How To Books: Are they trying to do it all?
This article, How not to draw manga: Some free advice, prompted a thoughtful discussion.
I've seen a lot of how to books in stores. Some are really horrible, the kind that make you suspect the publisher wanted to cash in on the manga craze of the early 2000s. That made me wonder what makes a good how to book, and I have a theory that perhaps too many books try to cover it all, and by doing so do a mediocre job overall.
Friend: I read a how to book by Toriyama Akira, and I still use and remember what I read from that.
Me: What did he cover?
Friend: Panel flow, how you don't need to show everything, pacing, focus...
I think how two books could/should be divided into categories: beginner and more advanced. These are two difference audiences. Without this separation, you may end up with pages covering basic imagery such as sweatdrops, chibis, etc. that those familiar with manga may find boring and unnecessary and dismiss the book as a waste of money. As a resource for one completely new to manga, however, it may be useful.
Within those two categories it can be divided even further into straightforward figure drawing and more in depth discussion of sequential art. I suggest this because some people just enjoy doing pinups and splash pages. But if they want to venture into sequential with the possibility of printing their work, discussions of bleed, print resolution, Moiré pattern issues, the pros and cons of various inks, brushes and software, etc. may be what they need.
Legal Art Writing Thoughts
I've seen a lot of how to books in stores. Some are really horrible, the kind that make you suspect the publisher wanted to cash in on the manga craze of the early 2000s. That made me wonder what makes a good how to book, and I have a theory that perhaps too many books try to cover it all, and by doing so do a mediocre job overall.
Friend: I read a how to book by Toriyama Akira, and I still use and remember what I read from that.
Me: What did he cover?
Friend: Panel flow, how you don't need to show everything, pacing, focus...
I think how two books could/should be divided into categories: beginner and more advanced. These are two difference audiences. Without this separation, you may end up with pages covering basic imagery such as sweatdrops, chibis, etc. that those familiar with manga may find boring and unnecessary and dismiss the book as a waste of money. As a resource for one completely new to manga, however, it may be useful.
Within those two categories it can be divided even further into straightforward figure drawing and more in depth discussion of sequential art. I suggest this because some people just enjoy doing pinups and splash pages. But if they want to venture into sequential with the possibility of printing their work, discussions of bleed, print resolution, Moiré pattern issues, the pros and cons of various inks, brushes and software, etc. may be what they need.
Legal Art Writing Thoughts