Advice thread

[MetalPredat0r]

When you draw in anime/manga style, after drawing in pencil do you ink the eyes first or last? The book I'm learning from says that you're supposed to ink starting at one of the top corners so you don't end up smearing the ink, but my markers dry pretty fast so smears aren't a problem.

Do you use a drawing compass to draw circles? I'm not very good at drawing circles freehand, and it takes me quite a few tries before I get a circle that looks reasonable.

Like Grace said, what I usually do is ink anything that might cover the eyes in any way, particularly hair bangs. The eyes are usually second to that and then I just go from there.

[altuixde]

Your posts do help! Thanks, you two! I'll try inking the eyes last, and definitely after inking anything obstructing the eyes. I'd still like to get a compass, but I'll also see if I can learn to draw circles freehand.

[MetalPredat0r]

Your posts do help! Thanks, you two! I'll try inking the eyes last, and definitely after inking anything obstructing the eyes. I'd still like to get a compass, but I'll also see if I can learn to draw circles freehand.

You are very welcome.

[Hideyoshi]

It may be too late, but I just want to give some advice on drawing anyway. Hope you may find these useful~~

It is dependent on what you really draw to decide whether to ink the eyes first or last. Generally, it is better to ink the eyes last as you may need to change the position of eyes after drawing other parts. However, some may want to ink the eyes first before inking the hair as some hairstyles may cover the eyes.

Well, it is not a good habit to draw using tools, even drawing circles with compass or drawing straight lines with rulers. Unless you need to draw something is a perfect circle such as something as background, it is normally not a matter to draw a "bad" one. You may draw again even you get a "bad" circle. Just practice makes perfect~

[Amazing_Grace]

Your posts do help! Thanks, you two! I'll try inking the eyes last, and definitely after inking anything obstructing the eyes. I'd still like to get a compass, but I'll also see if I can learn to draw circles freehand.

No problem!
I don't think anyone can ever draw a PERFECT circle freehand, even if you are, like, professional, so just keep that in mind. As long as it looks like a circle, even if it's a little shaky, it should be fine.

[altuixde]

you may need to change the position of eyes after drawing other parts.

Erasing an eye or eyes after already starting inking sounds like a lot more work in redrawing them, but I'm guessing that it's worth it. Thanks!

I don't think anyone can ever draw a PERFECT circle freehand,

I had a math teacher who could draw perfect circles freehand, but those were more than two feet big on a chalkboard.

[DeviantProtagonist]

Speaking of drawing facial features, you should look up Mark Crilley as well. He's a renowned manga artist with loads of guidance videos on Youtube. His details are very precise as is the explanation of methods and common mistakes.

[altuixde]

The book I'm learning from is Mastering Manga by Mark Crilley. Oddly enough, I haven't watched any of his YouTube videos yet.

[DeviantProtagonist]

That makes two of us, then! He's also got a DeviantArt page, and I have both volumes from said author. Quite the treat, right? :3

[altuixde]

Yeah! I always thought that drawing was beyond my ability, but the book breaks it down into doable steps.

Edit: One of Mark Crilley's videos showed me what I was doing wrong when drawing reference circles. I was trying to draw them in one stroke, but you're actually supposed to use many light strokes.