How To Draw Comics

As much as we love to draw, sometimes we're just not in the mood to put pencil to paper. When we feel lazy, tired, lethargic or simply uninspired it can seem almost impossible to get anything down onto the page at all. And it sucks. Because we know we're better than that. Ideally, if we could whip out a drawing at will whenever we liked it'd be game over. Just imagine how much more productive you...

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bülow and special guest artist Aaron Bartling talk about freelancing, and how you can use it to build up your portfolio and professional reputation to score bigger and better job opportunities. We hope you enjoy this episode of the HTDC Podcast and take away loads of insight from it. Thanks for listening. Check out Aaron's art work at: https://...

This episode, special guest artist Deth Phimmasone joins Clayton Barton to talk about a creative dilemma most, if not all, aspiring comic artists face - Getting whats in your head down onto paper. Oftentimes, the ideas inside our mind seem complex and intricate. But in reality, our brain stores information in a simplified manner, meaning that most of the mental imagery we might visualize is in fac...

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast Ric Bülow sits down with special guest artist Christopher Wilhelm to talk about developing a style true to you, and what it's like to delve into the world of freelancing for the first time. If you'd like to learn more about Christopher Wilhelm and see some of his art, you can find it via the links below. ArtStation: https://www.artstation.com/barel...

When you're able to find a passion you can fall in love with, productivity becomes addictive. Sadly, many of us haven't found one yet that truly fulfills us in that way. Lets be realistic, we all have responsibilities and general house keeping to take care of in our lives. Unfortunately that can get in the way of what our heart truly yearns for, sometimes to the point where we become blind to the...

If there’s one thing that holds us back creatively, its artistic anxiety. In this episode of the HTDC Podcast you’ll learn what it is, why it happens and what to do about it. For the most part, thinking too much is to blame. In the beginning we start out with the best of intentions, pondering the next grand idea we intend to realize. In our mind we figure out every detail it’ll entail, bringing it...

You’ve been waiting, wondering where we’ve been. Well, we’re back bearing a host of brilliant announcements you won’t want to miss – because they’re all to do with you, and for the most part consist of the copious amount of comic art know how we’re putting out faster than ever. That includes brand new episodes of the HTDC Podcast, coming back to you pretty much every day. The question is though, w...

In this episode Clayton and Ed talk about HTDC's first ever competition - how you can enter and what's in it for you! This is the contest you’ve been waiting for. This is the one that’ll finally give you the nudge to get off your pin-up seat, and start working on sequential pages. We all know that Anatomy, Form, Structure, Perspective… they’re all important for making comics. But the most importan...

Ed Foychuk and I finally built up the courage to talk about Politics in Comics in our latest episode of the HTDC Podcast. Have comics changed, and if so have they really changed that much? How have they changed, and most importantly have they changed for the better? There are creators and readers sitting on either side of the old and new, who either read comics for nostalgia sake, or to get a hit...

In this episode of the How to Draw Comics Podcast, Ed Foychuk, Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton team up once more to talk about originality, vs relatabilty when it comes to creating compelling comic books. Cliché's, Stereotypes, Tropes and Archetypes often get a bad wrap for being overdone and boring. But are they really all that bad? The answer is yes, and no. They can be bad, but often times are fan...

The topic for this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast is on how to get commissions as a freelance artist. When it comes to making money from art, clients are our bread and butter. Without them there's simply no way to financially sustain our creative trade full time. But where do we find them and how do we get them to give us work? Ed and Clayton share there experience as freelance artists, sharing...

This episode Ed Foychuk and Clayton Barton get together to talk about the importance of setting milestones as an aspiring comic book artist. Having goals in place that you can strive toward not only keeps you on track but holds you accountable to yourself and those around you. They give you a clear vision of what you should be focused on next to make real progress. Without them you've got no compa...

In this special edition, bonus episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton brings you his Friday lecture straight from the Virtual Comic Art Classroom (VCAC). This talk focuses on the topics of: 1. Making 'Real' Progress In Your Art 2. Cultivating Patience and Long Term Determination 3. Having Love and Respect for the Art You Create 4. Drawing Groups of Characters on Double Page Spreads We hope yo...

The HTDC Podcast is back after a month long break. Join Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk as they break the ice with a freeflow dump of comic art knowledge and insights focused on topics such as - How to conquer perfectionism Self preservation on the job How to promote yourself as an artist Honing in on your mistake to give your abilities a boost Getting past your setbacks as fast as possible! Is it b...

In this episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton's joined by special guest creator Rob Arnold to talk about what it takes to get your first comic book off the ground. Rob Arnold is the creator and writer of Replicator - a post apocalyptic sci-fi comic set in a dark future where disease, famine, violence and robot killing machines are an everyday occurrence. This is a project Rob has been...

This week in the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton get together to talk about the importance of scheduling and deadlines! Most artists don't like to confine their creativity in any way, shape or form, and that includes limiting it to a deadline. But what we don't realize is that schedules keep us on track so that we can remain conscious of what needs to get done and work tow...

In this weeks episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk talk about the art of taking and giving critique. Getting feedback on your work is one of the fastest ways to grow as an artist - unfortunately many of us have an automatic defense mechanism that kicks whenever someone points out a flaw in our work. And rightfully so! Our art is an expression of us, an extension...

In 2019's first episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton and Ric talk about clearing the slate, and setting new resolutions to reach your goals in the new year. Breaking into the year with a crystal clear idea as to what you want to achieve helps give you direction, priority and most importantly, substantially increases your chances of reaching the goals that matter most. We hope you enj...

In this Episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Clayton Barton and Ed Foychuk team up to discuss the biggest mistakes we make when it comes to learning and practicing the art of comic book illustration. We all know the saying "Practice makes Perfect". But in reality, practicing in the wrong way can be even worse than not practicing at all. Perfect Practice is in fact what makes Perfect. So figu...

In this week's episode of the How To Draw Comics Podcast, Co-Host Ric Bulow and Clayton Barton talk tactics on how to keep your skills sharp - even after you've been away from the drawing board for a while. Taking long breaks from your craft can leave you feeling fearful about getting back into your groove. We believe our abilities just won't be at the level we left them, and that can lead to a se...

So many of you gained a ton of value out of our first Q&A Session, that we just couldn't wait to do another one! This episode Ed Foychuk, Ric Bülow, and Clayton Barton are back to answer your questions on such topics as - - Camera angles and lighting set-ups for dramatic mood and energy - Building teams to produce comics for Portfolio work - Workflow ideas for practice sessions - Guides to drawing...

This episode we're joined by the two headed hydra of comics - Comfort Love and Adam Withers.  Having published numerous acclaimed comic book titles such as "The Uniques" and "Rainbow In The Dark", Comfort and Adam are a power team who write, draw, color and letter all of their work together. They take equal part and ownership in the production process, brain storming ideas, developing them and ult...

This episode I'm joined by Co-Host's Ed Foychuk and Ric Bulow for HTDC's first Q&A session. We'll be answering questions straight from the How To Draw Comic's Community on topics such as - Is self publishing a creator owned title the best way to break into the comic book industry? Is it okay to sell B&W Line Art Illustrations at Comic Con's, or will coloring it (or paying a colorist to do it for y...

In this weeks episode of the HTDC Podcast, Clayton Barton, Ric Bulow and Ed Foychuk talk about the art - of teaching art. We reflect on our past experiences in the class room as both students and teachers, and discuss what we think it takes to be an effective art instructor who can walk the talk. Like art, teaching is a specialized skill all on it's own. A brilliant artist can create awe inspiring...

Is drawing a natural talent that some people are just born with? If so, where does that leave the rest of us - are we doomed to always be two steps behind the elites with little chance of ever reaching their divine level of god-given skill? This is both a question and a statement we hear all too often in the face of a masterfully executed piece of comic book art. When we see someone who can draw w...