GRIZandNORM

Tuesday Tips — “It’s An Eyebrow Thing” — A recurring note a story artist may get in the production of an animated feature is to tone down the angry eyes. We all try to draw fast and loose but, in the middle of it all, nuance may escape us for a brief moment. Arched eyebrows and a furrowed brow usually tend to read “angry”, even if we’re trying to express focus or determination. I would even say that, overall, it’s easy to overdo an expression. I’m not saying a pushed expression isn’t exactly what’s needed at the right moment. I’m just saying that the audience literally looks for the character’s expression first when looking at a sketch or panel. Keep that in mind and lure you audience in with slightly more nuanced expressions, until the right extreme expression calls for it. -Norm @grizandnorm #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytipsbook #arttutorial #arttips #itsaneyebrowthing

Tuesday Tips — Head Space — As an audience, our eyes are mostly tracking the head (and eyes) of the main characters on screen. As filmmakers, it would be a great disservice to not take that info into consideration. For clarity, try to make space around the head of characters on-screens. Too much visual noise around the face interferes with the message, unless that’s the point you’re trying to make make. Also, try your best to maintain the same head screen position when cutting to a new shot with the same characters, whatever type of shot it is. I know how simple this sounds but it’s very easy to forget if you’re not paying attention. -Norm @grizandnorm.com #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytipsbook #arttips #arttutorial #storyboard #grizandnorm

Tuesday Tips — Grow A Spine

As simple as it sounds, a character “standing up straight” or “slouching down” reveals so much about them. It would be unwise to not think about the role of the spine when posing out your character. Even the slightest extension, contraction or twist will bring nuance to a pose. You can also think of another character “mirrroring” the posture to empathize with the other or fit in a group he/she is new in. Overall, it’s the foundation of most poses. Emphasize or minimize to create the effect you want in your story! -Norm @grizandnorm #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytipsbook #arttutorial #arttips #growaspine

Tuesday Tips - Embrace The Nose / It’s very easy to take shortcuts when drawing the nose, and honestly, it’s fine most of the time. The nose is right in the center of the face and can unintentionally draw a lot of attention if constructed poorly. But when it’s embraced, it can do wonders. It’s key to track the facial features at odd angles and can bring a ton a personality to a character design. Use it or lose it! -Norm @grizandnorm #100tuesdaytipsbook #100tuesdaytips #tuesdaytips #arttips #arttutorial #embracethenose

Here’s another page on the arm. This time, a few examples on how the volumes move in space. In order to create a believable foreshortening, first think of simple overlapping volumes. The more you grow as an artist, the more you’ll add in subtleties, but always remember to keep the overall shape of the arm, especially in foreshortening, simple and in direct relation to the story you’re telling. Is your character healthy, direct, commanding, or is he/she shy, hurt, lazy, etc. The feeling you convey will always trump the exactitude of your character’s anatomy. -Norm @grizandnorm #100tuesdaytipsbook #arttutorial #arttips #grizandnorm #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytips #armforeshortening

First of two overall reference page for arms. There’s no need to actually draw muscles on every character, but it truly helps to understand the underlying structure, especially when pushing the pose a bit more. One thing that’s often overlooked is the connection between the arm and forearm, as well as how the deltoid muscles (shoulder) interacts with the pectoral muscles (chest) when lifting the arms up (front view). Anyway, use this page as you please. -Norm @grizandnorm #100tuesdaytipsbook #arttutorial #arttips #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytips

Tuesday Tips - Cape It Simple!

I don’t need to add too much explanation today. A cape, cloak or long coat simplifies the silhouette of most character, gives them a unique look or presence and conceals a lot of the overall anatomy. Keep track of the character underneath to know where to fold, drop or stretch the fabric. The fabric itself should play a role too. Different behave differently. Movement and gravity are key to “ground” your character in the environment and make it look believable.
-Norm @grizandnorm #capeitsimple #100tuesdaytipsbook #100tuesdaytips #arttutorial #arttips

Tuesday Tips — Long Lines : one way to bring a pose “together” and simplify it in many ways, is to forgo the small choppy lines and go for long uninterrupted lines that move through the figure and connect its parts more seamlessly. Push strokes to their absolute limit instead of breaking it down too soon. You can always go back and make it more complicated if you like. Overall, long lines bring a kind of unity to most poses. -Norm @grizandnorm #tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytips #longlines #arttutorial #arttips

Tuesday Tips - Leg Day —The goal of any character drawing (or figure drawing) should always be to convey a character and make the technique or work behind it disappear. Unfortunately, the only way I know how to get to that point is to diligently practice the “behind the scene” techniques. -Norm #grizandnorm #100tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytipsgrizandnormbook #tuesdaytips #legday #arttips #arttutorial

Tuesday Tips - Watch Your Mouth (new tip, which will be included in 100 Tuesday Tips Volume 2, available next year. The first volume is finally back in stock in our Etsy shop.)

Even without language, we communicate a lot with the shape of our mouth (lips, mouth corners, teeth, …) Like all facial features, its complexities can be simplified, but a good understanding of it all is a must!
-Norm
#100tuesdaytips #100tuesdaytipsgrizandnormbook #watchyourmouth #grizandnorm #arttips #arttutorial #disneyartist