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Deviation Actions
I've had about a week off working (which is cool!). I'm waiting to find out if I will be contributing to 4 new 'How to draw manga' books and if not, I don't quite know what I'll do.
Do we really need any more how to draw books? I don't really think so, but if it will pay my bills, then of course!
As I have been working on a few "How to draw manga" titles, I have seen the same techniques are being used in more than one book and feel the market for manga techniques books aimed at kids is getting a little crowded.
Maybe if I end up without work, I'd like to work on producing a book marketed at a slightly older audience and cover aspects that other books don't go in to. Working on previous titles has given me ideas, but producing a book solo, without guarantee I can sell it for a decent amount, or at all, is putting me off starting already. Unlike my previous titles, I would spend more than a few months on making a decent production. Maybe 6-8 months, as I'd also like to design the book and take on a bigger project management roll...
It's an idea I'm considering, but wont know if it will become a reality for a few weeks yet...
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On a non-work related topic, I'm having troubles deciding what topic to work on as far as my artwork goes. I'm in a struggle between my love for; sexy babes (as seen in Masamune Shirow's artwork) and 'kick-yo-ass' warrior characters (as seen in Fist of the North Star and the like). I've considered a mix of a cute/sexy girls and macho fighter guys, but after recently watching the anime 'Ikkitousen', I don't think it really works. Ikkitousen is a fighting anime which involves panty shots of the girls at any opportunity! I find this pretty distracting, although I'd have nothing against the panty shots without the fighting!
...
Hmm, maybe less thinking and more experimenting and doing from now on..
Do we really need any more how to draw books? I don't really think so, but if it will pay my bills, then of course!
As I have been working on a few "How to draw manga" titles, I have seen the same techniques are being used in more than one book and feel the market for manga techniques books aimed at kids is getting a little crowded. Maybe if I end up without work, I'd like to work on producing a book marketed at a slightly older audience and cover aspects that other books don't go in to. Working on previous titles has given me ideas, but producing a book solo, without guarantee I can sell it for a decent amount, or at all, is putting me off starting already. Unlike my previous titles, I would spend more than a few months on making a decent production. Maybe 6-8 months, as I'd also like to design the book and take on a bigger project management roll...
It's an idea I'm considering, but wont know if it will become a reality for a few weeks yet...
---
On a non-work related topic, I'm having troubles deciding what topic to work on as far as my artwork goes. I'm in a struggle between my love for; sexy babes (as seen in Masamune Shirow's artwork) and 'kick-yo-ass' warrior characters (as seen in Fist of the North Star and the like). I've considered a mix of a cute/sexy girls and macho fighter guys, but after recently watching the anime 'Ikkitousen', I don't think it really works. Ikkitousen is a fighting anime which involves panty shots of the girls at any opportunity! I find this pretty distracting, although I'd have nothing against the panty shots without the fighting!
...Hmm, maybe less thinking and more experimenting and doing from now on..
2019 UPDATE
Art Related:
* My portfolio and personal homepage is at www.benkrefta.com * Commissions open, so if interested, send me a message
Conventions:
I'm attending a few Comic Cons each year here in the UK- usually towards the South East. I update with details of these on Social media (see links below), so best to go there for updates about upcoming Con attendances.
How-To Books:
For those that don't know, I've written a few instructional manga art books over the years...
* 'Digital Manga' is available for humans to buy on my website : An in-depth tutorial book teaching virtually everything I know about Photoshop and colouring characters.
* '
2017 Update
Conventions:
I'll be attending at least another three UK cons this year:
MCM London [May 26-28], London Super Comic Con [August 25-27] and MCM London [October 27-29]. Feel free to stop by and say hello if you'll be attending also :)
How-To Books:
* 'Digital Manga' is available for humans to buy on my website at http://www.benkrefta.com/shop/digital-manga-book/ : An in-depth tutorial book teaching virtually everything I know about Photoshop and colouring characters.
* 'The Artist's Guide to Drawing Manga' is also now available on my site http://www.benkrefta.com/shop/artists-guide-to-manga-book/ : A beginners guide to manga and character
2016 Update
Conventions:
I just finished attending 10 of 10 UK comic conventions over the last 10 months. A great experience, which I hope to write more about in the near future.
Chatted with loads of great people over the course including Deviantartists:
~yoneyu (https://www.deviantart.com/yoneyu) :iconflyingviperart: :iconentenn: :iconpauscorpi: :iconm0zch0ps: :iconcoldcoldethyl: :iconkittystardraco: (sorry if I missed anyone out)
Was great to meet so many artists all doing their own thing and making the effort to put themselves out there
Currently plans are to slow it down- attending two or three cons a year unless I decide to create more con-friendly artwork, i.e. fan art to
Digital Manga : Tutorial Book
For artists interested in learning digital colouring and character creation with Photoshop, check out my latest book- 'Digital Manga'.
I’ve wanted to create a book on how I colour my character art for years. Last year I pitched the idea to my publisher and began work on the project. It was published in 2014. With around 40,000 words of written content and 400 images and screen captures, the 160 page guide contains over double the content of my previous 144 page 'Art of Drawing Manga' title and IMO is a far superior book all-round.
There are so many aspiring anime, comic fans and artists who want to learn how to get great digital resul
© 2004 - 2024 Bomu
Comments7
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Hey nice one with the pre-orders. As I mentioned one time, you could go into drawing Mobile Suits, or perhaps even do an entire book on CGing and colouring pictures in other media (although the CGing bit may only tap into a limited market). I understand about the whole 'producing for an older audience', since writing a book for kids can limit the scope of what you can offer. It also sort-of prevents you from drawing nude figures (although you could do a 'Ghost in the Shell' and give em no privates ). I'll be looking out for this book!
). I'll be looking out for this book!