Tuesday, May 31, 2016

Let's Draw Together Series by RAM - 001 Barbarian Part 1

So I have started a new series with my art and my Youtube channel. If you watched the Let's Create a Superhero then it kind of works like that but a little bit different. This one is where I start a sketch and you get to watch the entire process while I narrate and then you offer ideas on where I should take the artwork next. I then incorporate the ideas that I think make the piece better and we progress from there. It should be fun so I hope you will participate. The starting sketch is the Barbarian that I just posted. You can watch the speed drawing here if you like.....


Make sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think and what you would like to see in the future. I take video requests when I can.

Thanks for watching and keep drawing and keep having fun!

-RAM

To Support my work please visit here : 


Saturday, May 28, 2016

Digital Painting in Manga Studio 5 EX / Clip Studio Paint Pro - Lesson 2 - Weapons by Robert A. Marzullo



Here is Lesson 2 of 6 in my course on Digital Painting in Manga Studio 5 EX / Clip Studio Paint Pro.  I begin this course with basic elements and work up to full landscapes and finally a character design.  This way by the end of this course you will have a full understanding of how to paint everything that goes into a scene and also how to break things down into easier to understand components.  Each lesson in this course will be $5 but some will range from 45 minutes up to couple of hours long.  So this will be packed with lots of great information about the program and it capabilities.  If you have any questions you can reach out to me at rob@robertmarzullo.com and I will gladly answer your questions for supporting my courses.  This is also streamable in full HD so you can clearly see all of the things that I am doing in this program.  

In this lesson we will create the weapons concept art that you see above.  We start by creating the line art and then add in digital paint effects over top with layers and blending modes.  I will show you how to separate parts of your design to make the painting process easier to accomplish.  This second video is a bit more advanced than Lesson 1.  It is an hour and a half long and only the last 12 minutes are in time lapse with narration.  The rest is all in real time.  That way you can see the pace that I work at to create this type of art.

Keep in mind I am using Manga Studio 5 EX and I am also using a Wacom Cintiq  to create this artwork.  You can use any tablet you prefer but I want you to be aware of my setup.  You also get a high resolution copy of the artwork from each course and any custom brushes I make during this production.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the course!


Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics

Friday, May 27, 2016

Tech-Tana Pinup for the Blackstone Comic


Here is a pinup from Book #2 of the Blackstone comic.  This is Tech-Tana.  She is protecting her world from an alien invasion that occupies planets and destroys every living thing in their path.  (Never heard that one before, right? )  She is loosing the battle and there is only one person that can save her world from total annihilation.  Blackstone!  But will he help?!  How can he?  He has his own problems to deal with.  Mainly a free loading alien that won't pry itself off his back bone.  So she will try to in list the services of our would be hero, but it won't be easy! 

I like to think of the backstory when I am drawing on these pics.  So I figured I would share some of that with you.  She will be featured in Book #3 so I hope you will stick around to find out how the story goes.

More on the way real soon and remember you can help support the Blackstone comic on my Patreon

Thanks for stopping by!

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
www.robertmarzullo.com

Thursday, May 26, 2016

FREE Course on Drawing Faces in Sketchbook Pro - Udemy


This course is now FREE on Udemy for a limited time.  I am getting ready to release a new course on Figure Drawing so I am making this one free to let people try my teaching style and see if they are interested or not.  Then hopefully they stick with me for all the other courses I will be producing.  So let me know what you think of this course and if you find value in it then please leave an honest review.  I would like to know if I did a good job with this one.  I believe the course on figure drawing will be a big hit.  I am covering lots of great topics that will help people that struggle with the human figure.  It will include breaking down the forms to basic shapes, foreshortening, and drawing the form in action.

This course will show you how to draw the male and female face from start to finish using Sketchbook Pro 8.  From the rough lines all the way to colors.  Using layers, brushes, blending modes, and more.  I hope you enjoy it and please share this link if you know anyone that might be interested.


More on the way real soon!

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics

For my Digital Content and the Blackstone Comic please visit my Gumroad page -





Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Live Stream Today at 5PM EST....





Todays live stream will be focused on cross hatching and texturing when drawing various elements.  I will also be taking requests as I draw so it could very well change to something else but I like going into these things with a base idea.  This is Live Stream 003 and already having lots of fun with it.  It is a very unique experience to have the immediate connection with my subscribers.  Not sure what will come of it but so far it has given me lots of ideas for new topics to cover.  I will try to do these every Wednesday at 5PM EST when I can.  No promises of course but I will do my best to keep it going unless something important comes up.

It takes time to produce these so keep in mind that I have a Patreon and a Gumroad page to help me stay at the grind stone.  I also take requests on my Youtube channel so if you have a certain topic you would like covered then please comment on one of the videos or the discussion tab on my page and I will do what I can to address it.

Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you at the Live Stream!

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics




Tuesday, May 24, 2016

Tips for Working on Your Comic in Manga Studio 5 - Narrated by Robert A....


This weeks video is on Tips for Working on Your Comic in Manga Studio 5.  I am back on the Blackstone comic so I wanted to give you an inside look on how I draw through some of these panels and hopefully help you with your own process of drawing in Manga Studio 5 / Clip Studio Paint.  This program makes drawing comics much easier and organizes your work nicely.  I know majority of artist probably still like to do their work traditionally and there is nothing wrong with that but for someone like me who does the entire project from start to finish the time savings is very valuable.

I am trying to get this book done and to print and digital upload in the next month or two.  It is sad that these books take me so long but every time I get a nice stride going work starts to pile up.  And since I have to work on other projects to fund the Blackstone comic, that is just the way the cookie crumbles.  I am not complaining though.  Mainly just explaining to my readers out there while these things take me so darn long to produce.  Maybe one day I can work on this book full time but until then this will have to do.  Thanks for watching and you can get a copy of my comic and other digital content on my gumroad page in the link below.

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics





Thursday, May 19, 2016

Digital Painting in Manga Studio 5 EX / Clip Studio Paint Pro - Lesson 1 by Robert A. Marzullo


Here is Lesson 1 of 6 in my course on Digital Painting in Manga Studio 5 EX / Clip Studio Paint Pro.  I begin this course with basic elements and work up to full landscapes and finally a character design.  This way by the end of this course you will have a full understanding of how to paint everything that goes into a scene and also how to break things down into easier to understand components.  Each lesson in this course will be $5 but some will range from 45 minutes up to couple of hours long.  So this will be packed with lots of great information about the program and it capabilities.  If you have any questions you can reach out to me at rob@robertmarzullo.com and I will gladly answer your questions for supporting my courses.  This is also streamable in full HD so you can clearly see all of the things that I am doing in this program.  

In this lesson we will create the rock formation that you see above.  We start by creating the shape and then add in digital paint effects over top with layers and blending modes.  I show you how the various brushes can be used and how the blending modes work with the brushes as well.  This first video is a basic approach but it can be used for all sorts of conceptual elements when painting.

Keep in mind I am using Manga Studio 5 EX and I am also using a Wacom Cintiq  to create this artwork.  You can use any tablet you prefer but I want you to be aware of my setup.  You also get a high resolution copy of the artwork from each course and any custom brushes I make during this production.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the course!


Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics


Tuesday, May 17, 2016

My Course on Drawing Comic Book Faces in Sketchbook Pro 8 is Now on Gumroad



In this video series I go through drawing the male and female face from a front view using Sketchbook Pro 8.  I go over how to measure and place the features.  We cover how to sketch in the basic details and then refine them with the use of layers.  We then go over the inking of the sketch lines and then adding some colors.  This is a basic tutorial for anyone trying to get a bettering understanding of how to draw the face.  I will be adding more in depth studies very soon.  Please let me know if there is a certain topic that you would like covered as well.

Thanks for your support!

Here is the the link to my Gumroad page :  http://gumroad.com/robertmarzullo

You also get my page template and a sample of the artwork to study from.

For any questions you can email me at :

Robert A. Marzullo


Thursday, May 12, 2016

My First Live Stream is Now in The Books

So I finally got around to doing my first live stream and it wasn't that bad.  It wasn't that great either!  I kind of fumbled through this one but at the very least I learned immensely what to do and not to do for the next one.  Going into the next one I will have a series of questions to ask and direct the audience.  I will also let them know when I am going to draw and when i am going to answer questions. ( Kind of hard to do both at once. )  Unless I can get some cool insect eye adapters that allow me to see in 360 degrees.  Do they have those yet?  Man, I hope so. lol.  It was a lot of fun though and I think I will be doing more real soon.  I think it offers another great way to connect with your audience and allow them to really pick your brain and vice versa.  I will also go into the next one with a main topic so that I can stay focused on a primary lesson.

So let me know if you have any ideas for a new topic and also what you think of live streams.  Would you watch mine and what format do you prefer.  I am currently using Youtube's platform with OBS to encode or decode or whatever it does. ( Told you I was new to this! )  I may do one every other week but at least once a month.  Just depends upon my work schedule really.

Thanks for reading and be sure to stop by my channel and watch the recording live stream if you want.  If you enjoy it then please share it or at least click that little like button. :)


And remember you can get more of my digital content here at my Gumorad including FREE digital Brushes and Course Content - http://gumroad.com/robertmarzullo

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics


Wednesday, May 11, 2016

How to Draw the Nose with Basic Shapes by RAM



In this study I am explaining how to create the nose with very basic shapes.  By doing this I feel that it helps to commit the forms to memory and construct the features more quickly and effectively.  It also helps with speed on those days when you feel you just can't remember how to draw. ( Don't worry, we all have those days! )  So I have included this sketch sheet and a Youtube video for you to work along with.  Let me know if you find this helpful and if you do there will be more on the way.

Please share the content if you don't mind.  It helps me to keep putting in the work!

Thanks for stopping by and here is the link to the video : https://youtu.be/OtfE8xjFusw

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
www.robertmarzullo.com

You can get my brushes and digital content at : http://gumroad.com/robertmarzullo






Saturday, May 7, 2016

Motor City Comic Con is Next Week!!! :)


Motor City Comic Con is next week!  Getting my prints together and working on some sketches to present at the show.  And with any luck my Blackstone comics will get here in time. ( I ordered late like I always do. )  Either way just super excited to get back on to the convention scene.  I want to show people that I am truly serious about my comic book endeavors.  This show is a hallmark to my comic career.  It was my first big show when I was promoting the Aerial and Assault comics that I was part of.  It is pretty much where I left off over 15 years ago.  Yeah, I know....I'm old.  40 is old these days but I don't feel a day over 38!  I stopped doing comics to pursue a business that I started.  And although it was fun and taught me a lot about how to run a business, it also showed me that I needed to get back to my passion.  Creating comics has always been near and dear to my heart.  When I am drawing comics or storyboards I am truly happy.   ( Minus all the changes when you are working for someone else. lol )  Oh well, if I can't draw what someone else tells me then I better pick a new profession!  But I am would never think of it.  I just closed a successful sign business to pursue my art in storytelling.  I wish I had went back to this sooner but no regrets.  Now it is time to dig in and push to that next level of creative skills.  I have to step it up a notch and build my speed and effectiveness.  Then I can push out lots of fun and exciting comics, storyboards, character creations, and pretty much anything that keeps me at the drawing table....or digital tablet!

So I say all of this because to me the shows are a great way of staying motivated in comics.  There is a certain synergy at these shows that you just cannot get elsewhere.  You can't get it from the internet, you can't get it from a coffee shop.  You can only get it at comic conventions.  And in any business there are trade shows.  Yes, I just called comics a business.  And those trade shows are imperative to growing and networking.  So hopefully I meet some new faces, reconnect with some old ones and most of all gain vital inspiration and motivation to create comics!

And if nothing else, there is always Cosplay!  The other great reason to attend a convention near you! ;)

By the way if you attend the show then please stop and by and say hi.  I will be in artist alley May 15th, 16th, and 17th.

Taking Commissions

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
www.robertmarzullo.com


Friday, May 6, 2016

Custom Inking Brushes for Manga Studio 5


My custom inking brushes are now available in Manga Studio 5 as well.  There has been a good response from the Photoshop ones so upon request I have transferred them over to Manga Studio 5 in the SUT format.  I will be doing a demonstration video on these as well.  I am even creating a fan art piece with these just to show them on an actual illustration.  These brushes should save time in some areas and help with some cool effects.  The cross hatching and the texture brushes are fun to use and the kirby crackle is pretty much spot on.  And the set even has bullet holes.  You can never have enough bullet holes in my opinion. lol

So I hope you enjoy these and I would love to see how you use them in your work!  This set is available for download on my Gumroad page for $5 and there are a couple free Photoshop brushes as well.  More Manga Studio or Clip Studio Paint brushes are on the way!

Thanks for your support!

Link to the brushes - https://gum.co/gGIye

And check out my course on Digital Painting in Manga Studio 5 - Working in Perspective
https://gum.co/KfBEj



Thursday, May 5, 2016

Thanks for 30,000 Subscribers on Youtube!


Finally hit the 30,000 subscriber mark on Youtube.  Very happy with the results of the channel and just wanted to say tanks everyone!  Couldn't have done it without your support.  I have learned a lot since starting this channel a few years back.  I have realized how powerful the internet can be to artists that are trying to make a name for themselves.  When I first started making comics at the age of 18 I had the toughest time figuring out how I would get anyone to notice my work.  Anyone that could ever give me a job making comics and seeing them go to print anyways.  Most people would tell me that I had to move to New York or live in California to be a professional artist.  And maybe back then that was the case but now with the internet and digital art,  you can work with people all over the world.  I know because Youtube has actually helped me do that.  I have taught classes with a company from Australia,  I have produced Storyboards for companies in New York, California, and who knows where else. ( They don't always tell you where they are.  Only how quick they need the work! lol. )  And even sold a commission job in Russia one time.  So it really is an exceptional time to be an artist.  And take it from me, someone who just made their living for the past 15 years by having a studio on a busy street and living off walk-ins that this way of life is scary but way less overhead!  There are pros and cons to any business model but I had a minimal overhead of about 2-3 thousand dollars a month before I made my first penny.  Now I work out of a basement studio and my products are digital.  Big change in my life and still taking some getting used to but I am very excited for the future!  

And back to the channel.  This is basically the my companies store front now.  Anytime something new is in the works you will hear about it hear first.  Anytime I release a new product there will be a video explaining what it is and how it works.  Anytime I create a new piece of art, well....you get the idea!  So once again thanks for the milestone and supporting my work.  You rock!

Now back to my favorite project....Blackstone! :)

Robert A. Marzullo
Ram Studios Comics
www.robertmarzullo.com

This image was create with Manga Studio 5
You can get a copy of it here with my Amazon Affiliate link : 


You can get a High Resolution copy of the image above at my Gumroad Page here :