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"How I studied storyboarding w/o College!" A THREAD
Disclaimer: This might not work for everyone, This is just how I personally study.
(some community college is included in this though lol)
Disclaimer: This might not work for everyone, This is just how I personally study.
(some community college is included in this though lol)
First off about me!
Hi I'm Lori, I am new to the professional world of storyboarding but I always knew I wanted to be a visual storyteller in someway (originally I wanted to do comics).
I'm currently looking for my second professional gig.
https://www.loriosborneportfolio.com/
Hi I'm Lori, I am new to the professional world of storyboarding but I always knew I wanted to be a visual storyteller in someway (originally I wanted to do comics).
I'm currently looking for my second professional gig.
https://www.loriosborneportfolio.com/
Now the thread!
This book is the first ever thing I invested in for visual storytelling. I still reference it to this day. It's for comics but composition is composition. https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Ink-Drawing-Composition-Storytellers/dp/1933492953/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=framed+ink&qid=1608073151&sr=8-3
This book is the first ever thing I invested in for visual storytelling. I still reference it to this day. It's for comics but composition is composition. https://www.amazon.com/Framed-Ink-Drawing-Composition-Storytellers/dp/1933492953/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=framed+ink&qid=1608073151&sr=8-3
I spent a lot of time watching film making youtube channels also. Two of my favorites:
https://www.youtube.com/c/everyframeapainting/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIWuVJE1Ms0-H8gBImjeZg
While this doesn't cover storyboarding per say they do go into what makes a great looking film.
(some might be nsfw)
https://www.youtube.com/c/everyframeapainting/videos
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTIWuVJE1Ms0-H8gBImjeZg
While this doesn't cover storyboarding per say they do go into what makes a great looking film.
(some might be nsfw)
Does your community college have an art department? MOST LIKELY THEY HAVE A FIGURE DRAWING CLASS! Figure drawing is great, but the skill you want to take from it is gesture drawing. I ended up taking figure drawing like 8 times bc it gave me access to a model to draw.
Small note: I was in a position that I could take community college classes for basically free. While I know not everyone has that opportunity CC is extremely affordable compared to the other classes I will recommend later.
Also on this topic, this book is great: https://www.amazon.com/Force-Dynamic-Drawing-Animators-Second/dp/0240808452/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=force+drawing&qid=1608076043&sr=8-5
I literally can't recommend this enough: but watch things that you love and watch a lot of different things. I DON'T JUST WATCH CARTOONS. Some of the best "study pieces" I watched were Edgar Wright movies lol!
Something I started doing is when I watch TV animation I count the cuts and follow the screen direction. WITHOUT DRAWING. Then I will go back and rewatch the scene and do small/rough comp studies.
Go to Production blogs for some of your favorite shows or follow artists from those shows! Chances are in the age of social media they will upload some of their boards and you can see and study how your favorite show works!
How I normally find them is I google (show) production blog or when the episode ends I look up the board artist!
Now onto the heavily focused Storyboard Classes:
CONCEPT DESIGN ACADEMY. These classes are pricey, yes, but I promise you will learn a ton. If you think of the price compared to art school they are WAY cheaper. http://conceptdesignacad.com/
CONCEPT DESIGN ACADEMY. These classes are pricey, yes, but I promise you will learn a ton. If you think of the price compared to art school they are WAY cheaper. http://conceptdesignacad.com/
The specific classes I recommend are Alan Wan's Storyboard class and Ben Juwono, these are the two I have taken. They are not offered every term but I learned A TON. Though if you take any storyboard classes there you will learn a lot.
Another thing CDA offers: PERSPECTIVE CLASSES, BG DESIGN CLASSES, CHARACTER DESIGNS, FIGURE AND GESTURE DRAWING, ECT. These are all great skills for boards. ESP Perspective. PERSPECTIVE IN YOUR BOARDS WILL MAKE THEM WAY BETTER. It doesn't need to be 100% accurate just readable.
Another great place to learn is https://radhowtoschool.com/
I took a class over the summer with the Copeland brothers! It was great!
I took a class over the summer with the Copeland brothers! It was great!
And currently, I am taking Steve Ahn's class. https://artofsteveahn.com/item/action-adventure-cinematic-storyboard-workshop-audit-version
Well now you have storyboards.... what do I do now? TRY TO GET THEM REVIEWED AND CRITIQUED!
If you are in a class most likely this will happen after you turn in your homework. But what if you studied this all on your own? No class.
If you are in a class most likely this will happen after you turn in your homework. But what if you studied this all on your own? No class.
Option #1:
ANIMATION GUILD PORTFOLIO REVIEW. The animation guild (the union for animation in LA) does a yearly portfolio review for aspiring story artists. It's free. It's GREAT. Everyone is nice. It normally happened in May.
ANIMATION GUILD PORTFOLIO REVIEW. The animation guild (the union for animation in LA) does a yearly portfolio review for aspiring story artists. It's free. It's GREAT. Everyone is nice. It normally happened in May.
Option #2: LIGHTBOX EXPO (or other professional animation conventions...) tons of professional story artist are willing to review your portfolios, studios also normally have sign-ups to get a professional review from one of their employed artists!
Option #3: Live streams! There is a handful of artists that will review your boards on a live stream!
@Dwooman_art @NicParris and @jimmortensen are a few that come to mind!
@Dwooman_art @NicParris and @jimmortensen are a few that come to mind!
Now you got your critique...Sometimes it's great! Sometimes they hurt and they are harsh sometimes. It's important to let yourself feel sad but then also jump back onto the horse and apply what you learned to your boards! THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPROVE. 100% IMO.
When I get critiques I take them seriously, I don't try to fight with the person I asked to review my work. Do not go into critiques expecting a ton of compliments, that's not what a critique is for.
Now you should have a decent and passible board...obviously this won't happen in a few days.. it will probably be more like years. Here is some additional stuff I found recently but haven't yet used yet.
SKILLSHARE: A great affordable option
https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Learn-to-Storyboard-The-First-Steps-of-Visual-Storytelling/1076577766 they have a lot of great drawing recourses.
https://www.skillshare.com/classes/Learn-to-Storyboard-The-First-Steps-of-Visual-Storytelling/1076577766 they have a lot of great drawing recourses.
https://www.schoolism.com/
I haven't had a chance to try out schoolism yet but I've heard GREAT THINGS
I haven't had a chance to try out schoolism yet but I've heard GREAT THINGS
@ebbigal MADE A WONDER GUIDE of resources https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rtJQ7teHzWNmfJANr1RW6xE66jRu0TIKO-fB0VZhIN4/edit#heading=h.pyudkdmk297u
Also just a small thing: sorry this is so LA centric, I grew up an hour away from LA so I only really know this area. Also since this was my personal journey.. yeah...lol IDK IF THIS THREAD IS GOOD BUT I HOPE YOU LIKE IT BYE.
