err, DO you actually improve??

Shianra · Post by **Shianra** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:20 am

I mean, i'm not years into my webcomic by any means. but looking at my first page and comparing it to my current page...

and i think the first page might just be better!

and it's not that i'm putting less effort in...

but anyway, do you think i will improve if i persist? have any of you guys?

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:30 am

Oh, absolutly.

It does take quite some practice, though. The two above represent a difference of a hundred comics.

- Joel Fagin

War · Post by **War** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:39 am

...No.

Exhibit 1
Exhibit 2

Komiyan · Post by **Komiyan** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 4:40 am

I would say so.
Webcomicking is really good for practice. Makes you draw pretty much every day, thus you undoubtably get better. How far apart are these pages you're worried about?

Dotty · Post by **Dotty** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:06 am

I'd like to think so. I can't show you my latest page...cause it doesn't debut in the comic for another month or so...but I'll show you earliest stuff to last stuff. A little bit of progression.

The very first crap
http://www.tdotcomics.com/comic/OldStuff/Sketch0001.jpg

Very first Invocation/Elvenbaath based sketch. Approx. 1 1/2 years ago.

First time on teh web0r.
http://www.tdotcomics.com/images/galler ... 040519.jpg

First strip I ever posted. Invocations first run.

Style Change
http://www.tdotcomics.com/images/galler ... 041001.jpg

I think I was reading a little too much Batman or something. Invocations second run lasted 3 strips, maybe?

One last shot
http://www.tdotcomics.com/images/galler ... 041020.jpg

The start of Invocations third run. The final run, as the story got too swamped too fast, and by this point I was sick of this particular story.

The last straw
http://www.tdotcomics.com/images/galler ... 050202.jpg

Invocations last strip. After spending too much time on each strip, and less time with my ladyfriend...I decided it was time for a little break to find myself, and play around till I came up with something better, something that didn't take several hours a strip, so I could tell my story and get some art out at the same time.

Elvenbaath today
http://elvenbaath.keenspace.com/

Current strip.

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:28 am

Definitely. It might not be so obvious as in previou examples, but I learned a whole lot since starting mcDuffies.

Shianra · Post by **Shianra** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 6:46 am

hmm, wow. big differences hey!

well...

could some of you guys look at my site http://shianra.keenspace.com

and tell me if my style has done ANYTHING or at least not got WORSE!

Taiwanimation · Post by **Taiwanimation** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:04 am

In drawing, yes, in writing, no.

Ti-Phil · Post by **Ti-Phil** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:15 am

I'm sure you can judge....
First episode and One hundred and sixty fifth episode

Alschroeder · Post by **Alschroeder** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:22 am

Original first page at http://mindmistress.keenspace.com/oldmindact1.htm. Redrawn first page at http://mindmistress.keenspace.com/mindact1.htm.

'Nuff said.---Al

Kris X · Post by **Kris X** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:38 am

You have no idea.

Phalanx · Post by **Phalanx** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:39 am

Really old:
http://longestsojourn.keenspace.com/d/20040721.html

New
http://www.thejaded.co.uk/

I uh... hope so.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:49 am

If you think your current page looks worse than the first one, keep in mind lots of people tend to have off days. Overall though, improvement does occur.
crap
a little better
I like the second panel here

Grabmygoblin · Post by **Grabmygoblin** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 7:58 am

just stick at it. you only have a handful of comics. your style will have ups and downs as you experiment, but overall you will improve.

edit: er, wait, more than a handful, your archive is a bit messed. after about comic number 4 it jumps to today. but still, my advice is valid. stick with it, you're improving. if there is something you like about your early comics, try to work those features in to your current work.

Phact0rri · Post by **Phact0rri** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:24 am

shianra wrote:hmm, wow. big differences hey!

well...

could some of you guys look at my site http://shianra.keenspace.com

and tell me if my style has done ANYTHING or at least not got WORSE!

I can see some improvement. your body styles and faces seem to be depicted less exagerated and more organic. which might be straying from the manga influence some that assumes your stuff is worse?

my stuff though isn't all that great. I think has improved quite as it approaches year two (in just a few months)

first decypher colour verse the current colour

TheGoobla · Post by **TheGoobla** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:39 am

Improve? Imrpove you ask?! I joined KeenSpace drawing stick figures!!

So I suppose that's a big negatory.

Jen_Babcock · Post by **Jen_Babcock** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:45 am

Usually one improves the most drastically within their first year- in terms of both art and writing. Though I suppose this also depends on how much you update. Someone who draw a strip 5x a week- daily will probably improve much faster and more greatly than someone who updates sporadically. I also think it has to do w/ one's conscious effort to improve.

my first web strip (09/03): http://www.clv-comic.com/view.php?pic=0

a more recent strip (02/05):
http://www.clv-comic.com/view.php?pic=527

Post by **Mercury Hat** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 8:47 am

I've never improved. NEVER DO YOU HEAR ME?

Though I still do have quite a ways to go. Keep on truckin'!

Vorticus · Post by **Vorticus** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:10 am

I started with sprites, now I computer draw everything. I guess that's somewhat of an improvement.

Pimpette · Post by **Pimpette** » Tue Mar 29, 2005 9:43 am

First strip
New style
Most recent

Yes to the tenth degree.
The more you draw, the more you get used to drawing, the more you start to notice little details like anatomy and proportion. I'm still having issues with proportion, but it's nowhere near as bad as my pre-Pimpette days.

Live and learn..