Christopher Hart's Corner

How do you come up with an idea? It doesn't have to explode into being all at once. Sometimes, it starts as an inkling. But if you follow it where it wants to go, and extend it some more, you may have transformed the ordinary into something cool. In this example, I...

Everyone wants their work to stand out and be noticed. So naturally, you'll want to create an inventive submission to send to an agent or a publisher right? WRONG! Agents and publishers receive hundreds and sometimes thousands of submissions a month. To make the job...

Everyone needs feedback on their work. But whom to ask is the question. It may be better to ask a non-pro than a professional. That's because the average viewer is your audience, whereas the professional artist's feedback may get technical and in the weeds. If a...

Here are some possibilities to consider: Animation, including character design, storyboard, animating, writing, and backgrounds Licensed art. This refers to marketing your own character(s) or designs for - or on - products, often through art licensing agents. Such...

Foolish mortal. Of course you do. And I am going to show you how. Like you, I'm a pretty busy person. It's hard to find time for creative sketching or character design after you're done with your work. Actually, it's pretty easy. Here's how: Let's say it's dinner. You...

It hits every artist sometime. The Inertia Fairy lands on your drawing pad and drives you crazy. You can't think of what to draw. What should you do? I'll tell you what not to do: Don't wait for the Inertia Fairy to fly away. Artists often believe they must "feel it"...

When you decide to draw a new character, your intention is to transfer what’s in your mind onto paper or tablet. But as you begin to draw, you notice that the character takes a few twists and turns and doesn’t look exactly like what you had in mind. People make all...

Do you make faces while drawing a character's expression? Do you go through angst about changing a drawing even though you know it needs it? Do you add personality to your characters by changing the hair, pose or clothes? Do you focus expressions on the eyebrows...

It’s good not to like everything you draw. Really. People who love everything they create have often missed an opportunity in their drawings. Being self-critical isn’t a character flaw, it’s an asset. The musing, “I like it, but I wonder if it could be better?” is a...

The Stuck Fairy will land on everyone’s desk. So don’t freak. The impulse many people have is to take a break to clear their minds. You might feel better that way, but a mind cluttered with ideas and concepts is teeming with possibilities. Creativity is dynamic. It’s...