Draw Manga by Sonia Leong

14/10/2016

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.

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!