The Sketch


The key to a good sketch is starting out quick. Don't start with an elaborate eyeball and then slowly build the rest of the character around it meticulously. Although it can be done, more often than not the finished image comes out looking very lop-sided, out of proportion and just not right. Don't worry- you are not the only one who has ever drawn like that. Most people started out that way- so did I. So now it is time to toss away that method and quickly lay-out the main volumes and shapes of your picture. If you don't like something, you can always go back and erase.

Look at it as building a house. You don't build from the outside in because then the inside would be very unstable and most likely the entire structure would fall to pieces. Look in the picture above- it is quick- no fingers, no eyeballs, no clothing. All those things can come later. Right now, all that is important is establishing the pose and gesture of the figure.


Refining the Sketch


Now that you have settled on a pose you like and have established it, you can go in and add in all your details. It's okay to rearrange things in this stage and make some changes if you feel the need to. As you can see by this second sketch, I decided to drop the left arm at Diadem's side when it was originally meant to rest on her hip. Just make sure you make all changes and add in everything you want before the inking stage. Don't be afraid to keep going over lines with your pencil until they are right. There will be time to erase them and clean up the lines you don't want later.


Everything looking Good?

Now that you have a final sketch with everything in the place you want it to be, let's ink!

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