An interesting topic in another post prompts me to ask:

Should you try to style your art to suit what is popular at the time?

Personally I think its a mistake to try and place your work in a box by placing a label on it... "my style's anime" type-of-thing.

This restricts growth and doesn't allow true creativity to flow, surely...

Agree?

Disagree?

I'm done trying to please other people, for the most part. My artwork is how it is. All wiggly and misshaped with the sort of anatomy that makes people feel the characters pain as their arms contort and twist around wildly. For the most part, my arts done like old Hanna Barberra cartoons with overbites and round noses, small eye, simple hair, smudge arms and legs.

I for one refuse to do anime or manga art because its popular. IF I had a work that I thought would work in that style, I might do it or get someone like mlais team that does it well to do the art.

People tell me that cut and paste artwork is no good or can't be popular as an art form. People say the same thing about post modern, abstract, dadaism, or any different type of artwork. Its all subjective to peoples opinions of stuff anyway. I happen to think my comics are better because of the cut and paste artwork. I'm aiming to make something that doesn't look good or at a glance doesn't read as being well written. But if people take the time to study my designs or the way I use language and comedy, they'll see whats really going on. I'd like to hope at least a third of my readers get that its a parody of generic web comics. But hey if people want to enjoy my stuff as just another generic comic, fine. End of the day I make my comics to entertain myself. Its really funny to have someone say "this looks like buttrack died and is written poorly" and then watch as other people tell them "are we reading the same comics? This is written very well and drawn in a simplistic style to ward off people like you." Stuff like that. I also like having someone say simple stuff like "todays comic was great" or just a dropping by five is nice. Just having readers makes a person feel good, but having an audience that actively participates, thats the style I've wanted most of all.

That and having my signature style. You can look at any picture I draw or comic I've written and say "Oh he did that. I know of his work." Even if people don't like what I do, I like knowing that people are aware.

Since I've worked with a different artist, on each of my comics, the styles are inevitably different. In each case, though, I've tried to find an artist with a style that suits the story.

I think that should be the main thing, even for someone who is doing the artwork themselves. Don't worry about what style is popular; just choose a style that suits your story.

DAJB
I think that should be the main thing, even for someone who is doing the artwork themselves. Don't worry about what style is popular; just choose a style that suits your story.

I would have to agree here. for My main story, which is like a Magical Girl Spoof, I use the Anime/manga style snice it suits it more... and it makes sense after all... I'm spoofing a lot of various animes and tv shows!

and then on the other hand, for Endless Dream I'm using "Realism" in the fact that those people in my comic is supposed to look like real people.

My style is anime-based because that was what I was exposed to back in the Philippines.

Of course I slightly modified it along the way of my artistic development.

Marine
But if people take the time to study my designs or the way I use language and comedy, they'll see whats really going on.

I agree with Marine on this, because of the insecurity I feel in using

->Middle English, automatically discouraging readers who aren't past high school.
->Fan characters, automatically discouraging readers who equate fanfics with crapfics.

But I'm doing something that (1)I enjoy and (2)I feel has literary value. And past the surface that they think they see, I'm telling a story at a collegiate or post-graduate level.

And I just had a younger reader (somewhere else) who told me that even though Chase's English is totally weird, he thinks about it hard and then he gets what she's saying. That made my day. ;____;

As for my style, I just use elements that I think look good to me. It has nothing to do with what's popular. What I think looks good can range from Jpnese to European to Classical.

If I could Mlai, I would be doing an online version of Spider-man or Batman. Perhaps the two of them teaming up to face off against villains.

For that matter, I would be doing Rorschach comics that prequel The Watchmen. If only someone like Subculture had the time to draw those stories, I'd be doing them. I'd have that guy investigating things mystery of the week style. I could tell a hundred thousand crime stories, and he's one of the characters I'd love to feature in them. His point of view is just so wonderful.

Another character I'd love to use is The Punisher. His point of view is even more insane than Rorschach. He just flat out kills bad guys. I'd play up the vietnam veteran aspects, perhaps even have scenes where he tries to reach out to support groups for war veterans. But at the end of the day, he's hunting down bad guys and killing them. All with his own voice handing out what he feels is justice.

To me that sort of stuff is appealing as a writer. It won't allow you to grow as a writer, but its fun pulp stories. You've got your good guy who isn't all that good doing what he thinks is right to the bad guys, who could even have human characteristics. Perhaps even sympathy. End of the day Rorschach is going to do what he justifies in his paranoia and eccentric world and The Punisher in his psychosis believes he is the only line of defense against crime. Its the reason why The Punisher doesn't have too many arch villains.

I don't think I have enough talent to choose an art style. I draw the way I can. -- Sort of. Actually I usually draw landscapes and animals in detail, and I can draw portraits with lots of time and study -- but I wanted to make simplified drawings for storytelling. I kinda had to reinvent (especially since I haven't done any art since high school, 7 years ago). I actually started by trying to draw typical manga style, since that's what I am used to seeing, but it didn't come naturally to me. So, my style adapted itself into, um, whatever it is now. (I do, of course, continue using manga conventions like sweat drops and veins.)

If I was still concerned about resembling some specific style, I could probably eventually get good at it, but it wouldn't have as much personality. It wouldn't be "mine."

marine
If I could Mlai, I would be doing an online version of Spider-man or Batman... I would be doing Rorschach comics that prequel The Watchmen... Another character I'd love to use is The Punisher.... To me that sort of stuff is appealing as a writer. It won't allow you to grow as a writer, but its fun pulp stories.

IMO, you can do that right now, without using the Marvel characters, and get just as much self-enjoyment and literary value out of it, if not more (because you won't be constrained by the Marvel style that a reader would expect).

Because the subtle difference between us would be... You want to tell that kind of story with a good character vehicle, while my comics are character studies with the stories as vehicles. You don't need Rorshach or Punisher to tell the pulp that appeals to you, you just need character archetypes that think like them.

No.

Now if this were web design, then yes.

mlai

marine
If I could Mlai, I would be doing an online version of Spider-man or Batman... I would be doing Rorschach comics that prequel The Watchmen... Another character I'd love to use is The Punisher.... To me that sort of stuff is appealing as a writer. It won't allow you to grow as a writer, but its fun pulp stories.

IMO, you can do that right now, without using the Marvel characters, and get just as much self-enjoyment and literary value out of it, if not more (because you won't be constrained by the Marvel style that a reader would expect).

Because the subtle difference between us would be... You want to tell that kind of story with a good character vehicle, while my comics are character studies with the stories as vehicles. You don't need Rorshach or Punisher to tell the pulp that appeals to you, you just need character archetypes that think like them.

I've got some of the similar tough guy - anti hero archetype characters in penis, probably the best example is The White Devil tries to be that type of character and fails at it. He's the sort of over the top action first type of character, but instead of being good at it like other heroes, he's completely inept. Perhaps not even possessing any satanic power at all. I'll probably have him start working mysterys pretty soon.

Its an American thing too I suppose. You get brand loyalty if a product is consistently good or bad. More so for me though, theres some strong symbology involved in the two characters that is wonderful. Rorschach (and The Question) with his mask or The Punisher skull, once a villain sees that it takes it to a psychological level. Like why Batman picked out using a bat. Its to instill fear. Plus I was meaning that I'm a fan of those types of characters in particular. I've got some stuff prepared for penis Saturdays to elevate the types of stories seen in penis. Maybe it is the fan in me that attracts me to writing for those characters. Theres just something very interesting to me about stone cold psychopaths as heroes. A villain sees the buttagram on the White Devil, he's not scared. He laughs in his face. The White Devil is every bit as insane as everyone else wearing a costume fighting crime, he just happens to be inept.

I've also got a collection of short stories and spec scripts, mostly crime stories, that could easily be used for any anti hero type character. I'm thinking of releasing it and some of my horror and occult stories as a type of short story anthology, perhaps adapting it into a novella with some bridge over story. I'm more interested right now in doing penis. I figure eventually I'll get tired of doing the whacky zany stuff in penis and everything will end up more akin to my Werewolf stories. I've got the next two chapters written out for Werewolf as well, both of them could work as part of a frame story for any type of comic or movie. But they also work as stand alone stories. I figure I'll release it soon. Hopefully before next summer. But with the way my schedule is, its probably going to see the light of day next thanksgiving.

I'm doing some different things over in Werewolf. Stuff that I've half-attempted in penis or other works of mine throughout the years. Most of my story arcs are done for comedy, albeit dark comedy, and so doing the sort of Mickey Spillane type noir story there would lessen the story. Not make penis any better or worse. It would fit in sure, but I would overly sensationalize my story or overly and cut and past the artwork, the usual penis stuff. Not that my dark comedy or the sort of outragousness isn't there in my fictional stories, it is.

The mystery story I've picked out for penis would work just as good with the punisher or any other anti hero, but the thing about pulp stories that stands out is the character. If The White Devil wasn't as inept as he is, he would fight crime differently. You could just write an everyman character that has no honor code or eccentricity, but thats not what I'm aiming for. A good pulp or noir type of story depends on who the character is and how they deal with the situations around them. Does the hero drink whisky all day or worship satan in a broom closet? Does he use symbol that strikes fear into criminals or evoke laughter and jeers? This is the sort of stuff I think about when I write. If I put this guy in that other ones shoes, how would they see the story? Would that one do this the same was as the other one? It depends big time who the character is, their background, and their perceptions. I'd also say that attitude and mood factor into how a character reacts in a situation. Its how I see it anyway.

Pfft, screw what's popular. My style is my style. It's what I like, I don't really give a shit if people don't like it. Sure, I've had some major influences, but they aren't really a "popular" style.

My influences include Hajime Ueda (manga artist for FLCL and Q-Ko-Chan), the horror comic series Nightmares and Fairy Tales, and the video game Okage: Shadow King. But as you can see, my art is still quite different from all of them. But my style is always changing, too, according to how I feel. I can't help that part and it tends to get pretty frustrating.

I'm actually going to try to do a different style for the second season of AHM, but it will still be very much like the old style.

I say you should go ahead and alter it at times. If you look at Nadya, I changed, and it made me a better comic artist. It helps.

I gots no style ;_;

Ropin's style for Mercs is somewhat anime but it's done like that because we both love anime so much and when I write it I try to write it somewhat like a page-by-page manga, not because it's popular, but because we both really and truly love the style. If she could draw something like a Urasawa work that'd be great, but seeing as I'm mostly in it to do the action and story it suits fine. If I really wanted a terrific looking comic I'd wait and make sure there was full background and coloring instead of "Only color the things that need to be pointed out what color they are".

I'm going to do my best when I comes to drawing, but I'm not going to draw in a style just becuase its the flavor of the month.
I'm just going to draw how I like, and hope the world will like it also.

My style is anime based because when I was younger I was obsessed with trying to figure out who draw like that. Well, I got so used to drawing like that I find it normal. As years go by my art changes by itself. I think I subconciously take inspiration from art that I admire. Maybe people think all anime is the same art, but it isn't really. You can truely have your own style for certain genres. As for my cartooning style. I draw less of this, but it's the same style I've had for years. I just try to go with what I can do best. If I try to change too much I end up failing at it.

i don't think people (when pursuing a style) explictly start out, intending to do what is popular. most times people probably don't really recognize just how much influence is place on themselves. but people are obviously influeced by what they enjoy, and if they enjoy something that is popular then in some level their artwork is going to mimic that popular form. i think an intelligent person (as far as marketing goes) will in some way incorporate popular interests into their form. for the most part, very original ideas are very rarely mainstream because they are so unorthodox, rather it is those that have a creative take on the matter and perfect it that are best known. the greatest example is shakespeare, he is one of the least original writers, all of his work was stolen, already done or was a history (except Midsummer and Tempest). but it wasn't shakespeare's originality, it was the way he told them, how he weaved the words and gave a new spin on something that people were familar with.
so i believe that a clever tatic for those that wish to market to the mainstream audience will find a way to incorporate popular tatics but also find a unique stategy to that. i think that as a individual and as an artist that is trying to say something that hasn't been said, some originality must be put into form. but as a businessmen thinking of the market, to tell someone to be revolutionary is foolish (if their intention is gain fame, be apart of the mainstream).

I guess I'll play Devil's Advocate here, and say that if you want to work professionally for one of the major companies, there comes a time where you seriously consider doing just that ... drawing in a way that's popular.

As long as I'm doing my own webcomic, I work in my own style and only change it through personal improvement. If I'm drawing for someone else, I might consider changing my style in some ways - however, I wouldn't change it very much. If they've commissioned me, then that means they probably did it because they enjoy my art style.

If they want something completely different, there are countless other artists out there.

If I can't enjoy what I'm doing, then there is little point in doing it.

SteveMyers22
I guess I'll play Devil's Advocate here, and say that if you want to work professionally for one of the major companies, there comes a time where you seriously consider doing just that ... drawing in a way that's popular.

That's a good point. Whoever's paying the piper always gets to call the tune!

SteveMyers22
I guess I'll play Devil's Advocate here, and say that if you want to work professionally for one of the major companies, there comes a time where you seriously consider doing just that ... drawing in a way that's popular.

Thats a thing that turned me off pursuing animation.

In animation school, you HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE in changing your style.

I just cant do that I'm sorry.

In animation, no wonder they get ONLY THOSE with the most elite level artistic ability. It is a different skill set required if you wanna change your style like you change clothes. My teacher who once worked for Image comics and Disney and Pixar as well... told me that he knew people who can draw photorealistically. But changing their styles cannot be done and it made them uncomfortable.

Thats about animation. You have to be confined sometimes to a certain art style.

Since I never plan to work for a major company, at least doing comics, I don't worry about that.

That said, I love parody! I'll parody what's popular, oh yes I will! I don't want to do it for a living, but with anime's ever-increasing popularity, I occasionally drop a hint of it in Due East. One of these days, I might do a filler purely in the style, just for fun. Or anything else that gets popular. But I wouldn't make it "my" style. My style is purely my own, and is still developing.

cartoonprofessor
An interesting topic in another post prompts me to ask:

Should you try to style your art to suit what is popular at the time?

I think that's what has almost singlehandedly killed superhero comics. Print superhero comics were a stable market through the Silver Age and ascendant in the Bronze Age because most of the popular artists had widely divergent styles. The editors were middle-aged gents like Dick Giordiano who knew the craft. In the late Eighties, you could pick up comics by different artists who were dynamic and very unique--Klaus Janson looked completely unlike Art Adams, who looked completely unlike John Byrne, who looked completely unlike Ron Frenz, who looked completely unlike George Perez, who looked completely unlike Mike Mignola, and so on.

And the colorization was flat enough that the differing draftsmanship styles leapt into bold relief.

Then in the pages of The Punisher, along came a talented young man named Jim Lee. Who soon became friends with Todd McFarlane and Rob Liefeld. And they all started to sort of draw with similar styles. Then they formed Image Comics, and LOTS of people started drawing with that similar style.

Then computer colorization became all the rage. And it started to look generic, too.

Then Wizard became popular on the stands, which provided major encouragement for all these dynamic but similar art styles.

And after that, the implosion happened. It wasn't a coincidence of timing, in my opinion.

What makes webcomics special is that the unique art styles are back again. Be true to your own muse!

Making your style match what is popular at the time is a great way of making sure your stuff isn't around when people's tastes change. We can even see it in cartoons these days. The anime styling was very popular, so all the remakes of older cartoons, like Transformers or Ninja Turtles were made that way. Gee, how long did those last compared to the originals?

I'm more for seeing originality than commonality. When I come up on comics, be they sprite or hand drawn, if they are something that isn't done to mimic the masses, I'm impressed. Popular comics are popular because of what they are, not what they try to be.

My style, if it is one o_O, is anime/manga-ish. I thought about it, and my style is a blend of any anime/manga drawing (drawn badly of course) So you could say i draw what's popular.

Dang, that sucks.

As much as an oxymoron this may sound, perhaps we've been a little TOO broad in our generalizations.

Just because your style is common with what is popular, Zad, it does not mean you are doing it to be like the rest. Someone's styling can be that of the typical, but doesn't have to be that way only because it's the popular styling.

As long as there's something that makes it different from everything else, you're fine.

Most of the time, it's better to be the same than to be different.

What's your rationale behind that? I'm curious.

mlai
Most of the time, it's better to be the same than to be different.

Saying "it's good to be different" is the same as saying "everyone's special," ppl patting ppl on the back.

For 99.999% of amateurs, being different is not because of genius or innovation, it's because of mistakes, bad habits, and lack of skillz.

There are the geniuses out there, but before they became different, they were first the same. Picasso was an excellent technical artist before he became the genius artist.

Why do ppl go to art schools, why buy books for references, why is there a tutorial section, why do ppl give each other art tips? We learn to be the same as the good stuff.