Sincerest Form of Flattery :)

[the_gneech]

I received an interesting e-mail today ... here's an excerpt...

I was wondering, all artists use a style of drawing, and I have been trying to make my own style for at least 6 years now, AND with no luck whatsoever.... So my question to you is.... (i know youre thinking, this guy wants to get on my good side and steal my style of drawing for his own personal gain...)

well thats not the reason why Iam typing to you. The reason is that I love your style, and I was wondering if I could use JUST the facial features of your style. I can draw pretty good bodies, but I screw up the faces like crazy, I will change it so it looks nothing like your characters, but I wanted you to be my reason for starting and helping me with my style. I always loved reading your comics, I look foward to them every monday, wednesday, friday and saturday, except when theyre not. =3

As you might guess, that was a pleasant surprise. :) So here's what I wrote back:

Well given that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, let me
first off say "Thanks!" :)

Second, if you have in mind to emulate my art style, I'm not sure there's much I could do to stop you. ;) However, I would point out that there are some better artists out there that you might want to consider looking into as well ... Herbie Bearclaw and John Nunnemacher for instance are two big influences on me, not to mention The Vince. :)

My suggestion, such as it is, is that you not put so much thought into your style, whatever it may be ... that will just naturally flow out of your work. Instead, work on creating drawings that appeal to you, drawing on as many different artists as it takes. It's the amount of blending you do, and in what proportion, that makes "your" style.

If course, if you meant "Can I just slap Drezzer's head on another body and say it's my own character?" ... that might bother me a little. ;)

Anyway, I'd love to see what you come up with. :) Meanwhile, here's some stuff you might get use out of ... enjoy!

Face reference pic I did for Nekomimikun: http://rumblepurrlion.com/artwork/face_sketches.gif

Some of my better art in general: http://rumblepurrlion.com/artwork

My personal fave Drezzer pic: http://www.suburbanjungle.com/images/drezzer_perspective.gif

Some of my older art: http://members.aol.com/rumblepurrlion

Herbie Bearclaw's site: http://www.herbietoons.com

John Nunnemacher's site: http://www.griffinpark.com

-The Gneech

Comments

[paulcurtis.livejournal.com]

Good advice.

It's also useful to point out that this artist should devote a lot of time to life-drawing (particularly facial expressions) and that with improved skill in drawing real faces and real expressions, filtered through a preferred stylistic technique, her/his own individual style is bound to emerge.

[mortonfox.livejournal.com]

There was someone imitating my style too and making his own comics. Those may or may not still be on VCL somewhere. I lost the URL. The bizarre thing is he was copying my style from seven years ago! So I basically didn't care because that was horrible anyway.

Anyway, that's sound advice you gave. Copying styles may be okay for learning but sooner or later, his own style will emerge.

[kelloggs2066.livejournal.com]

We keep tellin' you you're good but do you listen...?

NAWWW!

;)

Scott

[the-lizard-rat.livejournal.com]

Scott's right; you *are* that damn good :) With a little bit of shopping around, I'm pretty sure I can see an animated Suburban Jungle on cartoons in the morning; I say give it a shot.

Lizard Rat out.

[torakiyoshi.livejournal.com]

What a frightening idea! In order for SJ to hit the little screen, do you realize that means he'll have to Syndicate?! The moment The Gneech becomes a syndicated strip writer and can quit his day job to just draw comics, is the moment we lose the happy-go-lucky lion to a team of suit-wearing, briefcase-toting lawyers. The Gneech may hate me for this, but I'll take a small corner of the net anyday over Suburban Jungle copywrite Universal Press Syndicate any day!

-=TK

[chipuni.livejournal.com]

See? We're not the only ones who say that you're good!

You might suggest that your fan take classes in live drawing, with a model.