Drawing Crime Noir: For Comics and Graphic Novels
by Christopher Hart
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Book Summary Information
Author: Christopher HartBrand: Watson Guptill
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-07-01
ISBN: 0823023990
Number of pages: 144
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
Book Reviews of Drawing Crime Noir: For Comics and Graphic Novels
Book Review: YET ANOTHER WINNER FROM HART!
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently had the pleasure of meeting legendary comic book artist Jim Steranko, and spending about 30 minutes with him talking comic art as he showed me several pages from a new project he is working on, very much a crime noir style book. Now, reading Christopher Hart's "Drawing Crime Noir" won't turn you into Jim Steranko, but it does give a lot of wonderful instruction and advice on this ever-growing genre of comics. Gritty, crime dramas like Sin City and even books like Batman are perfect examples of modern day crime noir.
Hart begins the book with advice on drawing male and female faces and getting that tough, chiseled jaw and piercing eyes of the strong male character, and the pouty, shiny lips of the female characters. Next up is the full figure itself and the clothes and getting the wrinkles and folds in clothes to make them match the particular pose of the character.
One of the key elements of noir art is the use of shadow and this is something that Steranko covered in great detail when we spoke. The lighting, shading, angles of view and perspective is something he lays out like a movie director in his work. Hart shows readers the difference in drawing shadows correctly, and drawing them for dramatic effect. You'll be amazed at how much difference this subtle change can make in the art. You'll also see how to correctly draw shadows on different surfaces such as cobblestone streets or when in water.
Chapter three covers "Sinful Women" and it will certainly be perhaps the most popular chapter in the book, Guys love drawing gorgeous, dangerous women. Hart presents several different female archetypes with the usual characteristics. Tough women, "working gals", nightclub singers, etc. Getting those women just right can make or break an artist.
Other chapters cover "Vigilante Justice", "Professionals", and "Crime Bosses and their Minions". But I think perhaps the best chapter is the last one called "Rainswept Streets and Moonless Nights". This is the chapter that will really teach the artist how to set the tone and atmosphere of their work. It shows the artist how to create scenes for the greatest impact on the reader. It shows how to set a mood with light and shadows and with some brilliant examples in pure black and white.
Chris Hart's "Drawing Crime Noir" is another winner in his line comic art instruction books. It might not make you a Steranko, but it will certainly go a long way to improving your artistic ability. 144 pages of very useful information and tips.
Reviewed by Tim Janson
Summary of Drawing Crime Noir: For Comics and Graphic Novels
Crime Noir is the most sophisticated, exciting, and dangerous comic book genre around. It is the highly stylized, modern version of such classic 1950s films as "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Asphalt Jungle". Modern crime noir is exploding in popularity with movies such as "Batman Begins" and graphic novels such as Frank Miller's "Sin City". This genre focuses on the mean streets of the city and its amoral characters. Picture windswept streets, deep shadowy figures, reckless woman, men without conscience, reluctant heroes, and boulevards of fear. It's the desperation of ordinary men, and the loneliness of the action hero. "Drawing Crime Noir" teaches the aspiring artist how to use all of the latest techniques and principles to create the moody world of crime noir. Extensive instruction is offered in the use of shadows to create intense comic book moods and suspense. And there's more: the costumes of noir - the trench coats and sunglasses of the nihilistic characters: the mobbed-up politicians on the take; and the hit men who keep order; the sexy women who would just as soon kill you as kiss you; techniques for creating dark, brooding, costumed action heroes; and how to turn an ordinary comic book scene into a crime noir scene and how to draw the weapons that the criminals use to make crime pay. Strong, cutting-edge imagery shows artists how to make crime pay. Superstar Christopher Hart explores a new genre. It is perfect for anyone interested in drawing for comic books or graphic novels.Graphic Design Books
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