It's Easy for You to Say
Why making comics (or anything else) is deceptively simple
I went climbing with my partner and a friend a few weeks back for the first time in years. It was fun to re-learn everything and liberating to overcome the fear of going up to the top. I had the sensation that my body could climb some of the more difficult paths, but my mind wasn’t quite there yet, so I stuck to starting-level challenges!
With climbing, especially bouldering, where you do it without a rope, it’s very easy to look at someone else struggling and point them the way. We’re seeing it from down here! It seems so easy! Just. Put. That. Foot. Down.
But things change when you’re the one up there.
This looks, to me, a lot like the process of creating comics. It’s both the reason why readers love them and the reason why there are so few creators who finish their series. In the optic of the reader, the drawings look so simple. “I could do that if I wanted to,” you think. I know you do. I thought so myself. That’s why I got into this, only to realise there’s much more to it. Oh boy, was I in for a ride!
I recently decided to evolve my art style, so I have watched a couple of tutorials on painting and animation. These teachers explain their techniques well, and their way of doing things looks clear. But when I put my pen on the screen, things are more complex than they were in the video.
For example, I tried to apply a new painting technique in the comic above, and it didn’t come out as good-looking as I expected. This said, it was my first time using it, so I need to stick with it for a while to see where it goes!
After all, even though my brain knows how to do it theoretically, the rest of me hasn’t caught up. How to move the pen, which brushes to use, what’s the best size for the line art… all that will take time and patience.
Just like climbing. Or playing music. Or anything else that you have been doing recently.
Instead of giving up because you think you’re bad at it, could you try giving yourself time to catch up? It’s worth it. I promise.
Next Fairs & Conventions
Convention season is just around the corner, and I’m so thrilled to bring my comics to all these cities!
21 October: Winchester Comics Fair
27-29 October: MCM Comic Con London
11-12 November: Thought Bubble (Harrogate)
2 December: Tags Fest (Edinburgh)
13 - 14 January: MegaCon Live London
See you soon!
And thank you for reading! As usual, while the following newsletter is in the making, you can find me on the regular socials:
And also, my online shop for books (and e-books!) and prints:
🏪 https://claudiamatosa.com/shop