07-17-2015, 11:00 AM
Ok, great feedback, some juicy constructive posts, thanks guys:D
Ok, I won't shred posts and answer them, I'll just post generally to what all three of you wrote.
So, basically, as I see it, facebook is meh, to say the least... Ok, that's what I get for being a caveman. I thought fb was rad!:)
Ok, so it's not really worth "getting involved" in facebook? Ok, then I'll simply exist there, update when I update on other sites and check from time to time without investing.
Instagram, Tumblr, Deviant. I would reckon those are "to go" platforms. That adds a big chunk of unknown territory for me (for example I didn't even know you had things on DA that aren't galleries:D). Ok, time to learn to use those and make accounts.
As for the money... that's waaaay down the road and actually, I would like to earn money with my work and do tutorials "for teh people" in the end. This is something I can do now (ironically because I can't freelance or work lol) and was wishing to do for a long time (prompted by the bad anime tuts and the lack of rational connections between "is" and "why"). But, free gumroad tuts seem like a good idea, everybody likes free gumroad tuts:D That said, of course, if something comes out of this all, I won't mind earning some money from it, of course.
Amit, you mentioned contacting some of the more prominent (or at least more "out there") artists and ask them for opinions. That actually sounds great. I'll take a look at the "scene" and pick some that seem solid enough but approachable.
About the "personal struggle" thing. Well, maybe. I mean, I don't mind mentioning it, it's not a secret, but I don't exactly feel like randomly throwing it out there, winking and nudging:) I mean, I sorta "plan" on recuperating (somehow?) by the time my tuts and artwork are somewhat seen, so in the end, it would be as if I never had the condition. Then again, I am not opposed to the notion of mentioning it if it's related to some topic (maybe I could make one of the videos about the hazards of overdrawing?) and even going into the full "story", so people could watch for those things themselves. Either way, it can actually serve as an experience that could benefit someone else.
About planning. I thought about doing a "combo" of simply starting things and planning them. I will make accounts on all platforms and start posting artwork, fan art and stuff like that, hopefully resulting in some interest. So, I have some time to not exactly plan but go with the flow, "grinding" the base so to speak. My broadest plan is to get involved slowly and through artwork more than anything and then use that foundation to offer tut/video content to people that potentially noticed me.
About rambling. You don't have to disclaim when talking about rambling to me:D I mean, we talked about it before and you do it too, so shoot:) Anyway, I wanted to touch upon this because I actually thought to put my powers of rambling to good use and use it as a "bonus":) And I was actually prompted to do so by a friend (a concept artist). When I asked him these same questions, he told me that my strongest asset is my "rambling" (well, he didn't say rambling but it's basically the same notion) - that I have a broad education, I can analyze things well, so my tuts and takes on things could be riddled with things that a lot of people wouldn't notice or connect. So I was like, hmm, maybe he's right.
An example maybe, so tell me what you think:
Let's take the inward feet from my last post as the topic of a youtube video:) I could show examples of them, draw them in some way while explaining how to do it and finish. But, I thought I would do something along the lines of
-show various works with that trope present, from various artists, with a general personal intro/comment
-do an anatomy/stylization/approach tutorial with voice over. Address the "why" as well as the process. So, what happens with your bones when you adapt that style of walking, what do your muscles do, what does it do to your silhouette, how your calves react etc. So, while also giving a presentation and technical approach, I am giving an extra anatomical info that's grounded in reality (because yes, those feet are the thing and anime pulled from real life on that one:) ). Also I go through staple poses, where you could exaggerate, why, why are the knees pronounced, both from stylistic and anatomical approach, what are you trying to accomplish with that etc.
-do a voice over with explaining why that is present in the first place. Explain the iconography and the cultural base behind it. Explain the anime/japan sense of sexuality as opposed to western one, explain how it pertains to "inward feet", why are they deemed attractive and all that stuff. Add a layer of real life legacy to an established art archetype.
Something like that. So, basically, I thought about utilizing my analytical-knowledge-sponging brain to do good deeds:) I think it's a good idea, because it gives that connection that every tutorial I've seen lacks - and while that connection might not be overly technical - it's there and it's important. I know this from personal experience, as, even though I was at the level where I could perfectly analyze some Michelangelo, I had difficulty with anime. I mean, it's not anything mystical, it's just an immersion cultural kind of thing. I think that's the important part of successful anime drawing.
Related to that - about bitesized consumables - could you elaborate your stance on that? Because I was talking with friends about it and both longer structured tuts and fastfood tuts seem to have their merits. I personally like long stuff as I can appreciate it like a class or something and it has more stuff at one place and/or it explains what you searched for in great detail.
On the other hand, I guess that anime-hungry angsty teens won't put up with that:D That said, I would like for more serious people (but beginners) to be the target demographic.
For non-interwebz stuff - hardly any chance:) In Serbia, there are 7mil people, 2mil in Belgrade (capital), out of those, I would say that out of all twelve anime enthousiasts, three want to actually draw it:) I mean, you get the picture.
Anyway, thanks for the lengthy and informative post and support, it really means a lot. Thanks in advance for sharing my content (if it's good) :D
Trigger, thanks A LOT for your post, because you are kinda confirming to me that anyone who goes beyond "I wanna draw anime hur dur" when they're eleven, hits the wall of bad tuts OR the wall of good untranslated tuts which assume things which you don't:)
Also, thanks a lot for the offer to share the stuff.
Smrfette, heya!:)
Thanks for believing, I'm counting on your believing ability:D
About the nerve - I think I can handle 30mins, I went to bunch of tests and it doesn't get worse when I "do things" - I am talking medically, I have the pain and lockdowns, but it doesn't do anything to me, it seems. It's a bit weird, my nerve conduction tests are like ones of a college football player or something. There is no damage (?). My blood is ok, my strength is a bit on a weak side, but nothing like in those pics where one hand is like five times smaller than the other - we are talking about less than an inch around biceps and a bit bonier shoulder. Also, if needed, I can even lift stuff (although, it would be the last lifting for a long time, but still). It's like, I am able, but not really. Doctors explain it with their lingo stuff that we peasants can't really understand, but I suspect they don't really know the whole nerve system thingy themselves:)
Anyway, two (good) docs said that I can't really screw myself with drawing or stuff like that, but that I should avoid going to store, changing a tire and stuff like that. So, basically, even though I have somewhat significant difficulties, I kinda have a green light to draw how much I want/can/feel like.
In the most basic way, the way I understood it, the inflammation would stem from me doing heavy shoulder-ish things, rather than drawing/knitting/writing, even though, effectiveness-wise, I am maybe better in this state at changing tires than in drawing. A lot of hocus pocus there, either way:)
So, I think I'll maintain the 30 mins or even try to raise that, but don't worry, I won't draw myself into catatonic spasm or something:) I want to say that I am not reckless, although I am testing what happens.
Also, thank you too for a great personal feedback in the way of "if I was an anime artist", that is the kind of thing that makes me believe even more that something like this is lacking. People usually either draw bad anime and fool enthusiastic beginners or they are simply teaching general fundamentals and let people build anime themselves from that point.
And of course, thank you for the energetic cheer:D Yes, I too hope that I'll do something and that at least some people would benefit from this. Also, of course, I hope my hand gets better soon, so I could actually practice and work.
A specific question for all:
How would you treat youtube vids/tuts in general? From the aspect of building up to them. Tuts and themes are finite resource (well, maybe not, but you know what I am talking about). If I put my strongest tutorial at the channel nobody will see, that tutorial is dead. Even after if potentially the channel grows, that first video will be buried and skipped by many.
So I was thinking into maybe making a "spontaneous" youtube channel in the beginning, very passive, but with content and see if it catches something. By "content" I mean simple sped up processes with music (you know those videos) and after, if channel grows, to announce I am about to make tuts answer questions and so on.
OR, is it better to simply try and grow on social networks (tumblr, instagram, DA, FB...), make some videos and let them rest on my HD and then go "all pro" and simply share the news that I'm starting a youtube channel with tuts and stuff?
Ok, I won't shred posts and answer them, I'll just post generally to what all three of you wrote.
So, basically, as I see it, facebook is meh, to say the least... Ok, that's what I get for being a caveman. I thought fb was rad!:)
Ok, so it's not really worth "getting involved" in facebook? Ok, then I'll simply exist there, update when I update on other sites and check from time to time without investing.
Instagram, Tumblr, Deviant. I would reckon those are "to go" platforms. That adds a big chunk of unknown territory for me (for example I didn't even know you had things on DA that aren't galleries:D). Ok, time to learn to use those and make accounts.
As for the money... that's waaaay down the road and actually, I would like to earn money with my work and do tutorials "for teh people" in the end. This is something I can do now (ironically because I can't freelance or work lol) and was wishing to do for a long time (prompted by the bad anime tuts and the lack of rational connections between "is" and "why"). But, free gumroad tuts seem like a good idea, everybody likes free gumroad tuts:D That said, of course, if something comes out of this all, I won't mind earning some money from it, of course.
Amit, you mentioned contacting some of the more prominent (or at least more "out there") artists and ask them for opinions. That actually sounds great. I'll take a look at the "scene" and pick some that seem solid enough but approachable.
About the "personal struggle" thing. Well, maybe. I mean, I don't mind mentioning it, it's not a secret, but I don't exactly feel like randomly throwing it out there, winking and nudging:) I mean, I sorta "plan" on recuperating (somehow?) by the time my tuts and artwork are somewhat seen, so in the end, it would be as if I never had the condition. Then again, I am not opposed to the notion of mentioning it if it's related to some topic (maybe I could make one of the videos about the hazards of overdrawing?) and even going into the full "story", so people could watch for those things themselves. Either way, it can actually serve as an experience that could benefit someone else.
About planning. I thought about doing a "combo" of simply starting things and planning them. I will make accounts on all platforms and start posting artwork, fan art and stuff like that, hopefully resulting in some interest. So, I have some time to not exactly plan but go with the flow, "grinding" the base so to speak. My broadest plan is to get involved slowly and through artwork more than anything and then use that foundation to offer tut/video content to people that potentially noticed me.
About rambling. You don't have to disclaim when talking about rambling to me:D I mean, we talked about it before and you do it too, so shoot:) Anyway, I wanted to touch upon this because I actually thought to put my powers of rambling to good use and use it as a "bonus":) And I was actually prompted to do so by a friend (a concept artist). When I asked him these same questions, he told me that my strongest asset is my "rambling" (well, he didn't say rambling but it's basically the same notion) - that I have a broad education, I can analyze things well, so my tuts and takes on things could be riddled with things that a lot of people wouldn't notice or connect. So I was like, hmm, maybe he's right.
An example maybe, so tell me what you think:
Let's take the inward feet from my last post as the topic of a youtube video:) I could show examples of them, draw them in some way while explaining how to do it and finish. But, I thought I would do something along the lines of
-show various works with that trope present, from various artists, with a general personal intro/comment
-do an anatomy/stylization/approach tutorial with voice over. Address the "why" as well as the process. So, what happens with your bones when you adapt that style of walking, what do your muscles do, what does it do to your silhouette, how your calves react etc. So, while also giving a presentation and technical approach, I am giving an extra anatomical info that's grounded in reality (because yes, those feet are the thing and anime pulled from real life on that one:) ). Also I go through staple poses, where you could exaggerate, why, why are the knees pronounced, both from stylistic and anatomical approach, what are you trying to accomplish with that etc.
-do a voice over with explaining why that is present in the first place. Explain the iconography and the cultural base behind it. Explain the anime/japan sense of sexuality as opposed to western one, explain how it pertains to "inward feet", why are they deemed attractive and all that stuff. Add a layer of real life legacy to an established art archetype.
Something like that. So, basically, I thought about utilizing my analytical-knowledge-sponging brain to do good deeds:) I think it's a good idea, because it gives that connection that every tutorial I've seen lacks - and while that connection might not be overly technical - it's there and it's important. I know this from personal experience, as, even though I was at the level where I could perfectly analyze some Michelangelo, I had difficulty with anime. I mean, it's not anything mystical, it's just an immersion cultural kind of thing. I think that's the important part of successful anime drawing.
Related to that - about bitesized consumables - could you elaborate your stance on that? Because I was talking with friends about it and both longer structured tuts and fastfood tuts seem to have their merits. I personally like long stuff as I can appreciate it like a class or something and it has more stuff at one place and/or it explains what you searched for in great detail.
On the other hand, I guess that anime-hungry angsty teens won't put up with that:D That said, I would like for more serious people (but beginners) to be the target demographic.
For non-interwebz stuff - hardly any chance:) In Serbia, there are 7mil people, 2mil in Belgrade (capital), out of those, I would say that out of all twelve anime enthousiasts, three want to actually draw it:) I mean, you get the picture.
Anyway, thanks for the lengthy and informative post and support, it really means a lot. Thanks in advance for sharing my content (if it's good) :D
Trigger, thanks A LOT for your post, because you are kinda confirming to me that anyone who goes beyond "I wanna draw anime hur dur" when they're eleven, hits the wall of bad tuts OR the wall of good untranslated tuts which assume things which you don't:)
Also, thanks a lot for the offer to share the stuff.
Smrfette, heya!:)
Thanks for believing, I'm counting on your believing ability:D
About the nerve - I think I can handle 30mins, I went to bunch of tests and it doesn't get worse when I "do things" - I am talking medically, I have the pain and lockdowns, but it doesn't do anything to me, it seems. It's a bit weird, my nerve conduction tests are like ones of a college football player or something. There is no damage (?). My blood is ok, my strength is a bit on a weak side, but nothing like in those pics where one hand is like five times smaller than the other - we are talking about less than an inch around biceps and a bit bonier shoulder. Also, if needed, I can even lift stuff (although, it would be the last lifting for a long time, but still). It's like, I am able, but not really. Doctors explain it with their lingo stuff that we peasants can't really understand, but I suspect they don't really know the whole nerve system thingy themselves:)
Anyway, two (good) docs said that I can't really screw myself with drawing or stuff like that, but that I should avoid going to store, changing a tire and stuff like that. So, basically, even though I have somewhat significant difficulties, I kinda have a green light to draw how much I want/can/feel like.
In the most basic way, the way I understood it, the inflammation would stem from me doing heavy shoulder-ish things, rather than drawing/knitting/writing, even though, effectiveness-wise, I am maybe better in this state at changing tires than in drawing. A lot of hocus pocus there, either way:)
So, I think I'll maintain the 30 mins or even try to raise that, but don't worry, I won't draw myself into catatonic spasm or something:) I want to say that I am not reckless, although I am testing what happens.
Also, thank you too for a great personal feedback in the way of "if I was an anime artist", that is the kind of thing that makes me believe even more that something like this is lacking. People usually either draw bad anime and fool enthusiastic beginners or they are simply teaching general fundamentals and let people build anime themselves from that point.
And of course, thank you for the energetic cheer:D Yes, I too hope that I'll do something and that at least some people would benefit from this. Also, of course, I hope my hand gets better soon, so I could actually practice and work.
A specific question for all:
How would you treat youtube vids/tuts in general? From the aspect of building up to them. Tuts and themes are finite resource (well, maybe not, but you know what I am talking about). If I put my strongest tutorial at the channel nobody will see, that tutorial is dead. Even after if potentially the channel grows, that first video will be buried and skipped by many.
So I was thinking into maybe making a "spontaneous" youtube channel in the beginning, very passive, but with content and see if it catches something. By "content" I mean simple sped up processes with music (you know those videos) and after, if channel grows, to announce I am about to make tuts answer questions and so on.
OR, is it better to simply try and grow on social networks (tumblr, instagram, DA, FB...), make some videos and let them rest on my HD and then go "all pro" and simply share the news that I'm starting a youtube channel with tuts and stuff?