THE LAZY CARTOONIST’S GUIDE TO DEVELOPING YOUR OWN STYLE
What is style and how do you get one? Is it found or is it made? Do you have to have one, or can you try a bunch?
Whatever questions you have about style in comics, we’ll answer here! (And you can always submit more in the FLOW + PUBLISH group at SAW to be answered in a future Terrible Anvil podcast episode!)
LISTEN ON:
What is style in comics?
Style, simply put, is how your art looks on the page. (Perhaps you have a particular style of writing or storytelling in comics too, but for the purposes of this blog post, we’ll stick to the visuals—though they can of course influence each other.)
When we talk about “style,” we often think of some unique quality or “look” that our comics have. But style doesn’t have to be unique or flashy or wholly original. It’s just what’s there on the page, whether it’s been done before or not, whether you choose it or not.
Many artists are plagued by the seeming imperative to nail down their style early on so they can “make it.” Without their own visual signature, they assume, they’ll never be successful.
Other artists are less concerned with originality per se and more with emulating the styles of comics greats. They suppose they can’t put their work out there until it looks like Charles Schulz or Jaime Hernandez or Insert Your Comics Idol Here.
But what if we told you none of that is a requirement for making “good” comics and getting your work seen? What if you approach your style as-is with self-compassion and curiosity? You can let your style emerge on its own time, nurturing it instead of forcing it to look a certain way on a certain timeline! There’s no “right way” for your comics to look. The “right way” just might be the style that is true to you, that lets you be your authentic self on the page.
Okay, okay—you’re probably still looking for some concrete advice, right? That’s all easier said than done, so read on for our tips on helping your style along on its own terms.
How can you find your own comics style?
There’s unfortunately no step-by-step formula for finding the perfect style for you. But we do have some useful ideas and questions to keep in handy as you dig deeper into your work with style in mind!
STYLE is PROCESS is STYLE
Style is how things look on the page, and process is how it gets there. In a lot of ways, the two are one and the same. So to get to a style that feels right to you, spend time refining your PROCESS and making it work for you.
PRACTICE CHARACTER CONTINUITY
Keeping your characters looking consistent from panel to panel is a difficult but key aspect to developing a cohesive style.
Whatever your approach to drawing is, the most important thing is to PRACTICE. Getting your characters down over and over and over again will engrain them in your muscle memory. With consistent practice, you’ll not only figure out a system for maintaining character continuity, but you’ll get a lot faster too.
SPEAKING OF SPEED…
Some cartoonists work fast. They might have quick and simple character designs and environments, or it’s their way of outrunning their inner critic. Maybe they’re just gifted with speed, but more likely they’ve spent years honing their craft.
Other cartoonists work more slowly, taking their time with more intricate drawings or simply working at the pace that comes naturally to them.
There is no right or wrong way to be a cartoonist, no pace you should be aiming to achieve. But speed is one factor to keep in mind when developing your style. If you want a sketchy, more gestural look, working fast could serve you well. If you want ornately detailed and perfectly realistic comics, working slower is probably necessary.
Try setting a timer at different intervals and see what you come up with. If you’re a perfectionist often plagued by self-doubt, working fast could be liberating, even if it feels uncomfortable at first. If you’re used to working under tight deadlines, see what happens when you give yourself more room to breathe.
WORK WITH YOUR EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES, NOT AGAINST THEM
Do you usually work under tight, high-pressure deadlines? Is your daily life chaotic with only short windows of time to dedicate to comics? You might have an easier go of it by choosing a style that allows you to work faster. (This will look different to different people depending on their predispositions and experience!)
Do you only have downtime to draw when you’re on the go? Choosing media you can carry with you without much hassle—think pens, pencils, small sketchbooks, or tablets—might make the most sense.
What other external factors influence the way you work? Consider ways you can use them to your benefit and incorporate them into your process. If you have a regular routine or rhythm to your daily life, find ways to make comics a part of it too.
STAY CURIOUS
We’ve said it in other episodes, but we can’t stress enough the importance of CURIOSITY and EMBRACING POSSIBILITY in your work. Try new things and tune in to what feels good to you!
Don’t feel forced to stick to one thing so you can “have” a signature style right away. Some cartoonists are known for a unique look, and others for never doing the same thing twice. You’ll only find what works for you by trying different things!
Unsure where to start?
Explore a new medium - Do you only work with brush pens? Try working with paint, or color pencils, or digitally, or whatever calls to you!
Of course, art supplies can be expensive, and you might not want to invest in something you’re not necessarily committed to. See if there are second-hand craft supply stores near you, or arts spaces you can use for free or cheap. Plug in to your local community—there’s almost certainly artists near you that are willing to share or have materials they want to get rid of!
Or use your limited resources to your advantage. What found materials can you incorporate into your work?
Play with panels and page layouts
How does your work change if every panel is the same size? If you take away the gutters? If you take away the panels entirely?
Read cartoonists whose style you admire, or that you normally would skip over. Find ways to incorporate aspects of their work in your comics and make them yours!
The possibilities for comics are endless! Shaking up your work not only helps you find your style, but can also get you moving again on projects you’ve gotten stuck on. Curiosity is key!
BE KIND TO YOUR ART (AND YOURSELF)
Sometimes you have control over your style; you can tailor it to your needs and bend it to your will.
Sometimes…you don’t. Sometimes it’s just what shows up. When you’re in the midst of working on a project, especially under pressure, your style is just what has worked before.
Let it be what it is! Embrace your style without judgment or shame. Ignore your inner troll and draw the silliest, sweetest, most vulnerable version of something. Just get it down. Make beautiful lettering and “ugly” drawings so you can SEE what will fit in a page.
Treat your comics with self-compassion, especially when you’re trying something new. Be patient and kind and you’ll see all that your art has to offer.
FINISH YOUR COMICS!!!
Last but certainly not least, see your comics through to the end! Even if you’re not in love with how they look, even if you haven’t found your perfect style—FINISH THEM! It is only through completing your projects that you’ll get a real sense of what your style is now and what it can become.
We would be remiss to not bring up the origin of this blog and podcast in an episode about style:
“ONE FORGES ONE’S STYLE ON THE TERRIBLE ANVIL OF DAILY DEADLINES.”
—EMILE ZOLA
The best way to finish your comics is to set regular deadlines for yourself. Make comics a daily practice, and your style will emerge before you know it!
TO SUM UP:
When you stay CONSISTENT, CURIOUS, and SELF-COMPASSIONATE, you will see your style emerge! The more comics you make—and more importantly FINISH—the more control you’ll have over what that style becomes.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE OF THE TERRIBLE ANVIL FOR MORE TIPS AND ENCOURAGEMENT!
And join us for more in the FLOW + PUBLISH group at SAW!
You’ll get access to our live calls every Thursday, along with expert guidance and a supportive community to help you get your comics out there.
Happy making!
WANT TO MAKE AND READ MORE COMICS?
Do you have a story inside you that’s just itching to come out, but want some guidance to help push it out?
Learn more about intensive comics learning with teachers at SAW by checking out SAW’s Year-Long Intensive Program and our Six-Month Graphic Novel Intensive.
Be sure to also check out our Online Courses, some courses are offered year-round and are always enrolling while others are limited in space and come around only once a year!
Our Graphic Memoir Intensive runs year round and is always enrolling. It includes access to a vibrant working community, twice-monthly live online check-ins, weekly prompts, and access to SAW’s Monthly Pro Calls!
Our Comics Flow Group, or SAW FLOW MEMBERSHIP, is also year-round and always enrolling and is SAW's MOST AFFORDABLE course option with access to Monthly Pro-Calls!
And, of course, come see what we’re all up to on SAW's Mighty Network anytime!
