Nestor Redondo: "On Realistic

Illustration"

Award-winning comic book artist, animation designer painter, Nestor Redondo (1928-1995)

was the most highly regarded and respected of all Filipino comics illustrators, not only in

his own country but the United States as well. At the time of his death, almost every

major, successful Filipino comics artist had either apprenticed under him or credited him

as their most important influence.

Nestor began his long and distinguished career drawing Filipino "komiks" serials, which

were written by his brother Virgilio. His biggest success, at that time, came when he

illustrated the popular Darna series. Later he helped found and operate a comics publishing

company which launched a program of on-the-job training for young writers and artists. In

the 70's he began to do work for publishers in the United States, rendering Tarzan,

Swamp Thing, and other titles, a tabloid-size comic of The Bible, and many illustrated

classics comics. Over the years he also contributed to various Christian comics including

Marx, Lenin, Mao and Christ, Aida-Zee, and Behold 3D.

"On Realistic Illustration"

To produce realistic comic book art you must start with an idea, story or message. The

illustrator must have: (1) Vivid imagination, (2) Pictorial story telling skills, (3) Drafting

skills, perspective, rendering, and (4) Mastery of human anatomy, landscape, architecture

designs, animal drawing, prop designs, color sense.

1. VIVID IMAGINATION

Before even setting pencil on paper the illustrator must see clearly in his mind, in full

detail, the scene he will portray. He must have the idea of what he wants to express, must

know the element of the picture which is of paramount importance, must have a plan or

strategy of how to execute the plan. He must plan the sequence of events to express a

complete thought and elicit viewer/reader response or reaction. Whether the artist is

writing the story or somebody else, it is better to have a written script, so he can plan the

placement and space allotted to the captions and dialogue balloons. Quick thumbnail

sketches are helpful in visualizing the story sequences.

2. PICTORIAL STORYTELLING SKILLS

Once the artist has the idea or concept and has determined what to do with it, the next

question he asks is how best to present the story or message. He could start by

establishing the time of the narrative. When it happened may be established by: (1) The

landscape, whether prehistoric, historic, contemporary or futuristic, (2) The costumes of

the characters, (3) The props, i.e., implements in use, like vehicles, architecture, tools,

furniture, etc., (4) Of course you may establish the time by stating it in the caption.

Next, consider Pictorial Composition. Composition is the most important element in an

illustration. It is how to put all the elements in drawing together to present a clear,

cohesive idea that conveys the intended message and evokes the appropriate reaction

from the viewer. If all the other elements are executed superbly and fail in the

composition, all is for naught. Elements to be considered in composition are: (a) Scale and

Proportion: Everything in the picture should be presented in the correct size in relation to

all the other elements in the picture, (b) Balance: This accounts for stability, (c) Interest:

Pictures should be compelling enough to merit attention, (d) Authenticity: Everything in

the picture should be believable, and (e) Character Development: Credible and interesting,

consistent and natural poses, dynamic action poses. Every scene should be interesting. One

central dominating focus. Evoke the desired response from the reader. Every element in

the scene should be there for a relevant purpose. You have heard it said that sometimes

less is more. If the elimination of an element makes the point of the scene clearer, so be

it. Try to say the most with the least. Compose your panels individually, also as a whole

page, as a double spread, with the preceding and following pages. You do not know how your

pages will be printed. Establish a reading flow to the spreads, arranging the sequences of

captions, images, and balloons in a correct, and interesting order. Always enhance the

readers' enjoyment by involving him in the excitement of the story. Keep him in suspense.

Tug at his emotions with drama. Give him surprises, twists and build up for a climax, don't

be predictable or you'll bore the reader.

3. DRAWING OR DRAFTING SKILLS

Basic Drawing: Just as one has to know the alphabet before literature can be written, so,

too, before anecdotal art basic drawing should be learned and mastered. Drawing begins

after the concept has been formed in the mind and a strategy of approach decided on.

When the drawing implement first touches the drawing surface-- when pencil touches

paper-- we create the first thing in the act of drawing-- a dot. (Of course, in the case of

airbrush painting or, as primitive man has practiced, paint blowing, the start occurs when

the first globule of color touches the painting surface.)

The next step is what to do with the dot. Drawing is a process of making continual

decisions. You can decide to increase the size of the dot, Or you might decide to draw a

spiral from the dot or draw concentric circles. Or you may draw adjacent dots to denote a

direction - left or right, up or down, or diagonally in all directions. With dots you may

create a tonal value: When placed closer together a dark value and lighter when placed

father apart. Or change values by changing the size of the dots. (The pointillists during

the impressionist movement in France used dots in their paintings.)

You may also move the dots on your drawing surface to create a line. The possibilities

are limitless. The line may be straight or curved. The line may be turned into a circle, a

square, or a triangle-- the basic shapes. Or a combination of the shapes to describe the

recognizable outline of things. According to Andrew Loomis, illustrator and author of many

books on drawing and illustration, there are seven primary functions of line, namely:

a. To convey it's own intrinsic beauty.

b. To divide or limit an area or space.

c. To delineate a thought or symbol.

d. To define form by edge or contour.

e. To catch and direct an eye over a given course.

f. To produce a gray or tonal gradation.

g. To create design or arrangement.

A series of lines create a tone. When lines are drawn close together we create a darker

tone. And when they are drawn farther apart we create a lighter tone. We may also create

a dark or light tone by thickening the lines. We create graded tones by gradually varying

the distance between lines and/or the thickness of the line. Tones may also be created by

holding the pencil on the side of its lead and running it across the paper, varying its value

according to the pressure applied on the pencil. Tones may also be created by the dry

brush technique or the split hair technique. Another way of creating a tonal value is the

wash technique, where ink or water is lightened or darkened by controlling the mix of

pigment with water. Areas of tone may have soft or hard edges.

Color is the next element in the progression from dot to line to tone. It may be applied in

many different ways. The simplest is to lay a flat tone of color on a toned or shaded

drawing. From this simple start you may follow the progression to the most sophisticated

or complex method from just drawing to full paintings. Various techniques are offered by

the invention of new tools or art instruments like the airbrush and computer. With the

improvements in reproductions processes in printing it is now possible to use any of the art

techniques to comics.

All the things we see around us are based on basic shapes or combination of these shapes.

The three most basic shapes are the circle, square or rectangle, and the triangle. While

these are flat, two-dimensional shapes, they have their uses. If we add another dimension

these become the sphere, the cube or cylinder, and the pyramid or cone. These shapes, or

the combinations, may be drawn in many ways. With the dot or the pointillist technique,

the linear or tonal. These basic shapes have their applications in drawing the most complex

things we see around us in the shapes of nature: the clouds, seas, rocks, plants, animals,

and, of course, the human anatomy. This is also true of the man-made applications: houses

and buildings, monuments, implements, clothes, artifacts, transport vehicles, and

everything you can think of.

Perspective is what makes objects in the distance appear smaller than objects near us.

Understanding the principles of perspective allows us to draw objects three-dimensionally

on a two dimensional surface. It lets us represent space where there is none. It is an

illusion of reality. Where sculpture is a representation of actual space, in drawing space is

just an illusion. By the mere overlapping of lines space may be defined. By varying the

thicknesses of lines, distance of depth may be implied. Space may also be defined with the

use of converging, radiating or concentric circles or by varying the size or scale of similar

objects. But perspective is not just linear. There is also tonal or atmospheric

perspective.There is also tonal or atmospheric perspective. There is also color perspective

where warm colors advance and cool colors recede. Thus space may be indicated by the use

of colors. Many hours of enjoyment may be had experimenting with and discovering

principles of perspective.

If we are to draw or represent things realistically we must understand the process of

seeing that is, why and how you see things. The human eye is a light sensitive organ.

Therefore without light we see nothing physically. Of course, we can see with our mind's

eye or imagination, but it may not be realistic seeing. We see an object because of the

effect of light on that object. We see shape, texture, color, or character of an object by

the light effect. The way we see an object could be influenced by the intensity, direction,

quality, color, quantity and effect of light from reflections or surrounding objects, the

refraction of light through transparent objects like glass or water. There are natural

lights from the sun, moon, or other natural phenomena (like the aurora borealis) and

artificial light, man-made and mostly indoor lighting. There are also lights from fires,

lightning, volcanic eruptions, explosions, etc. These should all be studied. At the opposite

of light are the shadows and shades. How do they work? How are they to be interpreted?

In art one not only has to know and understand what he is representing but also how to

represent it. With the use of shades and shadows, different moods or atmosphere may be

created and drama may be infused in the illustration. In impressionism it is the light

effect as seen that is painted and not the head knowledge of the subject. Illustration is a

credible representation of life. The illustrator also plays the role of the lighting director.

4. MASTERY OF HUMAN ANATOMY

The comics illustrator must learn how to draw the structures of things, real and imagined

from the tiniest amoeba to the most gigantic creatures, existent or not. And, of course,

the anatomy of man, the masterpiece of God's creation. This includes all the varying

expressions and attitudes of man, the similarities and differences of the genders, the

races, in motion or static, viewed from all angles, the clothed or unclothed, in all of man's

poses.

CONCLUSION

Knowing what to do is just one half of the deal. The other half is how to do it. It takes a

lot of practice and hard work to be an accomplished illustrator, and it's worth it. I have

outlined here the first basic steps of comic illustration and from there the natural course

of progression may be pursued.

Best wishes, and God be glorified!