Manga as a Style

Hello! Ian here

As an artist, I draw in the manga style because I enjoy it. I love reading the stories, and I love the freshness of the expression. Although, I don’t always draw manga! Sometimes there are other things I need to express, and sometimes it’s part of the job.

To young artists: style changes and drifts over time — if you’re trying to draw in manga style, sometimes you’ll hit it, sometimes not. Go with the flow, and recognize the skills you’ve learned, not just the ones you are studying. Try different things, and keep evolving!

To teachers and parents: People who are now drawing in manga style may or may not stick with it. If they grow up to draw manga for a living — good for them! They’ll have had a good early start, and learned the right skills from a young age. If they don’t, they’ll still have a good foundation in many of the art skills they’ll need for other arts. This is not to mention the ability to focus, self expression, and execution skills they’ll gain.

Here is some art that the Manga Start contributors have done outside the manga style.

Ian: Abstract (Sakura Koi watercolors), and Stylized Lotus (Sakura Koi watercolors)

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