Characters and gestures

I’ve been a bit preoccupied with IT exams in my other life recently, but eager to get back on the graphic novel-case. I’ve been reading Scott McCloud’s excellent book Making Comics, and as a really, really green comics reader I need some steerage at this point.

I’ve realised my figure drawing is very ropey after many years not doing it! Inspired by Scott talking about comics artists working in silhouette for full figures, I’ve been playing in Photoshop trying to capture gestures and character in some background scenes. I’ve been using pencils and graphic pens for years on this story, so a fresh approach being less precious has been a bit of a relief!  They are very much of one perspective but I don’t mind that at this stage – I’m seeing it as more of an exercise.

I enjoyed putting some background in to see how effective the characters could be in context.  As I was working I found my brain filling in the three-dimensional figure, a bit like the way I find producing drawings on black paper in reverse to be.

I also love silhouettes and they are an 18thC speciality so it will be interesting to see what ideas come of this!

Gentleman
Laundry women
Two men arguing

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