Draw Manga: How to Draw Manga In Your Own Unique Style by Bruce Lewis
|
List Price: Our Price: $10.09 You Save: $7.86 (44%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of Draw Manga: How to Draw Manga In Your Own Unique Style
Book Review: False advertisement, and doesn't even cover the very basics
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been drawing manga-style comics for about six years (which is admittedly probably less than Mr. Lewis) and have been published in Rising Stars of Manga, and after reading all of the positive reviews for this item, I bought this book for potential text material for a mini-class I'm teaching this month. Now that I've read through it, I think I'll just give it away to any student who wants it. The art in this book is amateurish at best, and while I can forgive bad art if the instructional material is worthwhile, it simply isn't the case here. Shaky lineart and an unoriginal, derivative "manga" style do more to promote sloppiness and inaccuracies in budding young artists. The book claims to encourage "drawing in a unique style" as opposed to other works that might encourage carbon-copying, and it lives up to the claim solely because it is so vague that it gives no instructions at all. An example I might give is the talk of inking and toning-- Lewis explains how to use these implements technically but gives no advice on how to do so artistically or with any degree of thought or skill, and frankly, a lack of actual technique is one of the major problems with Western manga talent. The most standard instructional will at least talk about line weight or tone textural effects.
It could be because I've read countless other similar books to compare to, but I feel that not only does this volume fail to present anything original in the field of manga instruction, it does a much more cursory and unprofessional job. The inside cover rags on the Graphic-sha How to Draw Manga book series for being a little too culturally impermeable, but at least even that series, rife with its own flaws, teaches something. I think the only saving grace of this book is the talk about self-publishing and convention promotion, not because these are particularly worthwhile topics, but because most other texts don't touch on them.
I only wish I could return this without having to pay for shipping. At least it's better than Chris Hart's books.
Book Review: Excellent!
Summary: 5 Stars
This book was well worth the money paid,the book covers many things from beginning to end,topics such as how to increase your drawing capabilities,steps to move from to get better,then slowly moves towards things such as learning figures and anatomy,then to drawing the figures and inking them,the 2 forms of inking,and what materials are best for making a manga*WITH PICTURES!*
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking to improve, get tips, or just starting out
Book Review: Useful for all ages and all levels of experience
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a useful guide for all ages and skill levels of drawing. Especially those that are not familiar with or from the culture of manga animation artistry. It gives the history and origins of manga to give the reader and artist a better of understanding of manga. It then helps the artist see how traditional manga artistry is performed and the processes to make "good" and "proper" manga characters and art. Moreover, it shows the reader and artist how to develop their own style of manga artistry based upon the principles of the tradition. Then it helps the reader and artist to create and develope manga stories, and characters to be in them with "good" plots and flow to create your own manga novel of equal greatness to all those that many/you know and love.Book Review: One of the BETTER Manga books...!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I got this book out of the library out of curiosity
and was very suprised by its content.
Most Manga books show you how to
copy the CONTENT/STYLE of Manga; this
this addresses Manga's FORM as well
as its historical background and relation
to Western comics.
The section on how to use computers and
various software to layout, ink, letter and color
your OWN comics and/or manga
is worth the price of the book alone.
Highly Recommended!!!!
Book Review: You, the new Manga cartoonist!
Summary: 4 Stars
After you finish practicing Bruce Lewis' tips and techniques, you cannot help but emerge with your own particular style. Instructions are clear, informative and inspiring.