Learn some important fundamentals directly from Ryan in his Introduction to Drawing course now on Proko - www.proko.com/course/introduction-to-drawing/overview
I liked how you said when you watch a movie you don't go for the story,you go for the visuals, Like me I never read comics as a kid,i would sit there and imitate the anatomy,i wanted to learn how to illustrate them....
i feel so much of the art world has too little respect for comic artists. the level of fundamentals, inking, composition you have to master, its really far up the skill ladder imo. but my art friends often just see the most generic image in their mind when i say im very inspired by comic artists. watching ryan work here is a real treat!
Not everyone likes comics. But yeah comic artists are awesome, i personally dont read much of it, but looking at their figures and prespective stuff are inspiring
@@williampan29 are you lost? this is an art channel. by that logic manual workers, soldiers, teachers arent real men either. you sound like a 5'5 guy who got daddy issues.
Yeah it’s sad, there’s probably a little bit more respect for the indie comic book creators from the art world, but it’s still not really much by comparison
3:06 in order to get to that point start doing these more often 1. Study your references longer before you draw. This is why drawing from imagination is harder than drawing from reference. 2. Draw the image in your head. Imagine the image being drawn in ur head then translate it om paper. The more often u do these 2 the better
thanks, i havent really try this before or gave it much thought. kinda brushed them aside through the hustles after all these years. Thanks for this. it resonates something in me.
I'll never forget an art teacher i had for a year taking some classes taught me that about studying your reference. He said I was spending more time drawing the subject rather than looking at it. Once I slowed down and took time to stare at the subject longer I was able to draw it much more accurately and retain the image in my head.
When he talked about traditional and digital art it really resonated with me. I do my pencils and inks in traditional and color/paint in digital on my phone. I like both of them but there's something about traditional art that will always amaze me
Thats amazing, what app do you use to color them on your phone?? Im sick and tired to color my drawings on paper cause I cant never get the effects I could get if I use digital colors
He pretty much completed this in 10-15 minutes, considering he was off talking half the time. I find this super impressive. Talking about that convention where he did 100 something comissions in a day just blew my mind.
He's been doing it so long its like a reflex. He mentioned his inspiration Jim Lee, and I remember Jim Lee saying drawing a piece is almost like signing his signature. Its quite amazing the mastery is takes to reach their level.
12:25 yeah man, i totally agree with him: nothing beats irl materials. the feel of a pencil against paper, you can *feel* the resistance, hear the scratching, nothing digital can come close
Can't relate tbh. I don't care about feeling resistance or hearing scratches, I care about drawing art with comfort and efficiency, which digital does a lot better than traditional imo.
@@jamesalbus7991 I have both, and I'll say it's complicated, it depends on your situation. Lemme explain: Back when I was still using my cheap screenless VEIKK A30 and a laptop, at first it felt really off and weird, because I was so used to drawing on pencil and paper. After using it for a while, maybe a couple weeks, it started to feel more natural and I was already liking it more than drawing on paper! Now, I recently upgraded to a new XP-Pen innovator 16 for drawing on my desktop PC and from my experience, it's better in one way but worse in another. For instance, the way I now have to look down on the screen to draw instead of looking straight ahead at my laptop puts a lil strain on my neck and back so I find myself having to stop, stretch, and relax them more often. Screen tablets promote bad posture. On the other hand, the significantly improved workflow from the better express keys and the double scroll wheel made things a LOT better, but I could also get that with the XP-Pen Deco pro which is a screenless tablet that has the same express keys and double scroll wheel that the innovator has. Minus the better express keys but worse posture, the more expensive screen tablet didn't make me better at drawing. The actual act of drawing on them both felt pretty much exactly the same once I got used to em... I didn't feel any more or less "connected" to my art like all those comparison videos told me I would. 🤷🏿♀️ I still bought and currently use a new Deco Pro screenless tablet for Blender, because 3d modeling uses a lot more shortcuts on average than drawing, so the few express keys on the tablet aren't sufficient and I find it much more comfortable to see and reach forward to my keyboard with a screenless tablet being flat on the table or my lap. Screen tablets aren't too bad though, one thing is that with screen tablets they have their own screen so I don't have to worry about having a monitor that's too big. Screenless tablets stretch across your display so if your monitor is too big, you're going to be less able to make large arm movements without drawing too far, which would feel cramped and is bad for your wrist. When drawing with a screenless tablet the size of the Deco Pro Medium I recommend a monitor size no larger than 24 inches diagonal. You can probably get away with a bit bigger if you're 3D modeling. Another thing is that while I was drawing on a screenless tablet it felt awkward going back to sketching on pencil and paper when I was away from my computer. I was so used to not seeing my hand while drawing that I had to spend a little time relearning the muscle memory again! It was still doable and wasn't _too_ hard, but was just a tad bit tedious is all 😂. My drawing skills transfer to and from traditional art easier when I use a screen tablet. So all in all, my conclusion is that it depends. If you're trying to figure out what to get then consider your circumstances. If you are using a big desktop screen, and/or you plan on constantly switching back and forth from digital and traditional, Then you should probably get a tablet with a screen. Otherwise, SAVE YO MONEY (and neck... and back...), and just get an Xp pen Deco Pro Medium & a laptop with good colors then you're good to go! You can carry them around in a case to wherever you wanna go and also have a comfortable posture while doing so. Don't fall for the fancy advertising of screen tablets because you're literally not missing out on anything special if you don't have em!
@@sunnysunshine8897 coooool thanks man, this is a real good in-depth explanation about what drawing tablet to use and stuff, i'll keep this in mind when getting my own! thanks a bunch and have a great day! (and i wish the best for your health and neck!)
I think people put too much importance on "BE YOURSELF BE YOURSELF BE UNIQUE." I have found that, the very act of DOING it automatically develops your unique style. I think you are incapable of not drawing your own way. Sure you can copy others work but even that copy will just be your rendition of the original
stan and marshal have a great podcast episode talking about art parents. TL;DNR Your style will come from who you choose to copy and study. There's a great interview with David Finch (another major comic artist) on the channel and he talks about how he studies (and copies) from other artists that he admires and how that improves his own drawings.
There's that. Developing a "signature style," your own accents to other things that came before, there's no shame in that. Art Adams, Marc Sylvestri, Clyde Caldwell, Larry Ellison... the most enjoyable thing, is seeing artists who amalgamize multiple talents into their own. Hybrid. Just imitating isn't good enough, end run, but as an artist, musician mature, and finds their own, "ME!" is when you get up and do the happy dance for them. That said, procuring the basics is not something to be ignored. Anatomy, proportion, 1/2/3 point perspective so you can freestyle at will, and then you do something like, "Draw me a horse!" 30 seconds later, "Oh my god! You just drew a horse!" Tada! Made ya look! I think one of the largest parts, is fellow artists, encouraging their fellow artists. I compare what I've done to others *all the time*. "How'd you do that!?" "Like so!" "Ooooh! Gotcha!" then do something the same, but with my own twist. and everybody's happy, gratified for having taught, gratified for having learned.
I like the idea that physically drawing faster gives the artwork more energy and life. And keeping it messy and loose as long as possible is a great tip too. Thanks!
As a bit of a comicer myself, this man speaks truth. And shockingly, from hearing him, he comes from a similar place to myself. He sounds like the next level of a fan, when you ascend past being a mere consumer, and desire to CONTRIBUTE to these fictional universes, or, in my case, Create your own. It's wholesome af, and really inspiring. To think that we can go from being the geeks that fangirl over Batman to being the "young entrepreneurs behind " This is why when I see even "bad" comics show up, I feel a tinge of guilt for throwing shade at them, because typically: The writer(s) and the Artist(s) are different people entirely. But thanks Ryan, you, and Araki are the reason I plan on keeping Comic book writer as At the very least, a paying hobby.
I've been taking art classes for years, and it is the very first time I hear someone say that being messy can be part of the progress and it's really cool! Art classes are always on and on about "be careful", "don't do this", "don't do that" and although we definitely learn from it, I feel it never truly gives the chance to explore where the piece is going or how can it go.
It is just so damn fascinating to watch Ryan draw. His hand is literally floating over this paper. It looks so soft and full of feeling. I started to sketch the base with couloured pencils as well now and I am overwhelmed with how much it changed everything for me. It is so interesting.
@@alerellooPrismacolor Col Erase Carmine Red. They have them in blue and Rose Pink as well… you can also use Red and Blue in your under drawing to create some quick values and textures
Thats what pasion and patience to share sounds like. Theres a lot of people trying to teach, but there's some of those who would rather show you and guide you. This man sounds like he is a guide. This man has the gift
I'm almost 30. I have loved drawing and creating art since I was in kindergarten. My dad loved to draw amazing comic characters and monsters and kind of instilled this love for drawing in me, I mostly create with traditional medium and substrate, learning the basics and how to use real materials is so important and should be studied extensively before diving into digital in my opinion, but I also know a one time expense of a couple hundred dollars and free drawing programs is more affordable than purchasing and keeping stock of traditional materials. Not everyone is privileged enough to have access to the same type of materials or experience.
Ryan Benjamin is the man! I remember first seeing his work on the Union series back in the 90's and he has been one of my favorite artists since. Almost all of my top 10 favorite comic book artists worked for WildStorm at one point. I'm still kind of sad WildStorm is gone.
I feel that in order to understand how a machine recreate something like drawing or painting you have to know at least some Basic stuff of the Real thing. But is just my opinion, idk.
As an aspiring comic book artist and just an artist myself, I relate to a lot that you have said. I really love the style, this is my first time really watching a tips video cause I never wanted to copy people either or wanted to hone my skills. I hope I can get to where you’re at one day!
Ryan Benjamin is such a huge inspiration. That guy’s comic book skills are just inhuman. As an aspiring indie comic book artist/writer, this video was super helpful.
I've been drawing while listening to this video and I swear, I could hear Ryan talk on for HOURS about anything. He's incredibly wise and really just knows about stuff, absolutely amazing video
Man. Incredible how different peoples brains work. I’m completely self taught. I lack the ability to create poses. Saying I’m too much of a perfectionist is a cop out because of what this guy starts and ends with. Something I need to learn is to be loose like this in the beginning.
I really appreciated the little point he made about health. I'm an artist (of course, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't lol) and I think that health is overlooked far too often. They say "draw draw draw all the time" well of course, if you plan to get good... but don't forget about your body. I love the "it will catch up to you" point he made.
"Do not copy" is the worst advise for a beginer, yes copy your art parents, once you become an "adult artist" then you can cut the embilical cord and fly away
Copying is fundamental if you want to improve your skills. Whether you call it a Master Study or not, it’s something all good artists do. Even Da Vinci was copying his teacher’s art during his apprenticeship. When you do master studies, you will over time understand why that artist made every pencil stroke. You will understand their thinking process and you will grow because of it. Art is problem solving and while there aren’t rules in art there are better and more efficient ways of doing things which have withstood the test of time.
That umbilical cord analogy is so vivid, it's easy to remember. 😁 And yes, I agree with copying as a beginner. It also works with language learning by copying, then memorizing, then speaking the language. It works with art too! 😄
I agree 100%. I saw so many artist copy Jim Lee style when growing up. What tends to happen is, when they start to mature they begin to develop their own style. Look at Travis Charest work. He once looked like Jim Lee and is now totally different artist w/ such a cool unique realistic/comic art style.
@@thanhclips the truth is that we can never copy exactly even if you trace. Have 5 artists trace and every one will be different. We always inject our personality even in a master study. Where this becomes even more apparent is if you do pen and ink studies of masters like Wrightson, Alfredo Alcala, Terry Austin, and many others. One should always ask why is the artist making an ink line here and what is the purpose? What problem is the inker solving? You won’t end up inking exactly like Wrightson but you will pick up possible solutions to problems which you can incorporate into your style.
It’s crazy how he can fully see the image of what he’s drawing before drawing it even for me I do but end up changing some things or adding different details I love this video tho very informative
I red pencil too but I really love how he broke down why to do it, keeping the energy and gesture at the forefront of your mind, then filling in the blanks. Yes perfect :)
If there is anybody to be influenced by in comics, Jim Lee is absolutely That Dude. And this Guy's Style is heavily reminiscent of Jim. But his flow is his own and is amazing. Ryan Benjamin is Top Tier!!! Great video. It's good to hear him as he works.
I went to college and I think the experience is more what leaves an impression on me then the piece of paper I got for it. Im working a great job now and only now getting back into art because I wanna produce something(s) and a comic is one of them. Im glad I came across Ryan Benjamin.
I agree with this guy, for just months that I've been into the digital arts, my hand almost forgot the natural or traditional way of drawing or sketching that I felt foreign while doing it again after a long time, you know. There's really something about having those tangible things around you for honing your skills, it just feels all natural and there's some kind of pleasure or joy in it.
I love Ryan’s art. It’s hes my fav comic artist I wanna ask if Ryan could make a video on how to create poses and turn the figures in complex drawings, I would learn so much from that. 😊
I loooove this kind of art so much. I work as an illustrator and game artist but my style is very soft and watercolor-y, i might say almost the opposite to this kind of very dark graphic artstyle but it just looks so awesome. Wish I could be as good as him :)
When I was starting out, I would pull up a drawing of say Batman or whatever else, done by a famous comic artist; I would copy it, but I would do it free hand. What I noticed, is that it taught me where certain things were supposed to go. Then I would go off and draw my own drawings with what I learned. It helped me learn. It can be useful for learning. But in the end, its important to do your own art from your mind.
yeah if you take a drawing class in community college they will have you drawing on really large paper and the regular size sketch pads will be just for the pre sketch.
I love how you just state, the artist brain doesn't think that way in terms of business and marketing. This is an aspect I am pressuring my self to branch out and learn but its such an opposite state of mind to creating, flowing in the moment.
I find myself drawing and listening to this guy’s vids a lot now. It just feels like i’m being put in the same space as the artist i’ll become 10,000 hours from now.
Everyone close to me has told me repeatedly that in life art won't help you pay bills or provide stability, Art to me is very therapeutic, and helps with my sanity lol.
It's definitely more competitive than other paths. Being "decent" at most non-degree or even college degree level jobs is enough to get your paycheck every week and stick with the company. With art you've got to be really good to be making livable wages consistently. But if you're dedicated and driven, you can get to those levels. And quite honestly, make tons of money. Nowadays we've got more avenues to create profit too as compared to the folks in the past. RUclips Revenue, Patreon, Online Comissions... etc. Lots of people are way too cynical of art because of the whole "starving artist" shit.
That bit about college really helps me, I'm currently attending a school, but lately i've started to feel like it's not really helping me in improving.
Copying is ok for starting out as you can learn how the artist lays out the basic line work and slowly you take the best aspects of your favorite comic book artist and create your own style.
“Leave it open, let it breathe”. Yeah I like that. & so true on seeing the actual original pieces of art, versus prints. When I visited The Ranch and saw Ralph McQuarries Star Wars paintings, It was like I seeing them for the first time! Even after decades of seeing prints. There’s nothing like seeing his gouache colors in real life!
Getting an image pictured in your head and then connecting the dots from start to finish may be the case - however, to get it done so smoothly on paper; isn't that easy if you haven't any foreknowledge. When people especially say *just practice*, it actually doesn't improve much. It comes down to how familiar you are with how things work. Otherwise, you could be drawing over and over using the same methods - and slowing your process in catching on aspects like form, dimension, dynamics, et cetera. Knowledge is important to be able to sketch as fast and as readily as Ryan Benjamin. Ryan, like many other artists, has had a lot of experience getting well acquainted with the function behind his works. You build on your understanding by inspecting information such as references and looking to other artists - which is why it is important to surround yourself with people whom you can draw with and critique. You do it for inspiration, and you do it for progress. A lot of the professional artists out there worked their way around, learning and understanding until "drawing the idea" eventually became natural to them - because it molds into understanding. A good example is human anatomy - like knowing that the shoulders don't just stick straight out of the neck, or knowing how joints roll and bend in the body.
Wonderful! These are the fundamentals I never got in art school way back when. I will be sharing Mr. Ryan's demo with my portfolio class on Saturdays. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Woah- I learned a few treats of tricks from watching him draw- amazed, I am. My art style has been having large increases in realism and layout just from watching other comic book artists. I'm working on my first comic alone- I've had to redraw the panels at least three times lol
What I find really admirable of him, is listing both male and female artists as inspirations. I find too many artists have only male artists as inspo and don’t bother with female artists.
It blows my mind how, like a sculptor carving from stone he can carve out a drawing from a sheet of paper. This is years and years of building up a craft and being on top of your game
That's funny, Ryan! I am the same way whether movies or comics, I am mainly first concerned with the graphics, shape, form, value and color. later I will re-watch or read for the story content. You're the first person I ever heard that is like that. I love your art, btw.
"Don't copy" was definitely bad advice. I think there will inevitably be a pull for any artist to copy from other artists they admire. The problem is that some people don't cut the cord after awhile and they risk losing themselves or not developing their own style. I grew up copying from some of the greats. I was a huge Wildstorm/Top Cow fan and Michael Turner was my favorite artist, so much so that my art veered toward his style way too much. At 16 (admittedly way too young and quality-wise I was not ready) I submitted my work at Wizarld World to both companies. I had the privelege of submitting to Sarah Becker and Matt Hawkins and both were so amazing, but Sarah said something I have never forgotten and it changed my art 100% for the better. She told me "Wow, you do Michael Turner really well." It was the best compliment I've ever gotten but also the best critique because it made me realize in the moment that there was nothing of me in my style. And why would a company want me if they already had that artist? I went back home and I immediately started drawing from photos and real life to see where my natural style ended up and I've gotten miles ahead of where I had been and now when I look at my work I see me, but also where I came from. It's the best feeling having both worlds. So copy! But find yourself at the same time.
Dude! If you can do Michael Turner then that would be a great opportunity to continue his legacy. You can own his style and people would love you for it. You don't always invent the wheel. Greg capullo caried Todd mcfarlane vibes on spawn and completely owned it. It is all about using what you have to your advantage.
@@danrazART I see what you're saying, and some artists do carry on other people's legacies and I can 100% see the value in that. But at the same time if a person was successful doing that it would also come with the caveat that they will always be under someone else's shadow, and risk only being valued for something someone else did. It's hard for a lot of people to live with that. I don't care about being well known by any stretch of the imagination, but I want my work to reflect me nonetheless. I had the absolute privilege of meeting Michael the year I submitted. It was the year after his cancer diagnosis I believe, or the year before. I can't remember now it's been so long, but he signed some things for me and gave me compliments on my work I'll cherish for the rest of my life even though I think at the time he was simply being kind to an aspiring artist who looked up to him. But talking to him he also encouraged me to find my own style so I think in the end I personally feel like I'd be disrespecting his wishes more than respecting them if I were to even attempt to replicate him in any commercial work I created. But there are wonderful artists out there who definitely carry shades of him in their work and I love to see it.
Your artwork is amazing and the way you explain things make very much sense because I kinda already knew, the way you described raw illustration verses digital which I don't like,i just don't see any talent in digital, your videos are very helpful I like your videos and David Finch the best, you guys are amazing and very helpful, thank you Ryan !!!!!😊
"My production team can learn something from him" YOU HEAR THAT PRODUCTION TEAM? YEAH I'M TALKING TO YOU! WHO DID YOU THINK I WAS TALKING TO? SKELLY? Lol 🤣
Oh man, what an amazing comic artist. To get to this point, he really has spent years practicing all those fundamentals. My aspiration is to be a comic illustrator one day, and to be able to draw accurately and spontaneously like Ryan would be a dream come true. 18:18- what sound advice, I’m going to do this more in my work! Does anyone know what paper he is using, or can recommend good paper for comic illustrations (that can handle inks as well as the pencil, smooth surfaces etc)?
Fantastic video on comic art techniques! 📚✏ The tips and tricks you shared are incredibly valuable for aspiring artists. I especially enjoyed the insights on [specific technique or topic covered in the video]. Thanks for providing such practical advice and inspiration for improving our comic art skills! 🚀🎨
This is incredible. Something like this exhausts me and takes me a long period of time, butvus copied and lacks the dynamicism and perfection. This man is brilliant.
It's crazy.. Ryan talk about HUGE and TOTALLY different topics.. And this option of Video Editing made the understanding more less efficient. more easy to reach out more people.. but less deep.
Learn some important fundamentals directly from Ryan in his Introduction to Drawing course now on Proko - www.proko.com/course/introduction-to-drawing/overview
When will the camp reopen or have a sign up
Proko:get lost
Me : why God why
Proko: in creativity
I liked how you said when you watch a movie you don't go for the story,you go for the visuals, Like me I never read comics as a kid,i would sit there and imitate the anatomy,i wanted to learn how to illustrate them....
i feel so much of the art world has too little respect for comic artists. the level of fundamentals, inking, composition you have to master, its really far up the skill ladder imo. but my art friends often just see the most generic image in their mind when i say im very inspired by comic artists. watching ryan work here is a real treat!
Not everyone likes comics. But yeah comic artists are awesome, i personally dont read much of it, but looking at their figures and prespective stuff are inspiring
@@williampan29 are you lost? this is an art channel. by that logic manual workers, soldiers, teachers arent real men either. you sound like a 5'5 guy who got daddy issues.
@@williampan29 must be nice having an extremely boring day job. Honestly, you must hate your kids, your statement alone proves that
@@williampan29 kinda funny how you play lots of games. So you are the immature man children then? Real men dont play games right?
Yeah it’s sad, there’s probably a little bit more respect for the indie comic book creators from the art world, but it’s still not really much by comparison
3:06 in order to get to that point start doing these more often
1. Study your references longer before you draw. This is why drawing from imagination is harder than drawing from reference.
2. Draw the image in your head. Imagine the image being drawn in ur head then translate it om paper. The more often u do these 2 the better
thanks, i havent really try this before or gave it much thought. kinda brushed them aside through the hustles after all these years. Thanks for this. it resonates something in me.
I'll never forget an art teacher i had for a year taking some classes taught me that about studying your reference. He said I was spending more time drawing the subject rather than looking at it. Once I slowed down and took time to stare at the subject longer I was able to draw it much more accurately and retain the image in my head.
Point 2 is soooo imp and underrated
👍
Cool. Ty so much 😊
When he talked about traditional and digital art it really resonated with me. I do my pencils and inks in traditional and color/paint in digital on my phone. I like both of them but there's something about traditional art that will always amaze me
Thats amazing, what app do you use to color them on your phone?? Im sick and tired to color my drawings on paper cause I cant never get the effects I could get if I use digital colors
Digital art never give you the feel of the surface like you get in traditional art
@@deepaksharma1061 i think one day tablets will be just sheets of smart paper
@@localdude2979 I use the sketchbook app
For me it's the feeling I combine with the paper and the pencil
The way this man draw his character. Make me realize that he really take his time to study anatomy.
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I've heard he actually learned anatomy from other comic artist's drawings
The guys who can just whip up comic-ready stencils have anatomy mastered and memorized to a "T"
He pretty much completed this in 10-15 minutes, considering he was off talking half the time. I find this super impressive.
Talking about that convention where he did 100 something comissions in a day just blew my mind.
He's been doing it so long its like a reflex. He mentioned his inspiration Jim Lee, and I remember Jim Lee saying drawing a piece is almost like signing his signature. Its quite amazing the mastery is takes to reach their level.
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@@Chessbox09right 😊
@@Chessbox09he worked for Jim Lee, he wasn’t just his inspiration. Lee pushed him really hard to get better.
12:25 yeah man, i totally agree with him: nothing beats irl materials. the feel of a pencil against paper, you can *feel* the resistance, hear the scratching, nothing digital can come close
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Can't relate tbh. I don't care about feeling resistance or hearing scratches, I care about drawing art with comfort and efficiency, which digital does a lot better than traditional imo.
@@sunnysunshine8897 really? interesting.
btw, (if you dont mind me asking) do you use one of those screenless tablets or prefer the ones with screens?
@@jamesalbus7991 I have both, and I'll say it's complicated, it depends on your situation. Lemme explain:
Back when I was still using my cheap screenless VEIKK A30 and a laptop, at first it felt really off and weird, because I was so used to drawing on pencil and paper. After using it for a while, maybe a couple weeks, it started to feel more natural and I was already liking it more than drawing on paper!
Now, I recently upgraded to a new XP-Pen innovator 16 for drawing on my desktop PC and from my experience, it's better in one way but worse in another. For instance, the way I now have to look down on the screen to draw instead of looking straight ahead at my laptop puts a lil strain on my neck and back so I find myself having to stop, stretch, and relax them more often. Screen tablets promote bad posture. On the other hand, the significantly improved workflow from the better express keys and the double scroll wheel made things a LOT better, but I could also get that with the XP-Pen Deco pro which is a screenless tablet that has the same express keys and double scroll wheel that the innovator has. Minus the better express keys but worse posture, the more expensive screen tablet didn't make me better at drawing. The actual act of drawing on them both felt pretty much exactly the same once I got used to em... I didn't feel any more or less "connected" to my art like all those comparison videos told me I would. 🤷🏿♀️
I still bought and currently use a new Deco Pro screenless tablet for Blender, because 3d modeling uses a lot more shortcuts on average than drawing, so the few express keys on the tablet aren't sufficient and I find it much more comfortable to see and reach forward to my keyboard with a screenless tablet being flat on the table or my lap.
Screen tablets aren't too bad though, one thing is that with screen tablets they have their own screen so I don't have to worry about having a monitor that's too big. Screenless tablets stretch across your display so if your monitor is too big, you're going to be less able to make large arm movements without drawing too far, which would feel cramped and is bad for your wrist. When drawing with a screenless tablet the size of the Deco Pro Medium I recommend a monitor size no larger than 24 inches diagonal. You can probably get away with a bit bigger if you're 3D modeling.
Another thing is that while I was drawing on a screenless tablet it felt awkward going back to sketching on pencil and paper when I was away from my computer. I was so used to not seeing my hand while drawing that I had to spend a little time relearning the muscle memory again! It was still doable and wasn't _too_ hard, but was just a tad bit tedious is all 😂. My drawing skills transfer to and from traditional art easier when I use a screen tablet.
So all in all, my conclusion is that it depends. If you're trying to figure out what to get then consider your circumstances. If you are using a big desktop screen, and/or you plan on constantly switching back and forth from digital and traditional, Then you should probably get a tablet with a screen. Otherwise, SAVE YO MONEY (and neck... and back...), and just get an Xp pen Deco Pro Medium & a laptop with good colors then you're good to go! You can carry them around in a case to wherever you wanna go and also have a comfortable posture while doing so. Don't fall for the fancy advertising of screen tablets because you're literally not missing out on anything special if you don't have em!
@@sunnysunshine8897 coooool thanks man, this is a real good in-depth explanation about what drawing tablet to use and stuff, i'll keep this in mind when getting my own! thanks a bunch and have a great day! (and i wish the best for your health and neck!)
I think people put too much importance on "BE YOURSELF BE YOURSELF BE UNIQUE." I have found that, the very act of DOING it automatically develops your unique style. I think you are incapable of not drawing your own way. Sure you can copy others work but even that copy will just be your rendition of the original
stan and marshal have a great podcast episode talking about art parents.
TL;DNR Your style will come from who you choose to copy and study.
There's a great interview with David Finch (another major comic artist) on the channel and he talks about how he studies (and copies) from other artists that he admires and how that improves his own drawings.
There's that. Developing a "signature style," your own accents to other things that came before, there's no shame in that. Art Adams, Marc Sylvestri, Clyde Caldwell, Larry Ellison... the most enjoyable thing, is seeing artists who amalgamize multiple talents into their own. Hybrid. Just imitating isn't good enough, end run, but as an artist, musician mature, and finds their own, "ME!" is when you get up and do the happy dance for them.
That said, procuring the basics is not something to be ignored. Anatomy, proportion, 1/2/3 point perspective so you can freestyle at will, and then you do something like, "Draw me a horse!" 30 seconds later, "Oh my god! You just drew a horse!"
Tada! Made ya look!
I think one of the largest parts, is fellow artists, encouraging their fellow artists. I compare what I've done to others *all the time*. "How'd you do that!?" "Like so!" "Ooooh! Gotcha!" then do something the same, but with my own twist. and everybody's happy, gratified for having taught, gratified for having learned.
Art styles are as inimitable as signatures.
Yep
I like the idea that physically drawing faster gives the artwork more energy and life. And keeping it messy and loose as long as possible is a great tip too. Thanks!
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As a bit of a comicer myself, this man speaks truth.
And shockingly, from hearing him, he comes from a similar place to myself.
He sounds like the next level of a fan, when you ascend past being a mere consumer, and desire to CONTRIBUTE to these fictional universes, or, in my case, Create your own.
It's wholesome af, and really inspiring.
To think that we can go from being the geeks that fangirl over Batman to being the "young entrepreneurs behind "
This is why when I see even "bad" comics show up, I feel a tinge of guilt for throwing shade at them, because typically: The writer(s) and the Artist(s) are different people entirely.
But thanks Ryan, you, and Araki are the reason I plan on keeping Comic book writer as At the very least, a paying hobby.
hey lone colamarine! do you know what my father did to the child he had before me before i was born?
hint: it really was not pretty lol
@@shgds _what?_
not that I wanna know, but, how does this relate to the above comment?
I've been taking art classes for years, and it is the very first time I hear someone say that being messy can be part of the progress and it's really cool! Art classes are always on and on about "be careful", "don't do this", "don't do that" and although we definitely learn from it, I feel it never truly gives the chance to explore where the piece is going or how can it go.
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It was very validating to hear cuz I’m a messy very organic artists
@@reml75same I’m a messy artist so it made me feel so much better!!
I wish you had my tutors at college! 😂 It was always encouraged!
It is just so damn fascinating to watch Ryan draw. His hand is literally floating over this paper. It looks so soft and full of feeling. I started to sketch the base with couloured pencils as well now and I am overwhelmed with how much it changed everything for me. It is so interesting.
The brush pen he mentions is known as the Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen
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And the name of the pencil?
Thanks!
you're a hero
@@alerellooPrismacolor Col Erase Carmine Red. They have them in blue and Rose Pink as well… you can also use Red and Blue in your under drawing to create some quick values and textures
damn... He is really chill, he explains the obstacles of drawing smoothly throughout the video like he makes me want to listen.
Thats what pasion and patience to share sounds like. Theres a lot of people trying to teach, but there's some of those who would rather show you and guide you. This man sounds like he is a guide. This man has the gift
I'm almost 30. I have loved drawing and creating art since I was in kindergarten. My dad loved to draw amazing comic characters and monsters and kind of instilled this love for drawing in me, I mostly create with traditional medium and substrate, learning the basics and how to use real materials is so important and should be studied extensively before diving into digital in my opinion, but I also know a one time expense of a couple hundred dollars and free drawing programs is more affordable than purchasing and keeping stock of traditional materials. Not everyone is privileged enough to have access to the same type of materials or experience.
I’m in these early stages of my work and really appreciate this advice.
I hope you get where you want to, buffed garfield.
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Ryan Benjamin is the man! I remember first seeing his work on the Union series back in the 90's and he has been one of my favorite artists since. Almost all of my top 10 favorite comic book artists worked for WildStorm at one point. I'm still kind of sad WildStorm is gone.
DC absorbed Wildstorm. They’ve made some of the characters part of the DC ethos.
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I love the way Ryan put it. Traditional versus digital. I will never let go of my pencil and paper. It’s the structural foundation Of art
I feel that in order to understand how a machine recreate something like drawing or painting you have to know at least some Basic stuff of the Real thing. But is just my opinion, idk.
As an aspiring comic book artist and just an artist myself, I relate to a lot that you have said. I really love the style, this is my first time really watching a tips video cause I never wanted to copy people either or wanted to hone my skills. I hope I can get to where you’re at one day!
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Ryan Benjamin is such a huge inspiration. That guy’s comic book skills are just inhuman. As an aspiring indie comic book artist/writer, this video was super helpful.
This guy is brutally honest, love it. He just says you gotta get it done by any means necessary to get the piece out in time haha
Proko: "Ryan has insane comic skills, but you know who else has skills?"
Me: "Me, Proko?"
Proko: "That´d be Skillshare..."
I've been drawing while listening to this video and I swear, I could hear Ryan talk on for HOURS about anything. He's incredibly wise and really just knows about stuff, absolutely amazing video
Man. Incredible how different peoples brains work. I’m completely self taught. I lack the ability to create poses. Saying I’m too much of a perfectionist is a cop out because of what this guy starts and ends with. Something I need to learn is to be loose like this in the beginning.
Try and draw from a referense photo😊
Figure drawing changes everything it's one of the ways to learn the fundamentals you HAVE to study that it helped me make poses asap
I really appreciated the little point he made about health. I'm an artist (of course, I wouldn't be here if I wasn't lol) and I think that health is overlooked far too often. They say "draw draw draw all the time" well of course, if you plan to get good... but don't forget about your body. I love the "it will catch up to you" point he made.
"Do not copy" is the worst advise for a beginer, yes copy your art parents, once you become an "adult artist" then you can cut the embilical cord and fly away
Copying is fundamental if you want to improve your skills. Whether you call it a Master Study or not, it’s something all good artists do. Even Da Vinci was copying his teacher’s art during his apprenticeship. When you do master studies, you will over time understand why that artist made every pencil stroke. You will understand their thinking process and you will grow because of it. Art is problem solving and while there aren’t rules in art there are better and more efficient ways of doing things which have withstood the test of time.
That umbilical cord analogy is so vivid, it's easy to remember. 😁 And yes, I agree with copying as a beginner. It also works with language learning by copying, then memorizing, then speaking the language. It works with art too! 😄
I agree 100%. I saw so many artist copy Jim Lee style when growing up. What tends to happen is, when they start to mature they begin to develop their own style. Look at Travis Charest work. He once looked like Jim Lee and is now totally different artist w/ such a cool unique realistic/comic art style.
@@thanhclips the truth is that we can never copy exactly even if you trace. Have 5 artists trace and every one will be different.
We always inject our personality even in a master study. Where this becomes even more apparent is if you do pen and ink studies of masters like Wrightson, Alfredo Alcala, Terry Austin, and many others. One should always ask why is the artist making an ink line here and what is the purpose? What problem is the inker solving? You won’t end up inking exactly like Wrightson but you will pick up possible solutions to problems which you can incorporate into your style.
Lotsa people think that tracing = copying by eye
I find this really helpful as a self-taught artist (who's also a beginner), and as someone who wants to make their own comics.
It’s crazy how he can fully see the image of what he’s drawing before drawing it even for me I do but end up changing some things or adding different details I love this video tho very informative
This guy is a legend. I appreciate this guy and im 36
I red pencil too but I really love how he broke down why to do it, keeping the energy and gesture at the forefront of your mind, then filling in the blanks. Yes perfect :)
"a messy line is more dynamic than a super clean line"
and thats why i love him
If there is anybody to be influenced by in comics, Jim Lee is absolutely That Dude. And this Guy's Style is heavily reminiscent of Jim. But his flow is his own and is amazing. Ryan Benjamin is Top Tier!!! Great video. It's good to hear him as he works.
I went to college and I think the experience is more what leaves an impression on me then the piece of paper I got for it. Im working a great job now and only now getting back into art because I wanna produce something(s) and a comic is one of them. Im glad I came across Ryan Benjamin.
He is just awesome.. Great Artist with increadible thoughts. Love his communication/talk about art, artist, drawing skills, practice and many more.
I think comic and manga artists are so underrated, they have to draw multiple pictures a page for 20-50 pages a chapter
I agree with this guy, for just months that I've been into the digital arts, my hand almost forgot the natural or traditional way of drawing or sketching that I felt foreign while doing it again after a long time, you know. There's really something about having those tangible things around you for honing your skills, it just feels all natural and there's some kind of pleasure or joy in it.
Doing traditional is also very satisfying and fulfilling for some reason. It beats doing anything digital.
@@thegrunbeld6876 totally agree 💯
Ryan is just killing it with these videos.
I’m new to this channel, but I’m absolutely loving the content. Thank you so much for these instructional tutorials.
i'm more of digital person but i always adore artist with pencil and paper
Do not make us sound like cute puppies😂
@@trejinjin1123 Awww
Thank you, I'm loving all this recent comic stuff. I want to become a comic/manga artist and this really helps!
Omg me tooooo.
@@israshaikh5511 I can't wait to have a poster of your main character in my room 👍
I learned that most of the things i thought i was doing wrong, i learned here that I’m doing right. Back to working on my indi project-I’m inspired.
Everything he said just made sense and clicked. Thanks so much for sharing. Learned so much in one video!
I love Ryan’s art. It’s hes my fav comic artist I wanna ask if Ryan could make a video on how to create poses and turn the figures in complex drawings, I would learn so much from that. 😊
Great artist at work, and showing us something we really need to hear and see. Thank you!
I loooove this kind of art so much. I work as an illustrator and game artist but my style is very soft and watercolor-y, i might say almost the opposite to this kind of very dark graphic artstyle but it just looks so awesome. Wish I could be as good as him :)
4:46 perfect way of explaining how it feels omg
i just learned a ton of stuff this man knows the fundamentals i love him
He seems like a great mentor for artists, its clear he has show much he is willing to share for those who are willing to listen.
When I was starting out, I would pull up a drawing of say Batman or whatever else, done by a famous comic artist; I would copy it, but I would do it free hand. What I noticed, is that it taught me where certain things were supposed to go.
Then I would go off and draw my own drawings with what I learned. It helped me learn.
It can be useful for learning. But in the end, its important to do your own art from your mind.
Yes😊
Ok, I'm a beginner so I'm gonna say what is obvious for most of you but I learned by seeing him drawing... Damn!! Draw big makes so much difference!!
yeah if you take a drawing class in community college they will have you drawing on really large paper and the regular size sketch pads will be just for the pre sketch.
I love how you just state, the artist brain doesn't think that way in terms of business and marketing. This is an aspect I am pressuring my self to branch out and learn but its such an opposite state of mind to creating, flowing in the moment.
I find myself drawing and listening to this guy’s vids a lot now. It just feels like i’m being put in the same space as the artist i’ll become 10,000 hours from now.
27:45 "Do great work and make connections."
Great interview with a great artist, thanks Stan!
Oh wow, not that I am a big fan of Batman.... But this Batman I absolutely LOVE!!!!! Ryan is very talented, this is actually what you call TALENT!
Talent is overrated..Ryan Benjamin has years of expierience. (This do not mean in any case some bad. I absolutly adore Mr. Benjamin)
I agree praktice makes perfect
Everyone close to me has told me repeatedly that in life art won't help you pay bills or provide stability,
Art to me is very therapeutic, and helps with my sanity lol.
It's definitely more competitive than other paths. Being "decent" at most non-degree or even college degree level jobs is enough to get your paycheck every week and stick with the company. With art you've got to be really good to be making livable wages consistently. But if you're dedicated and driven, you can get to those levels. And quite honestly, make tons of money. Nowadays we've got more avenues to create profit too as compared to the folks in the past. RUclips Revenue, Patreon, Online Comissions... etc. Lots of people are way too cynical of art because of the whole "starving artist" shit.
I've always respected Ryan's work, the man knows of what he specks! Great interview!!! 💞👍👊
This is such useful advice! Proko, thanks for having Mr. Benjamin on again to share his deep wealth of technical and practical knowledge.
The guy is so incredibly inspiring. I'm starting drawing late in life but I know I can get to this level one day.
Awesome video, Ryan's style reminds me of Greg Capullo! love it
Yes!
I've never seen any of his art before this video. But I'm really impressed that his most valuable item in his collection is Bruce Lee's signature.
That bit about college really helps me, I'm currently attending a school, but lately i've started to feel like it's not really helping me in improving.
Copying is ok for starting out as you can learn how the artist lays out the basic line work and slowly you take the best aspects of your favorite comic book artist and create your own style.
Its not your style your just regurgitating the same stuff
Have taken a class with Ryan. The dude is a treasure trove of wisdom.
“Leave it open, let it breathe”. Yeah I like that. & so true on seeing the actual original pieces of art, versus prints. When I visited The Ranch and saw Ralph McQuarries Star Wars paintings, It was like I seeing them for the first time! Even after decades of seeing prints. There’s nothing like seeing his gouache colors in real life!
I went to art school with Ryan in Miami. He was a stand out student.
He is just so pleasing to listen too
Getting an image pictured in your head and then connecting the dots from start to finish may be the case - however, to get it done so smoothly on paper; isn't that easy if you haven't any foreknowledge.
When people especially say *just practice*, it actually doesn't improve much. It comes down to how familiar you are with how things work. Otherwise, you could be drawing over and over using the same methods - and slowing your process in catching on aspects like form, dimension, dynamics, et cetera.
Knowledge is important to be able to sketch as fast and as readily as Ryan Benjamin. Ryan, like many other artists, has had a lot of experience getting well acquainted with the function behind his works. You build on your understanding by inspecting information such as references and looking to other artists - which is why it is important to surround yourself with people whom you can draw with and critique. You do it for inspiration, and you do it for progress.
A lot of the professional artists out there worked their way around, learning and understanding until "drawing the idea" eventually became natural to them - because it molds into understanding. A good example is human anatomy - like knowing that the shoulders don't just stick straight out of the neck, or knowing how joints roll and bend in the body.
One of the best Artist interviews I've ever watched. Thanks Ryan!
This was a great video... really enjoyed this and really inspiring. Thank you Stan for this awesome interview with Ryan.
Thaaaaaaaaaaaaaank you so so so so so much for bringing him back
One of my favorite artists and everything he is saying is why. Great interview!
One of the most impressive speed to quality ratios I've ever seen. Very interesting
A really nice and intelligent person, a lovely moment!
Wonderful! These are the fundamentals I never got in art school way back when. I will be sharing Mr. Ryan's demo with my portfolio class on Saturdays. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Woah- I learned a few treats of tricks from watching him draw- amazed, I am. My art style has been having large increases in realism and layout just from watching other comic book artists. I'm working on my first comic alone- I've had to redraw the panels at least three times lol
What I find really admirable of him, is listing both male and female artists as inspirations. I find too many artists have only male artists as inspo and don’t bother with female artists.
Fascinating video... Advice about mastering primitives made alot of sense I learnt quite a bit watching Ryan draw
This artist is so relatable
It’s always a treat to see a video with Ryan pop up in my notifications!
It blows my mind how, like a sculptor carving from stone he can carve out a drawing from a sheet of paper. This is years and years of building up a craft and being on top of your game
I looked at the art and wass stunned and I thought I could draw this is amazing
That's funny, Ryan! I am the same way whether movies or comics, I am mainly first concerned with the graphics, shape, form, value and color. later I will re-watch or read for the story content. You're the first person I ever heard that is like that. I love your art, btw.
8:34 he did what! .... I guess he wasn't kidding when he said " I've done this a million time"
The raw pencil work is amazing.
"Don't copy" was definitely bad advice. I think there will inevitably be a pull for any artist to copy from other artists they admire. The problem is that some people don't cut the cord after awhile and they risk losing themselves or not developing their own style. I grew up copying from some of the greats. I was a huge Wildstorm/Top Cow fan and Michael Turner was my favorite artist, so much so that my art veered toward his style way too much. At 16 (admittedly way too young and quality-wise I was not ready) I submitted my work at Wizarld World to both companies. I had the privelege of submitting to Sarah Becker and Matt Hawkins and both were so amazing, but Sarah said something I have never forgotten and it changed my art 100% for the better. She told me "Wow, you do Michael Turner really well." It was the best compliment I've ever gotten but also the best critique because it made me realize in the moment that there was nothing of me in my style. And why would a company want me if they already had that artist? I went back home and I immediately started drawing from photos and real life to see where my natural style ended up and I've gotten miles ahead of where I had been and now when I look at my work I see me, but also where I came from. It's the best feeling having both worlds. So copy! But find yourself at the same time.
Dude!
If you can do Michael Turner then that would be a great opportunity to continue his legacy.
You can own his style and people would love you for it.
You don't always invent the wheel.
Greg capullo caried Todd mcfarlane vibes on spawn and completely owned it.
It is all about using what you have to your advantage.
@@danrazART I see what you're saying, and some artists do carry on other people's legacies and I can 100% see the value in that. But at the same time if a person was successful doing that it would also come with the caveat that they will always be under someone else's shadow, and risk only being valued for something someone else did. It's hard for a lot of people to live with that. I don't care about being well known by any stretch of the imagination, but I want my work to reflect me nonetheless.
I had the absolute privilege of meeting Michael the year I submitted. It was the year after his cancer diagnosis I believe, or the year before. I can't remember now it's been so long, but he signed some things for me and gave me compliments on my work I'll cherish for the rest of my life even though I think at the time he was simply being kind to an aspiring artist who looked up to him. But talking to him he also encouraged me to find my own style so I think in the end I personally feel like I'd be disrespecting his wishes more than respecting them if I were to even attempt to replicate him in any commercial work I created. But there are wonderful artists out there who definitely carry shades of him in their work and I love to see it.
@@nicoleisom2920 dude! Link to your stuff please.
@@danrazART I've tried 4 times but it keeps disappearing. ;o;
Wow. A genius. My favorite kind. He IS Batman. I look for genius. I would believe this guy as Batman.
crazy good and
mind blone
Your artwork is amazing and the way you explain things make very much sense because I kinda already knew, the way you described raw illustration verses digital which I don't like,i just don't see any talent in digital, your videos are very helpful I like your videos and David Finch the best, you guys are amazing and very helpful, thank you Ryan !!!!!😊
"My production team can learn something from him"
YOU HEAR THAT PRODUCTION TEAM? YEAH I'M TALKING TO YOU! WHO DID YOU THINK I WAS TALKING TO? SKELLY?
Lol 🤣
Thanks proko and Ryan
Oh man, what an amazing comic artist. To get to this point, he really has spent years practicing all those fundamentals. My aspiration is to be a comic illustrator one day, and to be able to draw accurately and spontaneously like Ryan would be a dream come true. 18:18- what sound advice, I’m going to do this more in my work! Does anyone know what paper he is using, or can recommend good paper for comic illustrations (that can handle inks as well as the pencil, smooth surfaces etc)?
Fantastic video on comic art techniques! 📚✏ The tips and tricks you shared are incredibly valuable for aspiring artists. I especially enjoyed the insights on [specific technique or topic covered in the video]. Thanks for providing such practical advice and inspiration for improving our comic art skills! 🚀🎨
I really needed this video, thank you so much. I'm starting to write my stories right now
Hell yeah!
This is incredible. Something like this exhausts me and takes me a long period of time, butvus copied and lacks the dynamicism and perfection. This man is brilliant.
This video is kind of booster for me , my life.
I wish there was an art community i could get into. Proper criticism is great.
It's crazy.. Ryan talk about HUGE and TOTALLY different topics.. And this option of Video Editing made the understanding more less efficient. more easy to reach out more people.. but less deep.
Great video,I learned a lot,thank you Mr.Benjamin!
You can tell he really enjoys his job. I grew up obsessed with comics and cartoons so I get it ;)