Kinda weird question, but can you teach me drawing backgrounds? 👉👈🥺
I’m not the best person to ask when it comes to drawing backgrounds…
BUUUUUT!
I can give some tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years.
so when drawing backgrounds, what you need to know is what they’re used for. Not just for a place for characters to move around, but what feeling they give.
take for example of arcane, the city the show takes place gives a sense of wealth, prosperity, and upper class.
While in the depths of the under city, feelings of safety and security leaves as the colors mute and dull in color. Showing how the lower class is seen and acts.
which also goes along with describing some world building, like how they live, what’s the streets like, etc. give the feeling you want for the story and world.
Decorating the layout can even show what to know of your character, are they ambitious and an artist: their home might look like a mess or organized.
Speaking about layouts, you should also keep in mind where the focus should be depending on the scene.
Here is a better explanation on how to do it. Guide your audience’s eyes towards where you want them. Not need necessarily, want is what you’re looking for.
Items or lighting and color can help you in what you want your audience to look at. Especially for animation related backgrounds.
which now ties to what’s important to note, perspective and space.
Take a look at how storyboards work with backgrounds, they follow perspective and spacing. This is a little tricky to understand, but what helps me is just make it rough enough to not overwhelm you, but accurate to where the guideline is. Don’t worry on the details, focus on the guide lines, simple and easy to follow.
also not that you shouldn’t always follow perspective if it will mess with the scene.
Don’t make things flat, 2d isn’t real in real life, there are hills and low slopes.
Mess with where the camera is placed and follow its view point.
Another thing to note is to not make the background become the takeaway. They’re just a place for your characters to walk and talk in. Unless they live in a empty vacuum.
Mike Mignola is a great example for simple, yet effective, background art. His perspective can be off, or they can fade out, or they can be simple that a three year old can easily trace. But it works because it doesn’t drive away the focus which is the character.
comics like BONE by Jeff smith, can be simple yet atmospheric at the same time. You can be detailed if the scene needs it for cinematic effect, but mostly you will have a blank back space with the details becoming more complex the closer it gets.
if you want detailed backgrounds, then save it for illustration or painting. If it’s comics or animation, simplicity with that flare of personality is needed. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
but don’t listen to my advice, if you want real professionals: watch Bam animation on backgrounds.
glad I can at least help. Stay strong compadre.
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saturday, october 7th, 2023 | 51/100 days of productivity
last week I was far too busy to post, but I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to a new city and take a week-long training course. I had a great time and learned a lot. it was also super cool to explore a new city and enjoy some cooler weather for a bit. I have about two and a half months to study before I take the certification exam, so I'll be picking that up in earnest next week & you should see some more posts from me! in the meantime, please enjoy this week's bujo layout as I attempt to see if I will enjoy using a hobonichi cousin next year haha
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