Draw Manga

Sonia Leong is a professional Manga artist and illustrator with over 80 publications across magazines, comics/ graphic novels, art books, and film/TV projects to her credit. Since becoming a Winner of the first Tokyopop Rising Stars of Manga (UK & Ireland) competition in 2005, her best-selling debut graphic novel Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (SelfMadeHero) has made it into recommended reading lists worldwide and has been translated into various global editions. She is the Company Secretary of Sweatdrop Studios, a UK-based Manga collective and independent publisher. Sonia has been teaching Manga workshops since 2004, where she began by giving lectures at the Artist & Illustrators Magazine Exhibition. Her UK appearances include the Guardian Hay Festival, the Victoria & Albert Museum and London County Hall. She frequently represents UK creators overseas, working with the British Council and invited as a special guest at events and conventions across Europe, America, and Asia.

• IntroductionOrigins, history, and developmentCurrent meaning, styles, and global reachAbout this bookCHAPTER ONE - DRAWING FIGURESHead and facial structure - Front, Side, Other angles, other shapes, gender, ageFacial features - Eyes, brows, Noses, Mouths, Ears, fantasy ears, ExpressionsHair - Basic principles, Textures, Lengths, Complex styling, Tying it all togetherBodies - Summary of differences in style, head-to-body proportions, Body and limb distribution, real life lengths/measurements, Flesh and muscle focus, Weighting and action lines, Interaction and multiple figures, Perspective and foreshortening, Depicting differences in age, gender, build, body types, Hands, Feet, Chibi proportion focus, RPG/semi-Chibi focus, Action/Shounen hero focusChapter TWO - CREATING CHARACTERSCostumes - Body coverage and layering, Folds, draping, and movement, Fastenings and embellishments, Footwear, AccessoriesExtraordinary elements - Anthropomorphism, Sci-fi/fantasy features, Mecha robotsProps and accompanying items - Close combat weaponry, Projectile weaponry, Other props, Vehicles, Mounts/petsCHAPTER THREE - SETTINGSEnvironments - Choosing and researchingPerspective - Theory, Putting into practicePlacing characters in environments - Interiors, Exteriors, Natural worldCHAPTER FOUR - RENDERING TECHNIQUES & PROCESSESPencils - Rough drawing to prepare for inks, Finishing as pencil pieceInks - Inking over pencils to prepare for colours/shading, Finishing as inked pieceColours and shading - Choosing colours and palette, Basic shading principles, Intermediate techniques, Advanced techniquesTraditional media - Colour pencils, Watercolours, Markers, Screen tone, Mixed media combinationsDigital media - Tools/software required, Core skills for digital manga, Preparation for digital colouring, Vector style line art and fills, Cel-art shading, Airbrush shading, Digital painting, Screen tone, Mixed media combinationsCHAPTER FIVE - CHARACTER LIBRARYContemporary characters - Primary school, Secondary school, Young footballer boy, Young equestrian girl, Punk musician teenage male, Gothic/rockabilly teenage girl, Casual adult male, Casual adult female, Formal adult male, Formal adult female, Pensioner coupleHistorical characters - Medieval knight, Medieval princess, Renaissance artist, Tudor noblewoman, Elizabethan pirate, Georgian lady-in-waiting, Regency gentleman, Victorian ladyJapanese-specific characters - School kids in Japanese uniform, Elegant Gothic Lolita, Elegant Gothic Aristocrat, Decora girl, Visual Kei guy, Ninja, Geisha, Samurai, KimonoSci-fi and fantasy characters - Mecha pilot, Space marine, Steampunk explorer, Bionic agent, Vampire lord, Elven archer, Catgirl dancer, Beastmaster, Cleric, SorceressCHAPTER SIX - MAKING MANGAPreparation - Recommended tools, materials, and practices, Page setup and guidelines, Writing/directing scenes for MangaDrawing comic pages - Reading direction and page flow, Intuitive panel order, Speech bubbles focus, Sound effects and other devices, Panel shapes to influence pacing/understanding, Example layouts and uses, 4-panel gag strips focusPublishing comic pages - Traditional and digital considerations, Sizing and quality, Screen tone focus, Cover and logo design, Web publishing, How to market your MangaResourcesGlossaryIndex and Credits

If I could have one talent I would love to be able to draw. I've always marveled at the skill of illustrators to be able to pick up a pencil and draw whatever is in their mind so perfectly on the page before them. When I try to draw it looks like a spider fell in an inkwell and ran across the paper! I usually trace characters that I have printed out on my lightboard, but it would be so special to be able to draw my own work instead of a wobbly imitation of someone else's. I've found it much easier to draw cartoons than realism, so Manga is an ideal starting point for me and I suppose many other wannabe artists! That's where Draw Manga comes in.This book was written by Sonia Leong, a professional comic book artist and graphic designer who specialises in Anime and Manga. It is a comprehensive step-by-step guide on the famous Japanese art style and includes a plethora of information, written and pictorial, to help both the beginner and seasoned artist. Here's a look through some of the pages in the book.I don't think there's any book out there that explains and demonstrates Manga in so much detail and in such a user-friendly way- this book even includes 28 tutorial QR codes that you can scan and watch Sonia draw in action, which of course can be much easier to follow than in print.There is 256 full-colour pages in total for just over £13, and I'm certain anyone at any skill level will be able to pick up some great tips from Draw Manga to master this comic art form. Whether you're just starting out or have experience and want to hone your ability, this book contains everything from drawing your first character to marketing and publishing your own work.http://www.colourwithclaire.com/blog/draw-manga-by-sonia-leong