Hello, all

[EroticPenman]

I have seen some AWESOME artists here, and was wondering if you guys (and babes, of course!!!) would help me out-I have been working at developing my art for some time, and I was wondering if you fine folks would give me your input-IS my art marketable?
I know that if I work at it another 50 years, I might get as good as some of you-but I don't HAVE 50 years; So I need to know-Should I not expect anything more that doodling for friends, or do I have something that some website or other end-user might want? I graciously thank you for your opinions!
btw I'm also known as "Babehunter" in the candid beach photo realm-that's why the name is different. Anyway, the URL is: Hotttimaging

Thanks!
EP/Babehunter

 

[mjl2010]

Can't you post anything here for us to look at, instead of having to go somewhere else?

MJL

 

[THROBBS]

Hey, EroticPenman~
Welcome aboard.
I took a peek.
Somebody might want your illustrations, BUT not real likely to make much money at it. There is so much free erotic imagery out there... and some of it very high in quality. I'd say, just keep doing what pleases you (and your friends).

 

[xssve]

Your comix gallery doesn't come up, can you link directly? Photography looks fine, there are sites that specialize in candid photography, including beach.

Several of these sites link from Worldsex galleries, try archives/Public Nudity and Voyeurs.

 

[EroticPenman]

Comix gallery-

Sorry for the problems, here are a few pieces....
Thanks for the positive responses!

 

[IrezumiKiss]

Pen, as an artist, I'm going to echo Throbbs' words.

Your stuff here as is could most likely get some low-key spot illustration gigs from certain magazines I've seen use similar quality if you pushed it hard, but serious walkin' around money is made from high-end talents with no peer that have been in the grind for quite a while, and it shows.

Hobby-wise erotica is cool and it's anything-goes for the most part because you're just doing it for you...and those you show it to will enjoy it for what it is...but commercial erotica interests have totally different standards and will be less forgiving and kind in their evaluations. If you want to really do erotic art for good money, then immerse yourself in the arts that are out there and see what people are paying for. Collect what you like and look at what other people like as well. Study them and figure out what they're doing right that makes them able to sell their works. Find your niche within what other people are doing and hone your style to fit that. Keep doing your art every day and believe in it, even to the detriment of doing other things you could be doing with your time and money, like going to the movies and stuff. Don't even get me started on the hustling you'll have to do in order to be seen, which is even harder on the spirit.

These things are what I keep telling my own self and there are standards I'm always striving to reach that I see are out there already getting people paying out of pocket and I gotta meet AND surpass that to get in like Flynn. There's room for ALL of us, but the bottom line for commercial (and some private) work means you have to be good enough for someone else to want to part ways with their money for. And that's pretty tight these days. Doubly so for erotic art where there's a million images a person could download off the net for FREE. Keep that in mind when you do your thang and don't forget to have fun in the doing.

 

[xssve]

I think Irezumi stated it fairly diplomatically, your examples here are on the amatuerish side - but I don't recommend giving up, some of my stuff from even a year or two ago isn't a whole lot better, and I've seen to many people improve from where you're at to discount anybody - it really just depends on how much effort you're willing to put into it.

Your general proportions are actually pretty good, and your gestures look good too, and that's half the battle, it indicates a certian amount of natural talent, you just have to develop it.

Heads are too big, hands and feet to small in some of the drawings, classic beginner mistakes, almost everybody does that, and there are even certian styles where that's done, Chibi for example.

Study facial proportion a bit too, another common mistake is to draw the features too big for the face, eyes to high, etc. In comics art, hands and feet do tend to be de-emphasized on female figures, i.e., a biot smaller than they typically are, a hand is roughly the size of half the face, the hand is roughly two thirds of the foot.

The average figure varies between 7 and 9 heads, the bigger the head, the smaller the figure will seem - children may be only 5 heads, a very small woman might be between Six and Seven, 8 heads tall and three heads wide is a good medium, and it's easier to gauge proportions - fromthe top of the head to the pubic arch is four heads, one from chin to nipples, another from nipples to belly button, etc. Two heads from pubic arch to knees, elbows about the level of the belly button, fingertips about mid thigh, etc. Once you can get those in the ballpark, you can start to expiriment with different effects in altering proportions. I find it easier sometimes to rough in the head, draw the figure, then readjust the head size before detailing the features.

My advice is to concentrate on proportions, keep the gestures loose, and pay more attention to you line quality - it looks like you might have done these on a tablet? The lines are shaky, it's ok for sketches, but appealing anatomy, particularly female, is very much a matter of contour and proportion, in almost any line art style, though contours might be either smooth or angular, the exception would be more painterly styles.

The thing about selling it, is that comics is still largely a do-it-yourself proposition, you have to do your own marketing and use your imagination, there really are no rules, I see comic book illustration styles popping up in all sorts of odd publications, fashion and bodybuilding magazines, advertising, etc., most of the covers for the New Yorker are in illustrational styles for example, as is much of the interior art.

It's just up to you and your imagination to find a way to sell it.

 

[madetotakeit]

Check in your area for the local art association. Most will have scheduled life art classes. For a small fee you can sketch a model they have hired. It is a great environment to learn the gestures implying motion, lighting, and anatomy. Even if you are going for a sequential art style it is invaluable. You can see others whose style or nuance you admire and see first hand how it is done.

Also, go to your local comics store. Buy some items of an illustrator that you are drawn to. Look at the outline and coloring separately. You will find that One person will draw the images while another inks. It is the combination of the two working together that create images with high impact. Try to replicate first in the drawing style then in the coloring style. Practice, practice, practice! I know several people who were self taught in the beginning and with fine tuning from instructors went on to work for major publishers. Don't think about how far you have to go, just enjoy what you are creating.

A little trick. When you think you have finished a piece, look at in the mirror. A great way to bypass the mind's ability to "fill in the blanks!"