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.
Subjects you will find inside the book include:
- Drawing faces (front, side and other angles)
- Features (eyes, eyebrows, mouths, etc.)
- Expressions & emotions
- Hair textures (afro, curls, dreadlocks, etc.)
- Bone structure differences between ages & genders
- Body proportions/shapes
- Flesh & muscles
- Shading
- Perspective
- Different Manga styles (Chibi, RPG characters, Shounen, Shoujo, etc.)
- Drawing characters interacting (cuddling, fighting, etc.)
- Drawing clothes and other draping materials
- Footwear & accessories
- Genres (SCI-FI, Steampunk, Fantasy, Horror, etc.)
- Weaponry
- Vehicles
- Animals
- Architecture
- Choosing colour palettes
- Tips on using different media (pens, pencils, watercolours, markers, etc.)
- Using digital software to draw & paint characters
- Writing scenes
- Comic panel design (lettering, strip layouts, etc.)
- Marketing your Manga (conventions, social networking, advertising, etc.)
- Resources glossary with weblinks
...And that's just a small selection of what's inside! It really is an all-encompassing manual for everything to do with Manga. 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.
Here is some practicing I've been doing in my sketchbook using Draw Manga techniques. I think I definitely have a way to go, but at least I'm not tracing anymore!
Draw Manga by Sonia Leong