Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator

Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator

The world of manga (Japanese comics) has captured the imagination of artists, both aspiring and professional alike. Now best-selling artist and art instructor Mark Crilley presents the most complete look yet at the variety of creative options available in the world of manga. Crilley fills each chapter with gorgeous, original artwork created with a variety of tools (pencils, colored pencils, digital art, pen and ink, and more) and in a variety of manga-inspired styles. He pairs each piece with information on the materials used and the inspiration that led to its creation. Manga Art provides readers a one-of-a-kind chance to hear from one of the leading artists in the field of manga instruction, as he reveals the unlimited possibilities of manga and the creative secrets behind over 100 pieces of original, never-before-seen artwork. “Mark Crilley’s drawings are some of my favorite things to look at, and this book is filled with beautiful examples of them!  Each drawing has a story, and the book is filled with insights on technique, tools, and all things manga. If you are interested in manga, or really any kind of cartooning or storytelling, Manga Art is for you!"  —Jeff Smith, creator of BONE , RASL , and Tuki Save the Humans " Manga Art is bursting with creative thoughts and processes. Food for any manga lover’s soul!"   — Camilla d’Errico, painter, creator of Helmetgirls, and author of Pop Manga , Pop Painting , and Pop Manga Coloring Book "I devoured this book in one sitting. Mark's work is beautiful and inspiring, and I had so many sketching ideas by the end that I had to slap my hands away from the art supply box so I could write this, instead. Thank you, Mark, this book is another one that is definitely going on my art shelf!"  —Svetlana Chmakova, author of Dramacon , Nightschool: The Weirn Books , and Awkward MARK CRILLEY is the author of Mastering Manga , Mastering Manga 2 , The Realism Challenge , and The Drawing Lesson , as well as several manga novels, including the Akiko, Miki Falls, Billy Clikk , and Brody's Ghost series. Since being selected for Entertainment Weekly's "It List" in 1998, Crilley has published nearly 20 books and developed a massive Internet following for his drawing demonstration videos. His books have been featured in USA Today , the New York Daily News , and Disney Adventures magazine, as well as on CNN Headline News. INTRODUCTION  When I was a little kid, my parents always kept stacks of white paper on a shelf in the kitchen, low enough that the paper was easily within my reach. Not far from that paper supply was a cup full of pencils, and, next to that, an electric pencil sharpener. My parents knew I loved to draw. They knew, in fact, that there was basically nothing else I would rather do. I was kind of obsessed with it. All day long, I’d have a pencil in hand, filling page after page with whatever captured my imagination at the time—monsters, superheroes, rocket ships, race cars, you name it. I was free to push myself to the limits of my imagination; with an endless supply of paper and pencils nearby—and provided I’d finished my homework—no one would ever tell me to stop. And so I continued merrily drawing away through elementary, middle, and high school. Of course, once I decided to major in art at Kalamazoo College, things became a little more structured. There might be an assignment to tackle a certain subject, or a directive to draw in a certain way. Years later, when I became a published author and illustrator, there were naturally further limitations: outlines were discussed, plans were made, drawings were submitted for approval, and so on. The days of just sitting down and drawing what I wanted to had inevitably come to an end. Such is the way of the world. Or is it? A couple of years ago, I pitched a book idea to Watson-Guptill Publications, proposing to create a book of illustrations. There was just one thread intended to unite them all: they should be in a manga style, or they should relate to Japan and the world of manga in some way. To my great pleasure, the folks at Watson-Guptill said, “Let’s do it.” And I was a child once more. The illustrations you are about to view were created in an atmosphere of complete artistic freedom. The publisher entrusted me with creating the book that I wanted to create. This freedom meant that I was able to follow my muse, day after day, week after week, and make the kind of illustrations I wanted to. I came up with the ideas. I decided the sizes and shapes of each image. I settled on which art supplies to use for drawing the lines and for adding the colors.  It was all up to me. No one said they needed to come in and look over my shoulder. No one said, “Mark, can we see some rough drafts and run them by the committee?” It wasn’t like that. I just sat down and started making art. Truly, it was like being a kid again.  The stack of paper had become pads of Strathmore Bristol board