Your Class Project will be completed in three distinct parts:

Part 1: Foundational Views

Objective: Establish a solid understanding of basic head construction and learn to depict a manga character from different perspectives.

Instructions:

Watch the Video Lessons: Carefully review the video lessons, focusing on drawing the head in front, side, and 3/4 views. Pay close attention to the guidelines, proportions, and key features specific to manga character design (e.g., eye placement, nose and mouth simplification, ear position).
Create Your Drawings: Produce three separate drawings of your chosen character:

Front View: Focus on symmetry and the placement of facial features along the central axis.
Side Profile: Emphasize the silhouette of the face, the curve of the nose, and the position of the ear relative to the jawline.
3/4 View: Practice transitioning between the front and side views, capturing the depth and form of the face as it turns. Pay attention to how features overlap and foreshorten.

Submission: Upload clear photos or scans of your three drawings (front, side, and 3/4 view) to the project gallery. In your project description, briefly mention any challenges you faced and what you learned from this exercise.

Part 2: Exploring Character Diversity

Objective: Cultivate your ability to create a range of unique manga characters by experimenting with subtle variations in features, expressions, and hairstyles.

Instructions:

Watch the "Exploring Variety & Style" Video: Observe as I fill two pages with diverse manga portraits. Pay close attention to:

Subtle Feature Variations: Notice how slight changes in eye shape, eyebrow angle, mouth, and nose shape can drastically alter a character's appearance.
Expressive Variations: See how different eyebrow positions, eyes, and mouth shapes convey a wide range of emotions.
Hairstyle Diversity: Observe how various hairstyles (length, texture, bangs, volume) contribute to a character's individuality.
Thought Process and Tips: Listen carefully to my explanations and tips for adding personality and visual interest to your characters.

Your Creative Exploration: Inspired by the examples, fill at least one full page (or more if you feel inspired!) in your sketchbook with a diverse range of manga portraits.

Experiment: Don't be afraid to try different styles, ages (young, adult, older), and emotions (happy, sad, angry, surprised, thoughtful, etc.).
Focus on Variation: Make conscious choices about how you alter facial features, expressions, and hairstyles for each portrait to create distinct individuals.
Quick Sketches are Encouraged: These don't need to be highly polished drawings. Focus on capturing the essence of each character.

Submission: Upload a clear photo or scan of your sketchbook page(s) to the project gallery. In your project description, share any insights you gained during this exploration and highlight a few of your favorite character concepts.

Part 3: Deconstructing a Masterpiece: Portraiture in Berserk manga

Objective: Analyze how portraiture contributes to powerful storytelling, dynamic composition, and intense emotion in a renowned manga.

Instructions:

Watch the "Deconstructing a Masterpiece" Video: Follow along as I draw and ink panels from Kentaro Miura's Berserk. Pay close attention to:

Line Weight: Observe how varying the thickness of lines can define form, create depth, and emphasize certain features.
Shading Techniques: Notice how shadows are used to sculpt the face, convey mood, and add realism (even within a stylized context).
Capturing Emotion: Analyze how specific facial features and expressions are rendered to convey intense emotions such as anger, sadness, determination, and despair.

Your Analysis: Choose one or two panels from Berserk (or another manga of your choice if you are not familiar with Berserk, the principles will be similar). Create Your Study: Redraw the chosen panel(s), focusing specifically on the portraiture aspects. Pay close attention to the line weight, shading, and how the character's expression contributes to the scene's overall feeling. You don't need to copy every detail perfectly, but aim to understand and replicate the techniques being used. Submission: Upload a clear photo or scan of your redrawn panel(s) alongside the original panel(s) you studied (if possible, include a reference image). In your project description, discuss:

How line weight is used in the original panel(s).
The shading techniques employed and their effect.
How the character's portrait and expression contribute to the storytelling and emotional impact of the scene.

I am excited to see your creative explorations and your unique manga homages! Don't hesitate to ask questions and share your progress in the discussions, or projects and resources sections of the class. Let's embark on this exciting journey of mastering manga character portraits together!

Jacob Pittman

--

2