How To Draw Comics

So guess what? We're finally back - and boy, do we have a treat for you. Remember those epic 90s comics that used to keep you up way past bedtime? The ones with art so cool you'd try to copy it onto every notebook you owned? Yeah, we're diving into all of that good stuff. We've got Patrick Blaine hanging out with us, and between you and me, this conversation is gonna be like that awesome chat you have with your friend at the comic shop - you know, the one where you lose track of time and the staff has to politely kick you out? Here's what we're gonna geek out about: • All the stuff that made 90s comics absolutely rock (you know what we're talking about!) • How to get that same awesome vibe in your own art (without straight-up copying) • The real deal about turning your comic dreams into actual books • And yeah, how to make some cash while you're at it Oh! And Patrick's got this super cool project called ThunderBeast 509 that you're gonna want to check out (https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/moonlightning/thunderbeast-509-issue-1). Trust me, it's giving me all those classic vibes we grew up loving. By the way... if you're sitting there thinking "I wish I could draw like that," well, have I got news for you! Hop over to How to Draw Comics Academy (https://www.howtodrawcomicsacademy.com/) - it's basically like having a pro artist buddy showing you the ropes. So grab your favorite snack, get comfy, and come hang out with us. Can't wait to see you there!

Today on the Creator Spotlight I invite Joshua Derstine back to talk about his debut comic book AMAROK. We'll be discussing his workflow and approach to illustrating the book, the appeal of ultra-detailed line art, and where he wants to take his talents next. Click here now to back AMAROK: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/amarok#/

Are you ready to learn from a pro in the comic book industry? Look no further! We're thrilled to have Mark Poulton joining us on our latest episode. Mark is a true hustler in the world of comics, consistently putting out incredible work. And he's here to share his wisdom and insights on what it takes to make it in this competitive field. But that's not all! Mark will also be giving us a sneak peek at his latest project, Hurley's Heroes. This comic book is truly special, as it's inspired by the incredible true story of Hurley Alderman, a man who survived two strokes and dual organ transplants and went on to dedicate his life to helping others. Check it out here: https://igg.me/at/hurleysheroes/x/20658139#/. Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from a master of the comic book world, and get a glimpse at a story that will truly inspire you. And for those of you who are just starting out, or wanting to improve your skills, be sure to check out https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/, where we provide tips, tutorials and resources to help you turn your passion into a career. If you like the video, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/

Veteran comic artist Dan Lawlis joins us today for a long awaited interview. The moment I saw Dan's work - I knew this was a guy I needed to talk comics with(and collaborate with someday too). He's worked for a bunch of comic book companies, and on a ton of titles throughout the decades - and now, after stepping away to do a stint in storyboarding and advertising, he's returned to a brave new world of opportunity for comic creators that simply never existed before. And he's having more fun in comics than ever before! Here's what we're talking about in today's interview • How comics broke Dan Lawlis's heart. • What not to do if you want your art to have energy and soul. • The weird effect ‘over-thinking' has on your art. • How to draw accurately, while making your art less generic • How to get mentored by your favourite artists - for free. • The profound connection between making comics, and making movies. • The cutting-edge new way of making and marketing comics. • The one missing element that causes traditional comics to win out over digital every time. If you liked this interview, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Enjoy the show. -Clayton Follow Dan Lawlis at: https://www.danlawlis.com/ For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials visit: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

In this interview I catch up with AirithSaga to talk about his endeavor to create his own crowdfunding platform. AirithSaga is a comic creator with a vast background in marketing, who has successfully crowdfunded three campaigns, and is known for his innovative approach to cultivating an unforgettable customer experience for his backers. You can check out his latest project, 'Dwarfs vs Lion' here: https://igg.me/at/dwarfsvslion/x#/ Follow at AirithSaga - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJtlGRLXf9B_GRRFA4r973g Twitter: https://twitter.com/AirithSaga Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theairithsaga/ Back our comic book KOZOR: Descent Into Madness at: https://igg.me/at/kozor/x/20658139#/ If you like the video, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In today's interview I catch up with comic artist and creator Joe Sonntag, the author of Reaper Destroyer, to talk comic book illustration. We'll discuss Joe's process for making comics, his influences and talk about his go-to techniques for penciling and inking. Follow Joe Sonntag at - Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqozxQG7M8iM2VL6NY23hQg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joemsonntag/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/JoeMSonntag1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoeMSonntag/ Back our comic book KOZOR: Descent Into Madness at: https://igg.me/at/kozor/x/20658139#/ If you like the video, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

A single comic book page can take a long time to illustrate, let alone an entire book. As comic book artists it's vital that we develop the ability to be patient with our work. To stick in there and see it through until the end - all the while putting our best foot forward. In this video, I'll share 5 useful tips to help you have more patience with your art so that you can reinforce your focus and do the very best work possible. Thanks for watching, until next time – keep on drawing! -Clayton Check our comic book KOZOR: Descent Into Madness: https://igg.me/at/kozor/x#/ If you like the video, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, HTDC's Ed Foychuk talks with his daughter, and fellow creator, Joey Foychuk about what it’s like to be a young learner of the craft. They talk about everything from modern inspirations, to working together for course creation. Click here to check out Ed and Joey's 'Drawing for Kids' course series: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/category-drawing-for-kids We hope you enjoy this episode and get a ton of value out of it. Thanks for listening! Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Ed & Joey If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Today we're joined by a very special guest, Izik Bell. A long time member of the HTDC Community, Izik is an extremely talented illustrator who has recently crowdfunded his first comic book on Kickstarter with great success. You can check out Izik's campaign for 'MetalShade' here: http://kck.st/2UgZBwM In this episode I'll be chatting with Izik about his start in comic book illustration, the techniques and strategies he used to develop his artistic skill-set and his old school, Marvel approach for producing a comic book. If you’d like to check out more of Izik’s work you can find it at: https://www.artstation.com/izik_bell We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and get a ton of value out of it. Thanks for listening and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and techniques be sure to visit our site. You'll find loads of written tutorials, video tutorials, the podcast of course - and when you're ready to delve deeper into the art of comic book illustration, browse through our full selection of premium lessons and courses on the HTDC store. Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Welcome to another episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast. In this episode I’m joined by special guest artist Taylor Payton. Taylor is a pragmatic polymath. Ever since he was a child, he's felt the need to constantly expand his prowess in the creative domains, while learning, teaching, and sharing as much as he can with the world. And he is also featured an instructor on our very own How to Draw Comics, now showcasing three comprehensive drawing courses which we’ll link to in the episode description. In today’s interview we’ll discuss Taylor’s background in art, his preference for digital over traditional workflows, his career as an artist and much more! Visit the link below to see Taylor’s course line up. https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/taylor-payton-courses If you’d like to check out more of Taylor’s work you can find it at: https://www.artstation.com/taylor-payton We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and get a ton of value out of it. Thanks for listening and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and techniques be sure to visit our site. You'll find loads of written tutorials, video tutorials, the podcast of course - and when you're ready to delve deeper into the art of comic book illustration, browse through our full selection of premium lessons and courses on the HTDC store. Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton, Ric and Ed look back on where the How to Draw Comics Facebook began and how far it's come since it was first created. The HTDC Facebook community now comprises of over 50,000 members. Each day artists of all level of skill share their work to both receive and give feedback in a constructive way. It's an inspiring place for an up and coming comic book artist to be, and with an incredibly supportive group of peers it's one of the best places to hone your skill-set. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and get a ton of value out of it. Thanks for listening and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and techniques be sure to visit us at www.howtodrawcomics.net. Over on the site we have loads of written tutorials, video tutorials, the podcast of course - and when you're ready to delve deeper into the art of comic book illustration, browse through our full selection of premium lessons and courses on the HTDC store. Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Clayton If you'd like to see more of Ed Foychuk's artwork, check out his FB Art Page at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ To see more of Clayton Barton's art visit his online portfolio at: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Join us for Ed's first hosting attempt at the HTDCs podcast! Ed welcomes Bryan Silverbox to the program. Bryan is best known for being a cover artist for Scout Comics, but also for his work with Topps and Upper Deck. In this episode these two 40 somethings let loose on a variety of topics... from drawing and dating, to changes in the comic book market, to tabling at Cons. Be sure to give a listen and maybe put in the ear buds... the old guys' language can get a bit out there at times! Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Clayton If you'd like to see more of Ed Foychuk's artwork, check out his FB Art Page at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ To see more of Bryan Silverbax's art visit his online portfolio at: http://www.silverbax.com/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In our latest episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, Ed Foychuk and I caught up to discuss the topic of 'laziness', and how to avoid it so you can meet those impending deadlines! If you want to make money from your art, chances are you're going to take on more than a few art commissions throughout your career. But more importantly, you'll have to be motivated, and a true professional to get them back to your clients on time. That's not always easy! Especially when you're held down by the very human condition known as laziness. We've all felt it, and more often than not. Truth is it never really goes away, our default mode tends to be lazy. The trick is prevailing none the less. Putting your nose to the grind stone and knocking out what needs to be done. Easier said then done right? It most certainly is, which is why we'll be sharing our best techniques and strategies in the hopes of helping you kick the habit of laziness a little easier. Because most of the time that's all laziness really is. A habit. And that's what makes it so difficult to get ourselves back in the game when we're at our least productive. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and get a ton of value out of it. Thanks for listening and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and techniques be sure to visit us at www.howtodrawcomics.net. Over on the site we have loads of written tutorials, video tutorials, the podcast of course - and when you're ready to delve deeper into the art of comic book illustration, browse through our full selection of premium lessons and courses on the HTDC store. Until next time, keep on practicing, and keep on creating! -Clayton If you'd like to see more of Ed Foychuk's artwork, check out his FB Art Page at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ To see more of Clayton Barton's art visit his online portfolio at: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In today's episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast I’m joined by a very special guest - Michael Pedro. Michael is an animation art director and concept designer for video games and film; specializing primarily in environment, character and creature design. He is also one of our newest instructors on How to Draw Comics . net, so I thought we’d invite him onto the show today to discuss his career as an artist, how he got started, who he learned from, and how he went about honing his skill set. I hope you enjoy the episode and take away a ton of value - it truly was an honor to have Michael join us on the show. Find out more about Michael's work at: https://michaelpedro.com/ To see Michael's full selection of courses visit his HTDC instructor page: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/michael-pedro-courses Thanks for listening and until next time - keep on creating and keep on practicing. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Welcome to another episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast! The topic of today is 'Sex in Comics'! How do people generally feel about comic books with heavy sexual themes? Is there a line that can be be crossed, and if so where do we draw it? What's the difference between art which is sexually themed and nudity? These are the very same questions we as admins of the How to Draw Comics Facebook group consider everyday when moderating the content which is posted. So we thought it deserved a conversation. After all, sex, art and story have been tightly tied together for eons. It's one of the inbuilt core drives we have as human beings. And it's really no wonder that NSFW orientated comic book titles are doing so well on crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter and IndieGoGo. We hope you enjoy this episode and get a ton of value out of it. As always thanks for listening, and until next time - Keep on practicing and keep on creating. A big thanks to Keidi Cole for the art of today's episode. See more of his work at: https://www.facebook.com/keidicole/ If you'd like to see more of Ed Foychuk's artwork, check out his FB Art Page at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ To see more of Clayton Barton's art visit his online portfolio at: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In today's episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast we're joined by a very special guest - Marc Brunet. Marc is a successful artist, instructor and entrepreneur who has worked for some of the largest studios in the world. But that's not what he's most known for. Over the years Marc has built up his learning platform Cubebrush into a go to educational resource for artists across multiple industries. Whether it be comic books, concept design or 3d modelling, Cubebrush's vast library of curated courses offers something for everyone. Most notably, Marc has just completed his hit course 'Art School' - a carefully structured curriculum of lessons that promises to give you the same education you'd expect to find in a traditional art school for a fraction of the price. Throughout this episode Marc will share his background as an artist, explaining how he started and ultimately made his way into the industry. He'll talk about his journey from working inside a well established studio, to risking it all on a business venture that set the stage for his success as an entrepreneur. I hope you enjoy the episode and take away a ton of value - it truly was an honor to have Marc join us on the show. If you'd like to find out more about Marc or Cubebrush - visit the links below. Marc Brunet on CubeBrush: https://cubebrush.co/mb Marc Brunet on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluefley/ Marc Brunet on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marcbrunet Marc Brunet on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bluefley Thanks for listening and until next time - keep on creating and keep on practicing. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast special guest artist ModernDayJames (James Murphy) joins us to share his experiences as both a practicing artist and versed instructor. James has lead an interesting path as an artist, exploring a variety of creative avenues and disciplines, to ultimately find what he was most passionate about - drawing. What started out as a personal endeavor to educate himself on the fundamentals of drawing, turned into a rapidly increasing library of learning resources that he produced and shared with other aspiring artists. Combining his analytical approach to learning and his past experiences as a lecturer, James has developed a highly tuned teaching style that gives his students a straight forward approach to learning the most important drawing principles such as form, shape, figure drawing and anatomy. This episode is packed with an absolute loot of wisdom and insight - I hope you get a lot of value out of it. If you'd like to learn more about ModernDayJames and his courses, follow the links below. ModernDayJames on Gumroad: https://gumroad.com/moderndayjames ModernDayJames on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/moderndayjames ModernDayJames on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/moderndayjames ModernDayJames on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/moderndayjames ModernDayJames on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/moderndayjames Thanks for listening and until next time - keep on creating and keep on practicing. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Impatience comes hand in hand with any art form. When we set out to create something, it'll demand a significant amount of thought, time and energy to get it done. Take a complex illustration for example, that features multiple characters and an intricate background. It might take hours, even days to complete, as you stroke in every last detail. Another example might be a comic or graphic novel. Such a huge undertaking could take months to see through to completion. There's no shortcuts or fast ways around it. The only way to get there is a diligent work ethic and a lot of patience. Having patience is extremely difficult when instant gratification is taken off the table. The rewarding feeling we get from finishing something worth while only comes at the end, and getting there means commitment and dedication. You get out what you put in. Problem is our brains don't like going without that sense of gratification for long. We're like addicts, always looking for that next dopamine spike. It can come from a grand accomplishment, but it can also come from the quick fix social media, video games and impulse spending provides. The only way around this is to delay gratification altogether and increase our ability to focus for an increased amount of uninterrupted time - until we've finished what we've set out to do. This is of course known as patience, and in this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, we'll discuss some tactics to help you cultivate it. I hope you get some value out of this episode and use some of the tips you've learned to fortify your work ethic and increase your productivity. Thanks for listening. Until next time, keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Every project you undertake will demand some level of commitment to see it through to the end. The final outcome will be entirely dependent on the amount of effort you put into it. In short, you'll reap what you sow. This sentiment is all well and good, but in reality it can be extremely difficult to dedicate oneself to the often grueling task of producing your very best work. It takes time, effort, and discipline. We know that. But what we don't necessarily consider is the level of physical and mental fortitude we'll need to take our art to the next level every time pencil goes to paper. In this Podcast episode we'll be delving deeper into this topic as I reiterate the importance of always putting your best foot forward when it comes to your art. Every line of work wears thin after a time, and to keep on top of our game we've got to find something within it that reignites the fire and pushes us to continually give our craft 1000%. If we're unable to do this, we begin to take our abilities for granted, and complacency quickly sets in. We've seen it happen to many of our fellow artists, who's passion becomes just another day on the job. Their work loses the vitality it once had and you can tell their heart simply isn't in it any longer. Nothing is more tragic than that, and in this talk I'd like to try and help you avoid the same happening to you at all costs. I hope that you enjoy this episode and get some value out of it. If you find it useful, be sure to share it with your fellow art friends. They will be happy you did, and I'll be thankful to you for passing it along. Until next time, keep on creating and keep on practicing. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Finding your path as an artist can be tough. Sometimes we fall off track and lose our way. Other times we question our ambitions and wonder if we're going down the right road at all. This doesn't just apply to artists either. Knowing which way to turn next is a decision many of us find difficult to make, especially when we inevitably arrive at a crossroads. In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bulow and I get together after a long awaited reunion to talk about where Ric's been, what he's been up to and how to he got himself back on track with a little introspection and a much needed break. What we'll learn in this episode is the importance of taking time to self reflect and asking yourself what it is you really want to go for in life - and most importantly why. The 'why' of anything we set out to do is the key to understanding what makes us tick, yet so often we forget to find a good enough reason for doing what we do. I hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and that you take away some insights from it. Thanks so much for listening! Until next time, keep on creating, keep on practicing and we'll see you in the next episode. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

Finding the courage to start your art is hard sometimes, no matter what level of skill you're at. Feeling apprehensive, nervous or even scared of jumping in and taking action on your ideas can happen for a number of reasons. Maybe you had an idea that began as something fun and manageable, but somehow it quickly got blown out of proportion the more you thought about it - to the point where now it seems impossible to accomplish. It could be that you don't have a positive support system around you, to build you up, encourage you, and believe in what you're doing. When you feel like you've got no one on your team, setting out to achieve something great can seem impossible. Or you might not feel like your skill-set is up to snuff enough for you to pull off your grand vision. In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast I'm going to give you solutions to all these set backs so that you've got no excuses left to not dive in and start your art asap. I hope you enjoy this episode and that you take away a few nuggets of insight that'll help you along the way and give you the boost you need to get going on that next big project. If you enjoyed it, be sure to share it with your art friends. They'll be grateful you passed it along to them, and so will I! Until next time, keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

As much as we love to draw, sometimes we're just not in the mood to put pencil to paper. When we feel lazy, tired, lethargic or simply uninspired it can seem almost impossible to get anything down onto the page at all. And it sucks. Because we know we're better than that. Ideally, if we could whip out a drawing at will whenever we liked it'd be game over. Just imagine how much more productive you could be? You'd triple your practice time, tear through your commissions and make real headway on your comic books. The sad truth is, no matter how much ability you have, there are days where you'd rather do anything else but draw. So knowing how much more we could get done, how do we get around that? How do we get in the mood to draw in the first place? That's what today's episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast is all about. You'll learn four nifty techniques to nip procrastination in the bud and pull yourself back on track to work toward the goals that matter most. Best of all, you'll learn the surprisingly simple thing you can do to click yourself over into a drawing mood almost instantly! I hope you enjoy this episode and that you get a ton of insight out of it. If you found it helpful, be sure to pass it along to your fellow art pals. No doubt they'll also find it useful. -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bülow and special guest artist Aaron Bartling talk about freelancing, and how you can use it to build up your portfolio and professional reputation to score bigger and better job opportunities. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and take away loads of insight from it. Thanks for listening. Check out Aaron's art work at: https://www.instagram.com/aaronbartlingart/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

This episode, special guest artist Deth Phimmasone joins Clayton Barton to talk about a creative dilemma most, if not all, aspiring comic artists face - Getting whats in your head down onto paper. Oftentimes, the ideas inside our mind seem complex and intricate. But in reality, our brain stores information in a simplified manner, meaning that most of the mental imagery we might visualize is in fact symbolic, sometimes abstract versions of the idea we'd like to manifest on the page. In a sense, that's the best way to approach an illustration - to think on a more macro level and build the composition from the ground up using simplified forms that are representative of what will ultimately become the finished art work. Intuitively we have a natural tendency to tackle our art in the opposite way, attempting to incorporate the details and decorative intricacies without first having a solid foundation to build them upon. However without an accurate road map to follow it's very easy to lose your way. In this episode we'll discuss our experiences, along with our favorite techniques and methods for overcoming this artistic hurdle. We hope you enjoy this episode and take away a ton of value. Thanks for listening, and until next time - keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton Check out Deth's Art at: https://www.instagram.com/dethdfyed Check our Clayton's Art at: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/ If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bülow sits down with special guest artist Christopher Wilhelm to talk about developing a style true to you, and what it's like to delve into the world of freelancing for the first time. If you'd like to learn more about Christopher Wilhelm and see some of his art, you can find it via the links below. ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/barelynormal_activity If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

When you're able to find a passion you can fall in love with, productivity becomes addictive. Sadly, many of us haven't found one yet that truly fulfills us in that way. Lets be realistic, we all have responsibilities and general house keeping to take care of in our lives. Unfortunately that can get in the way of what our heart truly yearns for, sometimes to the point where we become blind to the thing we really want to do most. It gets lost amid the mainstream narrative many of us fall into by default. However, as you'll learn in this podcast episode, there are ways not only to find a passion you can truly fall in love with, but also to pursue it. Funnily enough it's when we're in love with what we're doing that we're at our most productive. It's hard to stop. That's when you know you've found your purpose, when you become obsessed with the goal you've chosen to work toward. At that point you become unstoppable, and that's the power of love - loving what you do. Because the truth is, that's what you were supposed to be doing all along. Thanks for listening, and until next time keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

If there’s one thing that holds us back creatively, its artistic anxiety. In this episode of the HTDC Podcast you’ll learn what it is, why it happens and what to do about it. For the most part, thinking too much is to blame. In the beginning we start out with the best of intentions, pondering the next grand idea we intend to realize. In our mind we figure out every detail it’ll entail, bringing it into focus with sharper clarification before pencil ever goes to paper. Then it begins to ferment. Now that we’ve built that idea up so much in our head, the train of thought transitions into worry. A state of nervousness at the sheer scale of the task we’ve set for ourselves. Because as we dwell on an idea, it grows, and sometimes it grows so much that it becomes a monster. It’s at this point the perfect storm occurs and anxiety is bred. From that a reluctance comes about as we put that project we were once so excited about off for as long as we can hold out. We stall, and if we ever do eventually bite the bullet and get started on it, we’re dragging our heels the whole way. Of course overthinking things might not be the only cause of your artistic anxiety. There are plenty of insecurities and fears that are just waiting to catch you off guard and pull you into procrastination. Because doing nothing is much safer than facing the fear. For example, you might compare your level of skill to that of a pro that you consider to be far better. Trying to make your work meet an imaginary standard of elitism that you’ve set for yourself is one of the most sure fire ways to become paralysed. A good term for what we’re going to be talking about in this podcast episode is ‘analysis paralysis’ because that’s precisely what’s happening regardless of the cause of your artistic anxiety. At the end of the day it begins in the mind, and like a virus it spreads until you’re completely and utterly fatigued by it. Everything that’s holding you back, all that fear, nervousness and worry resides within you. So how do we overcome it? What’s the cure? There’s a profoundly simple solution to crushing artistic anxiety and getting back on track. If our worry and fear resides within the confines of the mind, then we must switch it off and force ourselves out onto the stage. I’m talking about less thinking and more doing. But here’s the key, you want to nip your negative, toxic trains of thought in the bud before they ever get a chance to prosper. Not all thoughts are bad. Some are certainly productive and getting clarity on your idea by fleshing it out in your mind first can aid you when it comes to putting it down on paper. However if they transgress into a more negative train of thought, that’s when your will to begin the project weakens. The worst part is that if you try to work in this less than optimal state of mind, you’ll probably end up producing subpar work. You won’t enjoy the experience of actually realizing your idea, and so those negative feelings, that anxiety will become anchored to the act. That means the very thing you love to do becomes the thing you fear most. In this episode I’ll share my insights and give you some suggestions as to how you can pull yourself out of this awful rut if you’ve found yourself in such a place. I hope that you get a ton of value out of it and that it truly does help you out. Thanks for listening, and until next time keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton If you liked this podcast episode, show your support by commenting, sharing or subscribing. Comic Art Community - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/comic-art-community/ How to Draw Comics .NET - http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/howtodrawcomics/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/howtodrawcomics Twitter - https://twitter.com/howtodrawcomics Tumblr - http://howtodrawcomics.tumblr.com/ Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/howtodrawcomics/

You’ve been waiting, wondering where we’ve been. Well, we’re back bearing a host of brilliant announcements you won’t want to miss – because they’re all to do with you, and for the most part consist of the copious amount of comic art know how we’re putting out faster than ever. That includes brand new episodes of the HTDC Podcast, coming back to you pretty much every day. The question is though, where on Earth have we been all this time? The truth is life has been happening for all the hosts of the show, and with it, upheavals, responsibilities and the dwindling pot of ideas that had had its last scoop. So we needed a little time to make a new batch. This time we’ll be hitting you with hot new episodes almost every day, mostly covering the questions you’ve sent in along with regular guest artists whose brilliant brains we’ll pick to garner the very best insights from their extensive knowledge and experience. But why is the HTDC Podcast back? What compels us to keep on rolling onward? The Podcast has helped so many aspiring artists and makes up a large portion of the impact How to Draw Comics has had as a whole on the comic artist community. We think it’d be a shame to let that go. Truth be told, it feels like we almost did, and getting that close to it was a big wake up call to quickly get ourselves back in the game. This particular episode is a short ice-breaker to simply touch base with you again after our long hiatus. To let you know what’s been happening, why it’s been happening and what you can expect in the episodes to come. Thanks for tuning in! If you’d like more comic art tips tricks and tutorials, be sure to visit us at www.howtodrawcomics.net. We’ve got an absolutely massive library of helpful resources just waiting for you there to check out. But don’t just keep them all to yourself – share the loot with your fellow art buddies. They’ll love you for it, and we will too! Until next time, keep on creating and keep on practicing! -Clayton

In this episode Clayton and Ed talk about HTDC's first ever competition - how you can enter and what's in it for you! This is the contest you’ve been waiting for. This is the one that’ll finally give you the nudge to get off your pin-up seat, and start working on sequential pages. We all know that Anatomy, Form, Structure, Perspective… they’re all important for making comics. But the most important, the holy grail of sorts, is storytelling. And in our medium, there’s no better way than through sequential panels. This friendly contest is designed to help you grow with that. To grow as an artist AND a storyteller. So take this time before the summer sets in to really get yourself on the right track, and join on in. This is for the HTDCs community to come together and learn, both from the experience, and from each other. For more information on the competition visit this link: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/post/sequential-summer-slam

Ed Foychuk and I finally built up the courage to talk about Politics in Comics in our latest episode of the HTDC Podcast. Have comics changed, and if so have they really changed that much? How have they changed, and most importantly have they changed for the better? There are creators and readers sitting on either side of the old and new, who either read comics for nostalgia sake, or to get a hit of something fresh and meaningful. But at the core, we explore what drove the industry back then, and what drives it today - and whether or not that's a good thing. We present a balanced argument, coming at the topic from two different angles that don't necessarily align, but somehow make up two sides of the same coin. There has never been a better time for creators to get into comics than now, yet at the same time, it could be argued that there's never been a worse time. In this episode we attempt to shed some light on the pros and cons of the industry, and how you can make a change within it by bringing your own visions and passion to the table. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks so much for listening, and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials be sure to visit www.howtodrawcomics.net. -Clayton The Art of Ed Foychuk: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ The Art of Clayton Barton: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, Ed Foychuk, Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton team up once more to talk about originality, vs relatabilty when it comes to creating compelling comic books. Cliché's, Stereotypes, Tropes and Archetypes often get a bad wrap for being overdone and boring. But are they really all that bad? The answer is yes, and no. They can be bad, but often times are fantastic for creating an instant connection with your audience. In fact, the only way a cliché can become a cliché in the first place is when an idea is struck upon that's so great, it's repeated over and over again throughout the established genre's people either love, or love to hate. This episode we attempt to determine where the line in the sand needs to be drawn when it comes to a unique idea, vs a captivating idea that allows the audience to become entranced in your stories. And try to nail down a strategy one might use to get a satisfactory balance of the two to make their idea that much more powerful. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks so much for listening, and if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials be sure to visit www.howtodrawcomics.net. -Clayton The Art of Ed Foychuk: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ The Art of Clayton Barton: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/

The topic for this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast is on how to get commissions as a freelance artist. When it comes to making money from art, clients are our bread and butter. Without them there's simply no way to financially sustain our creative trade full time. But where do we find them and how do we get them to give us work? Ed and Clayton share there experience as freelance artists, sharing their insights on how they found, bonded and ultimately worked with clients who were a pleasure to partner up with. The life of the freelance artist isn't an easy one, but when you can come up with a strategy that helps to promote your services and connect with people in the right way it makes the notion of doing your art for a living something that could realistically happen. If you'd like to learn more about getting regular commissions as a freelance artist, here's a comprehensive article we've dedicated specially to the topic: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/post/the-artists-guide-to-freelancing We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks for listening and as always keep on creating! If you'd like more comic art tutorials, tips, tricks and videos be sure to visit our site at www.howtodrawcomics.net. Check out Ed Foychuk's art at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ Check out Clayton's art at: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/

This episode Ed Foychuk and Clayton Barton get together to talk about the importance of setting milestones as an aspiring comic book artist. Having goals in place that you can strive toward not only keeps you on track but holds you accountable to yourself and those around you. They give you a clear vision of what you should be focused on next to make real progress. Without them you've got no compass to guide you along the way when the going gets tough. And at that point it's too easy to just give up. By the end of this episode, our goal is for you to come up with some milestones of your own to aspire towards. We hope that you get a ton of value out of this episode! If you do, please tell your comic art friends to give it a listen. They'll appreciate it, and so will we. Thanks for listening. -Clayton For more comic art tips, tricks, tutorials and courses, visit our website at https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/. We've got a ton of free resources for you to check out that'll make a huge difference in your learning curve and give your knowledge an extra boost of comic art insights. Ed Foychuk's art Page: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ Clayton Barton's Art Page: https://www.claytonbartonartist.com/

In this special edition, bonus episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton brings you his Friday lecture straight from the Virtual Comic Art Classroom (VCAC). This talk focuses on the topics of: 1. Making 'Real' Progress In Your Art 2. Cultivating Patience and Long Term Determination 3. Having Love and Respect for the Art You Create 4. Drawing Groups of Characters on Double Page Spreads We hope you enjoy this bonus episode of the HTDC Podcast. As always, thanks for listening - and keep on practicing! -Clayton For more comic art tutorials, videos, courses and resources visit our website at https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Check out our brand new guide to making comics here (it's free): If you would like access to the Virtual Comic Art Classroom, you'll need to enroll in one of Clayton's course below. Comic Book Character Creator: Superheroines - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/superheroines Figure Drawing Foundations: Proportions - https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/proportions-lesson

The HTDC Podcast is back after a month long break. Join Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk as they break the ice with a freeflow dump of comic art knowledge and insights focused on topics such as - How to conquer perfectionism Self preservation on the job How to promote yourself as an artist Honing in on your mistake to give your abilities a boost Getting past your setbacks as fast as possible! Is it better to learn from realtime or timelapsed demonstations? And much more. We hope you enjoy the return of the HTDC Podcast. From now on we'll be bringing you a new episode every Monday. Look forward to joining you then. For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ Get Clayton's new course 'Comic Book Character Creator: Superheroines' at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/superheroines Check out Ed Foychuk's art at: https://www.facebook.com/JuggerthaArt/ Check out Clayton Barton's art at: http://www.claytonbartonartist.com/

In this episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton's joined by special guest creator Rob Arnold to talk about what it takes to get your first comic book off the ground. Rob Arnold is the creator and writer of Replicator - a post apocalyptic sci-fi comic set in a dark future where disease, famine, violence and robot killing machines are an everyday occurrence. This is a project Rob has been rallying behind for years now to fully realize it - and the journey hasn't been easy. Like many creators, Rob turned to crowd funding platforms such as Kickstarter to financially back Replicator which he has successfully done now for two issues in a row (and soon hopefully three). So he's got some experience behind him when it comes to getting a comic book successfully funded, and in this interview that's one of the main topics we cover among the many others that'll give you insight into getting your first creator-owned comic book out there. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast, it was an absolute pleasure to have Rob on the show. Thanks for listening and if you find the info in this episode valuable, remember to share it with your other artist friends. They'll thank you for it! -Clayton Replicator Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/replicatorcomic/ Replicator Kickstarter: http://kck.st/2WoktRs For more comic art tutorials, videos, courses and podcast episodes be sure to visit our site at: www.howtodrawcomics.net.

This week in the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton get together to talk about the importance of scheduling and deadlines! Most artists don't like to confine their creativity in any way, shape or form, and that includes limiting it to a deadline. But what we don't realize is that schedules keep us on track so that we can remain conscious of what needs to get done and work toward completing it. Most importantly, completing projects in a reasonable amount of time is simply part of our job when working with clients. If we don't have the discipline to sit down, focus and work hard to meet those deadlines we simply won't be able to make a living from our craft. There's a lot to cover in this episode, so sit back, relax and enjoy. We hope you get a ton of value out of it - and until next time, remember to keep on practicing! -Clayton For comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, visit www.howtodrawcomics.net and subscribe to our mailing list.

In this weeks episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk talk about the art of taking and giving critique. Getting feedback on your work is one of the fastest ways to grow as an artist - unfortunately many of us have an automatic defense mechanism that kicks whenever someone points out a flaw in our work. And rightfully so! Our art is an expression of us, an extension of who we are. So when it gets criticized, it feels like we're being personally attacked. But in most cases, that's not the case at all. When someone takes the time to give you thoughtful feedback, usually they're heart's in the right place. They see your potential and they just want you to succeed! So we've got to be open and know that people are just trying to help us out when they offer a suggestion on something that might work better. But what makes for a solid piece of advice? When giving feedback, how can we critique someone's work in a way that's strategically going to tell them what they're doing right, what they're doing wrong, and then how to go about solving it? We talk about all these topics and more this episode - we hope you enjoy it and that you get a ton of value out of it. As always thanks for listening - and remember to keep on practicing! -Clayton For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, be sure to visit www.howtodrawcomics.net

In 2019's first episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton and Ric talk about clearing the slate, and setting new resolutions to reach your goals in the new year. Breaking into the year with a crystal clear idea as to what you want to achieve helps give you direction, priority and most importantly, substantially increases your chances of reaching the goals that matter most. We hope you enjoy this episode and that you take away a whole lot of value from it. Thanks for listening and let us know - what are your New Years resolutions for 2019? -Clayton Find more comic art tutorials, videos, courses and learning resources at www.howtodrawcomics.net

In this Episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk team up to discuss the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to learning and practicing the art of comic book illustration. We all know the saying "Practice makes Perfect". But in reality, practicing in the wrong way can be even worse than not practicing at all. Perfect Practice is in fact what makes Perfect. So figuring out the right method and approach is oftentimes the great challenge of all, with the highest pay off. How do we get there? Sometimes it's straight forward - and we simply stick with what we know works best. But commonly, we reach success by constantly rerouting via the mistakes we make along the way. But what if you could avoid those mistakes in the first place? Wouldn't that mean you could short cut your development? That's what we hope to help you do in some small way with this episode, as Ed and Clayton share the mistakes, challenges and obstacles they had to overcome in order to push their drawing skills to the next level. Thanks for listening, and we hope you enjoy the episode. For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, visit www.howtodrawcomics.net .

In this week's episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Co-Host Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton talk tactics on how to keep your skills sharp - even after you've been away from the drawing board for a while. Taking long breaks from your craft can leave you feeling fearful about getting back into your groove. We believe our abilities just won't be at the level we left them, and that can lead to a severe lack of confidence in what we're capable of artistically. So we end up in this perpetual cycle of increased anxiety over the fact our skills are getting rustier by the day, which prevents us from daring to go back and shake it off. The longer we leave it, the more freaked out we get about forgetting what we've learned! Luckily, for an aspiring comic book artist such as yourself, who's on the path to comic art mastery and has got a little mileage behind them already - it doesn't take a whole lot to hit the drawing gym again and ramp up your artistic fitness. It's not like you're starting out at square one. Everything you've learned up until the point you stopped is still there - you've just got to remind yourself of what it's like to go through the motions of your process again. This is something else we chat about in this weeks episode; how to actually re-inspire your creativity when you're just not feeling it. Maybe you don't like the direction your work is headed, maybe you're self conscious about what other peoples reactions are going to be to it after you have stepped away for a bit to take a break, or maybe you're just feeling burnt out and in need of a motivational boost. We hope you find this episode valuable and that it gives you a ton of insight into keeping your skills sharp and ready. For more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, be sure to visit us at www.howtodrawcomics.net.

So many of you gained a ton of value out of our first Q&A Session, that we just couldn't wait to do another one! This episode Ed Foychuk, Ric Bülow, and Clayton Barton are back to answer your questions on such topics as - - Camera angles and lighting set-ups for dramatic mood and energy - Building teams to produce comics for Portfolio work - Workflow ideas for practice sessions - Guides to drawing chubby men - Scheduling and planning Plus loads more. This episode is packed full of valuable tips and insights for comic creators and we had an absolutely awesome time putting it together for you. What's amazing is that we all learn so much from each other's unique perspectives - and we hope that by tackling these topics from different angles, we're able to help you find the ideal path that's going to lead you to the next level in your artistic growth. As always, thanks so much for listening! And of course, if you'd like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials, remember to visit our website at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ - where you'll be able to find a ton of learning resources designed to help you improve your skills in the fastest amount of time possible. -Clayton

This episode we're joined by the two headed hydra of comics - Comfort Love and Adam Withers.  Having published numerous acclaimed comic book titles such as "The Uniques" and "Rainbow In The Dark", Comfort and Adam are a power team who write, draw, color and letter all of their work together. They take equal part and ownership in the production process, brain storming ideas, developing them and ultimately bringing their vision to life. When it comes to collaborating as a team, Adam and Comfort know what it takes. Whether you're working with a studio of like minded talent, a group of friends, brother, sister or significant other to realize a common dream - having someone there to re-inspire you through those bouts of artist block, or to pick you up when you're feeling creatively depleted can be one of the most valuable perks a creative partnership can bring. But that doesn't mean there won't be a few hurdles you'll have to overcome together along the way. Sometimes finding solutions to the problems that pop up within the creative dynamic of a team, and reaching a compromise that serves the greater purpose of the project itself can require just as much creativity. Comfort and Adam have also garnered a plethora of wisdom over more than a decade of experience in self publishing - and even wrote a comprehensive book covering the topic in detail! This episode, they bring an invaluable amount of insight to the table as they share the true and tried tactics they've acquired over their years in the indie comics arena.  If you're looking to get a start in self publishing your own comics, this is not an episode you're going to want to miss! We hope you enjoy this weeks Podcast Ep! Thanks so much for listening, and always, keep on creating! -Clayton Follow Comfort and Adam at: http://www.comfortandadam.com/ If you'd like more comic art tutorials, videos and courses be sure to visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

This episode I'm joined by Co-Host's Ed Foychuk and Ric Bulow for HTDC's first Q&A session. We'll be answering questions straight from the How To Draw Comic's Community on topics such as - Is self publishing a creator owned title the best way to break into the comic book industry? Is it okay to sell B&W Line Art Illustrations at Comic Con's, or will coloring it (or paying a colorist to do it for you) make your prints stand out amid the crowd? How do you choose the one idea that you'll see through all the way till the end, when there's so many choices to choose from? What is the best approach to learning anatomy, proportions and how do clothes fit around the body of your comic book character's? We take a stab at answering all of these questions and much more in this week's value packed episode of the HTDC Podcast. Thanks for listening, and as always, keep on creating! - Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, and courses, visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/, and take your comic art skill set to the next level!

In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton, Ric Bulow and Ed Foychuk talk about the art - of teaching art. We reflect on our past experiences in the class room as both students and teachers, and discuss what we think it takes to be an effective art instructor who can walk the talk. Like art, teaching is a specialized skill all on it's own. A brilliant artist can create awe inspiring work no problem, but can they articulate exactly how they did it, in a way where their students are able to replicate the same results? We also discuss the pros and cons of learning in the class room, vs online training, and what each can offer to enhance the learning experience for aspiring artists. If you're on the look out for an art course and aren't quite sure where to start, give this episode a listen - hopefully it'll point you in the right direction. If you enjoyed this episode and would like more comic art tips, tricks and tutorials - please visit www.howtodrawcomics.net.

Is drawing a natural talent that some people are just born with? If so, where does that leave the rest of us - are we doomed to always be two steps behind the elites with little chance of ever reaching their divine level of god-given skill? This is both a question and a statement we hear all too often in the face of a masterfully executed piece of comic book art. When we see someone who can draw well, especially someone young, it's an almost automatic response to exclaim how brilliantly talented they are. But is there really any magic behind it? Or, as with any skillset, does becoming a great comic book artist come down to hard work and dedication? In this weeks Podcast Episode Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow look at both sides of the equation, as well as the pros and cons of each. Hope you enjoy the episode, and thanks for listening! -Clayton For more comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses visit www.howtodrawcomics.net

Where should you begin if you want to learn how to become a comic book artist, ? There's vast oceans of information available online, but how do you sift through the fluff to get to the good stuff? Art school and university seems notoriously ineffective, serving merely as an introductory taste into the extensive skill set one must acquire to become a successful comic book illustrator - plus it's extremely costly. There's online courses and books, containing laser focused information designed to address the fundamental gaps in your drawing abilities - but which ones are best for a beginner? In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, we're joined by Co-Host Ed Foychuk to share our experiences as up and coming comic book artists - where we sourced our drawing knowledge and our highest recommendations for beginners who are looking for some direction in their learning. Hope you enjoy the episode! Thanks for listening. -Clayton For comic art tutorials, videos, podcast episodes and courses, visit us at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/

In Episode 25 of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton and Co-Host Ric Bulow are joined by special guest artist Vince Rodriguez to talk about his background in comic books and storyboard illustration - and what it takes to deliver the best possible product to your clients, on time. Vince is an insanely talented artist who like many of us grew up adoring comic books. He was so inspired by artists like Jack Kirby that he pursued a career which allowed him to make the most of his artistic abilities. Throughout that journey, he's gained deep insights about what clients expect, how to juggle multiple jobs at once, and how to meet the intense deadlines that must be kept to keep ones reputation intact. One of the things I admire most about Vince is his killer work ethic, and listening to him speak about some of the work he's undertaken and what it took to execute those projects was truly inspirational. It was an honor to have him join us on the show and hope that the knowledge and experience he brings to the table here gives you the confidence you need to step onto the field and hustle your way to the top! Thanks for listening, -Clayton Want more comic art insights? Visit https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/ - for comic art tutorials, training videos and of course, more podcast episodes!

In this jam packed episode, we blow the lid off the age old question every aspiring comic book artist wants an answer to - should you be using references when you draw?... How much should you really depend on them and is it worse not to use them at all? Find out in Episode 24 of the HTDC Podcast! Want more comic advice, tips, tricks and tutorials? - visit us at http://www.howtodrawcomics.net/