Art vs. Plot

For discussions, announcements, non-technical questions and anything else comics-related or otherwise that doesn't fit in any of the other categories.

Which is more important to your comic

Art
7
25%
Plot
21
75%
 
Total votes: 28

User avatar
Sortelli
Cartoon Villain
Posts: 6334
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2002 7:15 pm
Location: in your grandpa's clothes, I look incredible
Contact:

Post by Sortelli »

Art or plot? So ... like... should I stop drawing pictures and write a novel if plot is more important to me... or should I stop writing in dialogue and story and just draw a bunch of pretty pictures if art is more important to me?

We're talking about comics, not novels or pin-up art. Both are relevant factors.

User avatar
Sortelli
Cartoon Villain
Posts: 6334
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2002 7:15 pm
Location: in your grandpa's clothes, I look incredible
Contact:

Post by Sortelli »

Art or plot? So ... like... should I stop drawing pictures and write a novel if plot is more important to me... or should I stop writing in dialogue and story and just draw a bunch of pretty pictures if art is more important to me?

We're talking about comics, not novels or pin-up art. Both are relevant factors.

User avatar
Sortelli
Cartoon Villain
Posts: 6334
Joined: Sat Aug 10, 2002 7:15 pm
Location: in your grandpa's clothes, I look incredible
Contact:

Post by Sortelli »

Art or plot? So ... like... should I stop drawing pictures and write a novel if plot is more important to me... or should I stop writing in dialogue and story and just draw a bunch of pretty pictures if art is more important to me?

We're talking about comics, not novels or pin-up art. Both are relevant factors.

ZOMBIE USER 12886
Regular Poster
Posts: 46
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:26 am

Post by ZOMBIE USER 12886 »

:roll: Am I the only one who's had trouble posting on this board? Even on the computers at my college, which have high speed connection, I've experienced technical difficulties when I go to post something. Most of the time it works, but there have been times I've felt like taking a bat to either the computer or whoever's running the blasted server. Don't mind me; I have issues.

As to this debate, I feel that plot is somewhat more important. I do like to be able to tell what's going on however, so sloppy art is out of the question. <u>Badly Drawn Kitties</u> is a good example. The title tells you what you're in for. But in my opinion, the art isn't too bad, and the writing is good enough to keep you hooked. In this case, plot definitely rules. Then again, maybe I'm just a biased writer. :P Words are my way of painting.

Still, I'm starting to explore the possibility that my Grandfather left me something in the family bloodline. He was an incredible artist, and I truly wish I'd gotten to know him more before he died. :cry: The funeral wasn't fun for me.

I'm hoping I'll be able to develop my talent and maybe make some comics myself. Whether I post them on the internet remains to be seen. I need to see how well I can draw first. Still, if my plots are good, and my art is half decent, I don't see why people wouldn't want to read it. I just need to convince my parents to get me a sketchbook for Christmas. Even then, they'd remind me I need a day job. :roll: Such is the life of those who choose the arts as their career.

User avatar
McDuffies
Bob was here (Moderator)
Bob was here (Moderator)
Posts: 29957
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Serbia
Contact:

Post by McDuffies »

Nike, this is a poll I refuse to answer. Comic art is not a pure novel illustrating nor an ordinary illustration string. They simply can't work without each other and that's the one of things artist must understand to be able to make good comics. When art in comic is bad, that doesn't mean it's less important; If it lacks effects in photoshop or strict anatomy it can still have it's sharp.
I never look at sites with illustrations and very rarely those with fiction. But comics managed to tie me up to the chair even if they had a lowsy art or so good art that it compensated lowsy script.
You just didn't include my option in the poll: they're simply equally important!

User avatar
YarpsDat
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 3637
Joined: Wed Oct 30, 2002 5:28 am
Location: nowhere

Post by YarpsDat »

Both are relevant factors, indeed...

but recently I've picked up a habit of favouring the art over the story:
you see, even if a thing has no story, it's still valuable as an art reference,
but if it has no art, it's no good (If you can't see what's going on, why bother following the story?)

I used to like, medium-quality art (meaning: you can see what's going on, but no more than that), but I kinda put more weight to the art now.

User avatar
McDuffies
Bob was here (Moderator)
Bob was here (Moderator)
Posts: 29957
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Serbia
Contact:

Post by McDuffies »

There I was, angry because I can't post, when I realised I did, but it was in a niddle of previous posts... huh...

User avatar
Cindermain
Regular Poster
Posts: 712
Joined: Sat May 25, 2002 2:34 am
Location: SD
Contact:

Re: Art vs. Plot

Post by Cindermain »

NikeYoung wrote:There's no middle ground, no stupid answers, no gloves.Which one is more important to you:Art or Plot.
NO GLOVES? OK...you asked for it. :D :evil: ****RANT MODE ON****

No middle ground? :-?

Sorry about being horribly blunt, but that's asinine. That's the very attitude that has given birth to all the crap comics on the web today.

I find if you DON'T have a middle ground, any strip will inevitably suffer terribly.

There are numerous examples of great writing being totally ignored or overshadowed by the poor artwork presented, and obvious examples of gorgeous artwork being ignored as the storyline is totally non-existant.

This is ESPECIALLY prevalent on the internet, where there are SO many strips to choose from.

Sure, the writing could be the next best thing to Shakespeare, but without even somewhat good art to capture the eye, not many people will give it a second glance in strip form. In that case, do yourself a favor; learn to draw, hire an artist that can get your points across, or get a blog and stop cluttering up the strip world.

On the other hand, your art could be the next best thing to sliced oatmeal, but if your story sucks you aren't going to get a steady readership. Occasional visits, maybe, but never a steady readership unless you decide to sell your soul and do daily nudes. In that case, either team up with a writer, or stop calling yourself a comic strip artist, start calling yourself a pornographer, and start charging admission, you'll do better.

ONLY by having the two working together can something great be created. You have to have a balance.

Otherwise you're just wasting time.

****RANT MODE OFF***

(Sorry if that was bitchy, having a tough day at work.)
Image
"For those of you who've just tuned in, the Pinedale Shopping Mall has just been bombed with live turkeys. Film at eleven." - WKRP in Cincinnati

ZOMBIE USER 7833
Regular Poster
Posts: 602
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:26 am

Post by ZOMBIE USER 7833 »

What sunday comics have the best, most realistic art? Soap opera strips. Apartment 3G, Rex Morgan MD, all that hooey, probably has far better art than most of the stuff on the paper (especially compared to, say, Dilbert, or Rhymes with Orange, or something like that). The strips are, however, boring. I refuse to read them. Skip the art, if there's no good reading, I'm not touching it with a ten foot pole.

Jamie!
Cartoon Hero
Posts: 1203
Joined: Fri Jan 01, 1999 4:00 pm
Location: Tasmania, Australia
Contact:

Post by Jamie! »

I dunno. I have both. :roll:
Image

The Destructive Tendencies Of Us Full color MADNESS at it's finest.

ZOMBIE USER 10963
Regular Poster
Posts: 451
Joined: Sun Feb 27, 2005 2:26 am

Post by ZOMBIE USER 10963 »

Rhymes With Orange is great.

User avatar
Fil3r
Regular Poster
Posts: 283
Joined: Wed Jul 31, 2002 11:27 pm
Location: The Planet England (actually, Washington State)
Contact:

Post by Fil3r »

McBean wrote:Art can be pretty, but a certain comic by a B**** C***** proves that having a plot is crucial.
Except his art sucks too.
"I am an Automaton Nuclear Neo-Human Android."

Smoot
Regular Poster
Posts: 224
Joined: Fri Sep 27, 2002 3:56 am
Location: Australia
Contact:

Post by Smoot »

art is more important for me, cause i have no plot at all. the main reason i started smoot was to get my art up to scratch, so that i can start a more "serious" comic, which is in the process of being written/scripted.
use a spoon! it hurts more!

User avatar
Careksims
Regular Poster
Posts: 291
Joined: Fri May 24, 2002 7:16 am
Location: San Dog, CA
Contact:

Post by Careksims »

Okay I like art more ^^:;; But plot sure helps tons!
<--- Italy's got her groove on!

ImageVisit my comic!
Cute, sexy, and purrifc! The Lounge!

Post Reply