One character's pose is dominant. The other characters' poses react to it.
The characters' poses create interesting negative spaces between them.
![[girls3.jpg]](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_mJ4lc_Q9Q6k/SsSk8NiSZ_I/AAAAAAAAhog/BIElRCd0Nig/s1600/girls3.jpg)
One Character Opposed to a Group
Margaret is dominant character. Other kids are together a separate element. Within that element, Tommy has dominant pose with strongest line of action-directed at Margaret.
BACKGROUNDS FRAME THE POSESEven the backgrounds and their negative shapes can frame the actions of the characters.
![[FCT_Pigtales06.jpg]](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_mJ4lc_Q9Q6k/SZQZj4PEKpI/AAAAAAAAbfA/1wyEUoj7w74/s1600/FCT_Pigtales06.jpg)
Every element in a good picture is balanced against the main action and pose.
Action and reactionbetween characters is very important and appealing to look at.
FITTING ALL PICTURE ELEMENTS IN BALANCE AGAINST EACH OTHER
http://johnkstuff.blogspot.com/2008/08/kurtzman-and-composition.html
16 comments:
That's Tommy, not Joey, speaking to Margaret in the "Dennis" panel. Joey's in the middle.
This and Eisenberg post are why I keep coming to this site. Nice stuff, and really helps this CG artist understand good art!
You may be right that this era will be remembered as the Age of Ugly. Does anyone have a theory as to why ugly animation art is so popular? Could it partly be the audience likes it because they feel they can "do better " ?
Each drawings compostion is crystal clear.
Thanks Top Cat! I fixed it.
Wow! And to think that ability was second nature to most of the great masters!
I see what you're saying but it seems like the poses in the boxing comic could have been pushed more.
That's what I love about your animations. You really pushed the poses without going overboard.
To get back to your ol'man for a second. You're a lucky man to have him JK, and he's blessed in so many ways to have a son like you. Top of the line. Raising the bar. Maybe Eisner or Wally Wood, or maybe Hogarth would dig as deep as you, but this stuff is priceless. Opposing Poses? Here's a great one from Segar.
http://www.alligatorboogaloo.com/mengshui_art/segar1.gif
Absolutely. Composition is very important and really makes a huge difference. I'd even say that many "less than professional" drawings are forgiven if, at least, the composition is working. If the poses of the characters and/or objects play off each other well (as you've demonstrated in this blog post) and if the action reads 100% clear, it's working.
I was definitely thinking about all of this and more while I was creating my comic. John, it would be great if you somehow got a hold of a copy and gave it a once-over just to see how well I did. There are a few samples on my blog right now, if you're interested. It will be on sale pretty soon though.
I like to think I did pretty well. Of course, the only one who's complimented me on that so far has been my mother. Her first reaction on seeing some of the panels was "WOW! That reads." It would be great to hear other opinions in order to see the bigger picture (no pun intended).
rosTotally unrelated:
I recently rented all three Popeye DVD sets from my local library. Totally awesome. Has anyone else watched these? If so, what's your thoughts? I think we should see more Popeye in our day to day lives. Artists our there, lets see some Popeye.
you should really write a cartooning textbook. it'd be the only book anyone would ever need
Appreciate the thoughtful, well analyzed post. Perfect timing for a donation. Good work!
You forgot one, the pose in a great piggy bank robbery. The one where Daffy demands "come out of that hole you rat."
This is just a brilliant post. Thank you for taking the time out to pull it together. Very forceful and educational.
Very helpful, thanks. I will study it.
Hi Michael, thanks.
I get a lot of info from your site.
I'd love to know your opinion Of my own comic John or anyone else Whose willing. http://dahbaconator.smackjeeves.com/
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