Resources for Illustrators

Great idea, starting these "Resources" threads, Martin!

Another internal WotF / IotF thread very helpful to newcomers is this one:

http://forum.writersofthefuture.com/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=786&start=30

At the bottom of thread page 2 are many internal Illustrator Info links.

Come visit the new(ish) website Val Lakey Lindahn and Meliva Koch (and no doubt MANY hardworking others, because it looks like a BIG project) are e-asking past IOTF folks to contribute to!

It's a glimpse of the BIG OL' BOOK to come!

It'd be super-neato to have BIG artist / contestant participation and turn it into an on-line museum of 25 years of IOTF artists' work!!!

http://iof25.com/
"ILLUSTRATORS OF THE FUTURE: THE FIRST 25 YEARS"

All past winners come and share your artwork!
(Joey! Ryan! Irvin! Vivien! All you other #27'ers! And EVERYONE!)

All contest Illustrator and writer contestants ... come visit!

There's the Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Artists: http://www.asfa-art.org/

It's similar to the SFWA, though I haven't been able to find any professional requirements for joining (like SFWA's three pro-pubbed shorts, etc.). It does require a membership fee.

Two places I've learned lots from:

ConceptArt has some of the best illustration forums and pro workshops around.

Muddy Colors is a joint blog by some of the top industry pros. Amazing advice flying around here.

Two places I've learned lots from:

ConceptArt has some of the best illustration forums and pro workshops around.

Muddy Colors is a joint blog by some of the top industry pros. Amazing advice flying around here.

Those are cool sites, Holly, thanks!

Sooo...anyone have any good resources specifically for improving composition? I think that's probably my biggest weakness as an illustrator.

Sooo...anyone have any good resources specifically for improving composition? I think that's probably my biggest weakness as an illustrator.

What part of composition?

Line, color choice, shading (usually it's a matter of being brave enough to go darker in your darks, and lighter in your lights), shape or the way you place things on a page (how items appear in space...or perspective issues)?

Sometimes a graphic arts class or book can help or drawing upside-down. Do you know any local artists you love? sometimes it's just a matter of studying their tricks with them or just doing a ton of light studies or sketches.

Break down each of the areas of comp you want to improve and work on each one by one. Practice sketches just like you do practice stories.

I'm not a talented artist, just thought I'd jump in and offer some ideas. Maybe it will also be a benefit to get chummy with the illustrators at the workshop and see if they have any good suggestions.

Thanks, Tina!

Composition usually refers specifically to how things are placed on the page--as I understand it (Being self-taught, my definitions could be wonky). Making a cohesive, balanced imaged that directs the eye appropriately and divides the 2D plane into pleasing proportions seems to be my issue (This is my own perception, though. No one has specifically told me it's my problem. It just seems obvious when I compare my illustrations to illustrations I find highly effective.)

I have several art books that deal with anatomy, lighting, etc.--the basics. However, the basics of how to organize the elements in your image isn't touched on in any of them. :-/ And the local artists I know aren't exactly representational artists (and the few that are do figures and portraits rather than cohesive scenes)...all though I can see how practicing with abstract art might help my proportions.

I've found a couple of tutorials on DeviantArt that talk about dividing the image into three balanced sections, and discuss using foreground, middle ground (I do have a problem with leaving out middle ground), and far ground, but none are very in-depth and usually only have one example image.

I suck at perspective, vanishing points, etc ... I tend to stack my elements up like an ancient Egyptian painting a tomb wall myself.

These seem useful (?):

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/09/08/50-clever-tutorials-and-techniques-on-traditional-drawing/

http://www.scottmcdaniel.net/drawing/perspective/perspective.html

You seem to have a great eye for foreshortening! That's much more difficult imo than vanishing points etc, which is largely geometry.

I do know that alot of times, excitement and drama in an image will appeal much more to a judge than that which is technically correct but souless. Google up some bad Poser art to see how wrong it can go!

Wow, lots of links in that first one! And the second link about perspectives is definitely helpful. Thanks, Scott!

Still open to more resources, of course!

There are some really amazing tutorial videos on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCW9D2GytHo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_6rmonNR4s

There are a ton more. I usually go for videos with the most views and favorable reviews. I like YouTube because I can see what they're doing as they're doing it.

I have a hard time thinking of composition without talking shapes, contrast, line, perspective. I'm a traditionally trained artist though who's also still working on the craft.

I bring up graphic arts, because I have a lot of friends in this field (since it naturally crosses over into what my husband does). They spend a lot of time learning and discussing how to divide up the page and get the eye to go to certain places. Some graphics books go into this in detail.

Thanks Tina, I hadn't thought about youtube. What a great resource!

I'll see if I can locate some graphic design books...