How to Make Manga Clothing
Manga, a Japanese form of cartooning, is often assumed to be easy to draw because of its simplistic style. Beginning artists discover quickly, however, that manga is an art form that takes years of practice to master. Because of this, drawing small details such as a character's clothing, can seem overwhelming at first. It is imperative that an artist breaks down the drawing process into steps they can manage. Doing so will help a new artist tackle the challenges of drawing manga.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Draw several drafts of outfit designs onto paper. Work quickly with your pencil, using smooth confident strokes, and create several outfits to choose from. Add a manga feel to each outfit by incorporating items such as frilled skirts, designer suits, otherworldly accessories and giant weapons. Do not erase any mistakes made while drawing, and do not try to create a finished picture. Focus on creating outfit designs which you can reference later on.
-
2
Choose an outfit from the rough drafts you have created and sketch its rough outline onto paper. Use basic shapes, such as curved rectangles and squares to create the outline. If you are drawing this outfit on a character, sketch the basic shape of the outfit over the character's body. Follow the curves of their body to give the outfit a natural fall. Press lightly with your pencil, and focus on the outline of the clothing only. Do not draw any inner details of the clothing.
-
-
3
Define the organic shape of your clothing by tracing over your rough outline. Add the curves and folds found along the clothing's outline for a realistic look. Focus on using smooth, curving lines while you draw. If the clothing is on a character, follow their body structure to help define the bends and folds of the outfit. Darken your defined outline by tracing over it hard with your pencil.
-
4
Erase the markings left by your rough outline. Work lightly with your pencil and draw the inner details of your clothing, such as belts, pockets, zippers, shoe laces and emblems. Use the rough draft of your outfit as a guide whenever needed. Sketch the folds found along the outfit using curved, organic lines. Match them to the folds drawn along the clothing's outline. If the clothing is on a character, keep in mind their pose and body structure when adding folds and details. A bend in the body will cause a bend in the clothing.
-
5
Review your drawing and correct any mistakes you find, such as disproportional sleeves and unnatural looking folds. Erase any extra pencil markings and smudges found in your picture. Ink your clothing by tracing over your lines with a black pen. Work slowly and correct all mistakes before inking over your lines.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When drawing manga, the less detail the better. Avoid drawing too many folds and bends in your clothing. Over doing detail can make the clothes look noisy and unnatural.
Practice drawing manga regularly, the more you practice the better your artwork will become.
Practice drawing clothing in real life. Understanding how certain types of clothes fall in the real world will help you create realistic outfits in your drawings.
Look at different styles of manga drawing. New styles will give you ideas for your own work.
There is no right method to drawing. So every artists drawing method will differ slightly. Explore new techniques and methods to see what works best for you.
References
- Photo Credit Patrick Ryan/Lifesize/Getty Images
