at a traffic light, and I love watching game streamers. Instead, I caught this video. Your suggestion of 6 pages in 60 days is brilliant. I want to create comics, but I despise structure. Your idea snapped me out of it. I've been really putting my idea off for so long. I think I can use this!!!! ❤❤❤ 🎉🎉🎉🎉 😊 (Nope. I know I can!)
Another great video. You're right on point...I completed 7 webtoons but decided to switch to a traditional comic page layout, story is about 55 pages. Its kicking my ass, and your video tips really remind me to keep going.
I usually am more focused on fine art drawing, but then your video popped up. I have found out that it can help the algorithm boost a video by leaving a comment. So, here is my comment: I couldn't help but notice the Hot Spurs' logo on your hoodie. Being a member of the Toon Army, I know how it feels when your club is not playing at the level you expect them to. My condolences. I have decided, during the length of your video, that I will try this out. I have written a great deal over the past 4 decades & I can see how well I can transfer my fine art experience into comics (I'm thinking along the line of Franklin Booth). Excellent video. All appropriate buttons have been pushed. All hail the Mighty Algo.
This, so very much this. I started from couldn't-draw-a-stickfigure-if-my-life-depends-on-it a bit more than a year ago, with the goal of creating a comic. Spent much time getting to know the basics, doing studies and practices, but only very few pieces doing the complete worklow. Some weeks ago I started creating a short comic. I think it's somwhere between 8 to 10 pages. Took the main character of the "epic fantasy adventure" I have in my mind, and sent her on a humorous little trip. And it's making good progress. It's a lot of work, and takes much longer than I would have guessed, especially with full-time-job and other stuff going on. But you learn so, so much in the process. Even now I can see lots of things in the first few pages that I would do different now, but I will not "improve" the pages now, otherwise this will be an infinite loop and never finish. Will the finished result be objectively good? No, but that's not the point. The point is that it's the first step on a long journey. And to suck at something is the first step to be good at something.
Dope video. Im also a family man. I think I am overthinking things when it comes to creating a comic. But i also have a day job so it feels like i never have enough time. I think for me i gotta stop overthinking and worry about application. It used to be soooo much easier when i was younger and just would draw mini comics with ease now its overthinking. Lol. Thanks for this video. It definitely helps.
This is very concise and well thought out advice. I hope people try it. We need more storytellers in the world. Stories are the building blocks from which ideas can be solidified and people can grow.
thanks thats so important. the too ambitious approach is such a mood. i am always scripting comic ideas... often just scenes from a bigger project... and i often end up with many many pages. so i have a written script. but the comic doesn´t get done. your video is wrapping up a suitable mindset nicely! thank you!
Really puts things in perspective. The last comic I'm actually proud of I made several years ago. It was about 14 pages long, which I've written, storyboarded, penciled, inked and shaded (it was in grayscale) in little over of a month's time. I thought that must've been way too long as I heard people doing this way faster. Even worse, I just don't have a month for doing nothing else but my hobby.
It largely depends. The simplest way is to think of a 3 Act structure and divide the comic into 3 sections (2 pages beginning, middle and end). Or you could do 1 page for the beginning, 3 for the middle and 2 for the end. Or you could do 0 for the beginning and drop us straight into the middle. Sort of like a 0-4-2 story structure. There's lots of ways you can approach it.
Good video, and feels like this method can be applied to all manners of art. I can try this, but itll remind me of the countless problems my art has...
I am glad I intuited this at a younger age... even if my ego got in the way sometimes. I started with a 6 or 7 page Naruto fan comic around 20 years ago (I have no idea were it is now) but when I got back into doing comics, I was able to do two chapters (around 14 pages each) of a dragonball what if called What If Piccolo died to Raditz (which I never really shared, so I am uploading to comicfury - only first chapter is out now, but the 2nd chapter is out next week when I get around to fixing the font issues) and I have started a new comic which I am deciding to upload a page once a week, which seems like a decent pace for now. The ego came in when I decided I wanted to do animation, and although I did finish a couple of animated shorts on my YT channel, burnt myself out after each one really bad.
This is great advice for a novice (That's me). I started scripting a graphic novel. I'm on page 160 at the moment after 40 days. However, in the meantime, in between, I've been scripting and drawing simple mini comics. That has really helped me understand the process and develop my (rudimental) knowledge of both script writing and visual storytelling. Thanks John. PS I have ASD 1 which means i tend to get obsessive about things. Your video have actually helped me manage that cycle and stopped me from burning out along the away. I appreciate that.
I'm currently about halfway through a watercolor graphic novel. I think eit will be about 100. pages. When I'm done, do you think it would be better to? make it into 2 different novels instead. Or should I stick with one?
This is a great video. A side note though, if you really want to work on a larger project, approaching it in 6 page increments can work the same way. Think of it like a chapter in a book. If you set the goal of writing a chapter, it's easier to complete and feel accomplished than if your goal is to write a full novel. Seeing the bigger goal on the horizon can often make you lose drive and feel like you aren't making much progress. This is advice I was given a long time ago, and it works really well with most types of creative projects.
Definitely a great way to approach a larger comic :)
"Done is better than perfect." Oh, that is such a help!
On my own journey, the writing part is the hardest one( drawing is STILL hard!) But the advice on the 6 page might the be solution I need to overcome this.
same. But practice makes better!
Great video John! I might comment on it later on Discord, but I wanted to add to the ink part: when inking traditionally, white correcting fluid is absolutely essential and a life saver, it salvaged my mental health a hundred times over
So many good points captured here for productions of all kinds... not just comics. Well said.
Another interesting video, John. I think a lot of what you say in your videos applies to other arts, even cardmaking and scrapbooking!
Good practical advice. I like that you focus on making something that communicates rather than something that is "good." Inking is definitely about line weights but also about a graphic breakup of the page - really important to have some solid areas of black to balance the visual energy of the lines and make the page more readable. Making short stories is the way to go. You get through the entire process and take what you learn to the next one. You get a feeling of accomplishment without needing to do a large project. You learn how to do the intro, the middle and the conclusion as well without too much investment. Since I've started my own journey I've been reading lots of comic anthologies and getting a better idea of how to craft a short story. To anyone reading this try reading one of the 2000 AD's "Future Shock" collections. Lots of great little 3 and 4 page comic stories often with a twist ending. Some great and some '"so so" but you can start to notice why some work better than others. Again great video!
this video is a goldmine. a lot of concise and specific notions crammed in just fifteen minutes.
I embarked on this exact journey a month ago (a seven page story). I approached it a little differently, forcing myself to finish one page at a time, with the thought that if i don't get to the end, at least i have a page. what you're saying makes perfect sense and i've made several of the mistakes you point out.
I feel like you made this video for me personally and now i'm torn between watching more of your videos and not wasting any more time and finishing the comic 😅
Definitely make more comics first :)
Thank you, John!!! I was sitting at a traffic light, and I love watching game streamers. Instead, I caught this video.
Your suggestion of 6 pages in 60 days is brilliant. I want to create comics, but I despise structure. Your idea snapped me out of it. I've been really putting my idea off for so long. I think I can use this!!!! ❤❤❤ 🎉🎉🎉🎉 😊 (Nope. I know I can!)
You got this!
Probably the best video on learning comic creation I've seen. Thank you.
Thanks for all your inspiring work! :) im working on my 3rd comic and its a big one ^_^
Best of luck! :)
Love this video. Thank you for this. Makes me want to pick up the comic I was trying to create years ago. I could do it in six page segments.
Do it! And share your progress with our Discord (link in profile) :)
Another great video. You're right on point...I completed 7 webtoons but decided to switch to a traditional comic page layout, story is about 55 pages. Its kicking my ass, and your video tips really remind me to keep going.
You got this man
I usually am more focused on fine art drawing, but then your video popped up. I have found out that it can help the algorithm boost a video by leaving a comment.
So, here is my comment:
I couldn't help but notice the Hot Spurs' logo on your hoodie. Being a member of the Toon Army, I know how it feels when your club is not playing at the level you expect them to. My condolences.
I have decided, during the length of your video, that I will try this out. I have written a great deal over the past 4 decades & I can see how well I can transfer my fine art experience into comics (I'm thinking along the line of Franklin Booth).
Excellent video. All appropriate buttons have been pushed.
All hail the Mighty Algo.
I've thought of some short ideas before and this is a good plan to put into action to make something out of them. Thanks!
This, so very much this. I started from couldn't-draw-a-stickfigure-if-my-life-depends-on-it a bit more than a year ago, with the goal of creating a comic. Spent much time getting to know the basics, doing studies and practices, but only very few pieces doing the complete worklow. Some weeks ago I started creating a short comic. I think it's somwhere between 8 to 10 pages. Took the main character of the "epic fantasy adventure" I have in my mind, and sent her on a humorous little trip. And it's making good progress. It's a lot of work, and takes much longer than I would have guessed, especially with full-time-job and other stuff going on. But you learn so, so much in the process. Even now I can see lots of things in the first few pages that I would do different now, but I will not "improve" the pages now, otherwise this will be an infinite loop and never finish.
Will the finished result be objectively good? No, but that's not the point. The point is that it's the first step on a long journey. And to suck at something is the first step to be good at something.
i'd like to see your comic :-)
Wonderful mindset to have :)
Dope video. Im also a family man. I think I am overthinking things when it comes to creating a comic. But i also have a day job so it feels like i never have enough time. I think for me i gotta stop overthinking and worry about application. It used to be soooo much easier when i was younger and just would draw mini comics with ease now its overthinking. Lol. Thanks for this video. It definitely helps.
This is very concise and well thought out advice. I hope people try it. We need more storytellers in the world. Stories are the building blocks from which ideas can be solidified and people can grow.
Strong agree!
thanks thats so important. the too ambitious approach is such a mood. i am always scripting comic ideas... often just scenes from a bigger project... and i often end up with many many pages. so i have a written script. but the comic doesn´t get done. your video is wrapping up a suitable mindset nicely! thank you!
Really puts things in perspective. The last comic I'm actually proud of I made several years ago. It was about 14 pages long, which I've written, storyboarded, penciled, inked and shaded (it was in grayscale) in little over of a month's time. I thought that must've been way too long as I heard people doing this way faster. Even worse, I just don't have a month for doing nothing else but my hobby.
Nice video! You should make step 6 Lettering!
Step 6 was originally lettering, but I wanted to mention it as early as possible so it doesn't get overlooked!
I appreciate the encouragement. Do you have advice on 6 page story structure?
It largely depends. The simplest way is to think of a 3 Act structure and divide the comic into 3 sections (2 pages beginning, middle and end).
Or you could do 1 page for the beginning, 3 for the middle and 2 for the end.
Or you could do 0 for the beginning and drop us straight into the middle. Sort of like a 0-4-2 story structure.
There's lots of ways you can approach it.
Totally agree. I have been using the same system, thinking it was just mine. Thank you very much for the video.
Great minds!
Thank You, It is very specific and useful !
Very helpful.
Excellent video.
Good video, and feels like this method can be applied to all manners of art. I can try this, but itll remind me of the countless problems my art has...
You can't get better if you don't notice your weak areas.
Sir where were you when I needed you
I am glad I intuited this at a younger age... even if my ego got in the way sometimes. I started with a 6 or 7 page Naruto fan comic around 20 years ago (I have no idea were it is now) but when I got back into doing comics, I was able to do two chapters (around 14 pages each) of a dragonball what if called What If Piccolo died to Raditz (which I never really shared, so I am uploading to comicfury - only first chapter is out now, but the 2nd chapter is out next week when I get around to fixing the font issues) and I have started a new comic which I am deciding to upload a page once a week, which seems like a decent pace for now.
The ego came in when I decided I wanted to do animation, and although I did finish a couple of animated shorts on my YT channel, burnt myself out after each one really bad.
You should join our Discord and post that comic so others can see (the animations, too!) :)
This is great advice for a novice (That's me). I started scripting a graphic novel. I'm on page 160 at the moment after 40 days. However, in the meantime, in between, I've been scripting and drawing simple mini comics. That has really helped me understand the process and develop my (rudimental) knowledge of both script writing and visual storytelling. Thanks John. PS I have ASD 1 which means i tend to get obsessive about things. Your video have actually helped me manage that cycle and stopped me from burning out along the away. I appreciate that.
I'm so happy to hear that :)
Beginner mistake #1. Go epic on the first time out. Keep it short and sweet!
6 pages in 60 days?
I'm currently about halfway through a watercolor graphic novel.
I think eit will be about 100. pages. When I'm done, do you think it would be better to?
make it into 2 different novels instead. Or should I stick with one?
That'll depend on the comic. Come and join our Discord and post it when you're finished (link in my YT profile)
What if you don’t have a story?
I'd recommend writing one. But if you just want to practice, take a public domain story and adapt it.