Help an emerging Artist please...

[Niko123000]

Ok, I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I draw better by visual refrence. This means that if I see someone draw a Character that I created, anything they may have done that looks better to me, I apply to the character.

Anyway, I'm in need of some serious help. I plan on starting the comic, but eventually I'm gonna need to tackle this hurtle. When I attempted to draw one of the Characters, Night Shade, it came out HORRIBLE. I seriously need to see how others would draw him before I draw him again. the most notable thing I'm having trouble with, Is deciding weather to have his arms double as wings, or have his arm seperatre from the wings. ( he's a Raven.)

Here's the drawing of Nightshade.
http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/38484728/

Notrmally I wouldn't do this because it makes me sound... demanding or something like that, but I seriously need some Drawings of this Guy. Even sketches will do. I just need to see how some people would draw him.

And a tut for drawing Anthro birds would also be apprediated if you know of one...

[Tavis]

I am reminded of a few birds in the O&M comic...

[Niko123000]

Hmm.. yes... that could prove useful... still gonna have hell on the beaks... but those could be useful...

[Tavis]

Well, it's a start. Not much of one, since those images don't do much to help you resolve the wings and robes issue, but I think it might help you get started.

[Chris]

IMO you should practice in drawing your characters before going to the *strip* business still nice drawing

@Tavis
LOL

[Tabris_The_17th]

I totally understand your concerns about visual reference. I'd be lost without it myself. I find it so hard for my mind and hand to cooperate with each other enough that the image created by one matches the labor of the other. I'd like to offer some help to you here, I'm just not sure if I'd have enough time. I have a lot of work for my own comic idea I really need to kick in high gear, plus my new semester starts in less than a week. That, and I don't exactly have much experience drawing birds. But if I find some time, maybe I can try. I'll private message you if anything develops.

IMO you should practice in drawing your characters before going to the *strip* business still nice drawing

The second that. That's what I'm currently in the process of. I have my three main characters down, but if they don't have other characters and environments to interact in, it's not much of a comic. Designing takes time, but it should be worth it.

[Chris]

Heres a suggestion, IF your having trouble drawing body positions....just stand infront of a huge mirror and pose, i know its weird but it works! I've used this technique in teh past

and I think you should seperate the wings from the arms...like Angels have.

[Niko123000]

Heres a suggestion, IF your having trouble drawing body positions....just stand infront of a huge mirror and pose, i know its weird but it works! I've used this technique in teh past

It's not so much body postions, as how the **** you draw a beak, and the head right so it looks like he has hair, yet you can tell it's made of feathers.

and I think you should seperate the wings from the arms...like Angels have.

Yeah... I'm thinking that's the best... if only cause the robe would be completely unpractical otherwise.

[Chris]

Heres a suggestion, IF your having trouble drawing body positions....just stand infront of a huge mirror and pose, i know its weird but it works! I've used this technique in teh past

It's not so much body postions, as how the **** you draw a beak, and the head right so it looks like he has hair, yet you can tell it's made of feathers.

and I think you should seperate the wings from the arms...like Angels have.

Yeah... I'm thinking that's the best... if only cause the robe would be completely unpractical otherwise.

I mean when doing some facial expression and stuff... a mirror is a cartoonist's friend IMO

[Dr. Doog]

Why can't you look at yourself and get a good concept of beaks and feathers, Niko