Super-cute Chibis to Draw and Paint: Giant-Sized Fun from a Micro-Sized World

Description

Learn the basic styling and simple visual tricks you need to create this ultra-cute world; discover how to simplify and exaggerate, and to draw out the distinctive elements that will make yur figures unique; and discover how to create a collection of lively characters, small in size but big on personality! Each of the 30 step-by-step sequences includes a basic line-work drawing you can copy, scan, or trace, so that even the complete beginner can get started right away.

Joanna Zhou is an award-winning manga artist and graphic designer based in Vienna, Austria. She was born in China and studied at Central St Martins and Chelsea College of Art & Design in London. She specializes in cute illustration, comics, art toys, packaging, branding, and has written tutorials for leading industry magazines.

[This is] a well-established art form and it's very popular so, is this book any good and will it help the budding practitioner of the style? Well, yes and yes. Joanna gives you forty different demonstrations of both children and animals. Each is presented in a double-page spread with the outline shapes and a series of development drawings that show you the build-up as well as a variety of poses and facial expressions. It's neatly done without over-complication and, if this is what you aspire to draw, there's no doubt this forms an excellent primer.-Artbookreview.net If you enjoy reading manga and want to become a mangaka yourself then you need to be able to draw these! Chibis are those cute characters that are what many people think of when they think of manga, uber-cute and packed with personality. Learn how to distort the human figure and create characters that are filled with individuality. This book takes the step-by-step approach that Search Press does so well and applies it to manga. Each of the cute characters is drawn in five stages and working through these tutorials is a great way to truly get the feel of manga. I found this to be the most hands-on and user friendly book I have seen to date on this elusive subject and it bears out the tenet that you need to copy from the masters to reach your own style. Each chibi shows some aspect of Japanese traditional and popular style, from ninjas and samurai to gothic lolitas and kugurumin as well as western characters like pixies, Santa, knight in armor and 20s flappers given a manga tweak. There are sections on backgrounds, getting noticed, starting a strip story and what media to choose. I was pleased to see that this included the computer, and a look at different graphics programs. Of course there are several pages devoted to how to get the look right with proportion, expressions etc and pretty much everything else you can think of. I've seen fatter more expensive books that told you less and certainly gave you less scope for practising. This one is staying on my keeper shelf; if you want to draw this type of manga character then put this one on your wishlist.-Myshelf.com If children are part of your life, why not amaze them by drawing these appealing figures and animals. Learn the basic styling and simple tricks you need to create this ultra-cute world. Each of the 30 step-by-step sequences includes a basic drawing you can copy, scan or trace so that even the complete beginner can get started right away.-Machine Knitting Monthly I struggle with Manga as an art form but its loved by many people and become very popular in recent years. Perhaps I need to draw some to appreciate it more. Joanna began producing online tutorials some years ago when advice was sparse and it became so popular she's been asked to create this book. Its certainly value for money for Manga fans being packed full of advice on everything from basic materials, digital art techniques and more traditional ones and then Joanna delves into individual aspects of creating your own characters. Chibis in Manga are easily recognized as having large heads, small features and distinctive facial expressions. They're usually adult despite the childlike appearance and especially used in emotional and comic situations. The simplified features mean that its easy to break down drawing them into simple steps and thus the student finds it easier to see progress and be encouraged. I'm pleased that Joannas instructions as so easy to follow and very comprehensive. It makes drawing when you've little experience in these characters so easy to achieve realistic Chibis. There are over 40 figures and animals to try and then using those techniques you'll be confident to create your own. Joanna also has some excellent advice about marketing your artwork once you've reached that stage. I really like the section on animating your own family and friends photos - that would be great fun and make a perfect unique present!-JeannieZelos.com