Barton Bros Studios (2025)

27/10/2024

Where all the magic happens.

12/10/2024

Last night, we had an absolute blast in the How to Draw Comics Academy with our weekly Live Drawing Jam.

These Jams are all about letting loose, having fun, and just enjoying the pure love of drawing. It's a chance for our Academy members to take a break from the grind and let their creativity run wild!

So, the theme for last night was "Elemental Warlords From the NetherRealm." Sounds pretty epic, right? But here's the thing - that's just a starting point to get those creative juices flowing.

In these Jams, you've got the freedom to draw whatever inspires you. The goal is to kick back, relax, and let your imagination take the reins.

Now, here's what makes these Jams so special: we do them Live using Streamyard. That means we can all draw together and chat in real-time, no matter where we are.

It's like having a virtual art studio right in your own home!

I've got to give a huge shout-out to the Academy members who joined last night. They created some of the most mind-blowing elemental warriors I've ever seen.

And the best part?

We were all sharing tips, techniques, and stories throughout the session. It's this kind of camaraderie that makes our community so incredible.

Speaking of creating awesome characters, let me tell you about the one I whipped up last night. I went for a beefy, badass demon warrior who could conjure up weapons made of pure ice.

Think Sub Zero from Mortal Kombat.

It was awesome bringing this guy to life, and the other artists were loving the process as I broke it down step by step.

But you know what the real highlight was? Getting to watch everyone else's creations unfold too!

Now, I can't wrap this up without giving a massive shout-out to the How to Draw Comics Academy itself.

Guys, if you're serious about leveling up your art skills and joining a community of like-minded, driven artists, this is the place to be.

We've got live classes every week, a treasure trove of lessons, and a support system that's second to none.

So, if you're ready to take that leap and invest in your artistic growth, click the link now, and see what the How to Draw Comics Academy is all about: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/academy-membership-plans

I promise you won't regret it. And hey, maybe I'll catch you at the next Live Drawing Jam, where we can geek out over our latest creations together!

-Clayton

10/10/2024

Let me tell you, drawing hands is almost, if not more complicated than drawing the human face or the entire human body as a whole!

They've got lots of moving bits and pieces and when you try to put them into perspective and foreshorten them into a funky pose (which we need to do since we communicate through our hands), it can become an absolute nightmare.

I feel your pain.

Hands are still hard for me to draw too. In fact, I'll probably go through and redo the hands of a character I'm drawing multiple times - it could be something ridiculous, like five times over before I really settle on something that I'm happy with.

But throughout my journey as a comic artist I've discovered some techniques that make the process a whole lot easier:

✎ Use the skeleton hand method to lay out the basic structure before adding details. It's waaay simpler than trying to draw out the full cylinders from the start.
✎ Focus on the silhouette. Our minds are great at making up images based on outlines, so if you can nail the overall shape of the hand first, the details will be much easier to fill in.
✎ Don't be afraid to combine methods! Sometimes the building block technique will work great, other times the skeleton hand method is better. The more ways you can approach it, the better your chances of success.
✎ Draw loose and sketchy at first, then tighten it up. Keeping it rough in the beginning stages gives you the freedom to really push the pose and gesture without getting bogged down by details.

I just wrapped up an in-depth lesson inside the How to Draw Comics Academy going over all of this and more, demonstrating my step-by-step approach for drawing convincing hands in any pose imaginable.

We covered the core fundamentals of hand structure and proportions, how to use references to inform your drawings, when and where to apply line weight for a more dynamic look, and how to convey different character archetypes through the hands alone.

If you struggle with stiff, lifeless hands or just can't seem to get them to look "right" no matter how hard you try - this lesson will give you the insights and techniques you need to level up your hand drawing skills for good.

The best part? This lesson, along with dozens of others, is available right now inside the How to Draw Comics Academy.

If you're ready to take your comic art abilities to new heights, I highly recommend checking it out: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/academy-membership-plans

Anyways, that's all from me for now. Keep on drawing, keep on creating, and I'll catch you in the next lesson.

-Clayton

06/05/2024

Today on the Creator Spotlight I'm joined by , the creator of Star Circuit, to talk about the latest installment in his comic book series.

We'll discuss the planning that goes into making a comic book, how it's produced and the process for crowdfunding and publishing it.

Join us LIVE at 8:00PM EST, for a show not to be missed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSMpAZ5PmWc

21/02/2024

I recently received news that Julius Gopez, the artist of Borork, has sadly passed away. My deepest condolences to his family.

It was a true honor to work with Julius. A man possessing talent of such rarity, his art will remain legendary - immortalized through the dedication and respect he gave to his craft.

Whenever Julius sent me a page he was working on for Borork, it always looked better than I could have ever imagined. He knew how to take the script and layouts and turn them into sheer magic.

I don't think any other artist could have, or ever will capture the same vision for the characters, and world of Borork quite like Julius did.

Rest in peace Julius. You will be missed.

24/01/2024

After looking over some of the work I did on KOZOR and my previous art commissions - I was inspired to answer Borork's calling, and submerge myself back into his dark, medieval world.

I was intimidated. Scared. Didn't think I could pull off what I was capable of before. But it was all there still, waiting to pour out onto the page.

And the crazy thing is, it wasn't stressful. The frustration of consecutive mistakes never came about. There was no pressure to rush it...
.. and I felt as every artist should feel - totally present; absorbed in the process.

Maybe we really do just have to step away for a while... disconnect from the fear, anxiety, and dissatisfaction of our art - so we can come back to it with a balanced perspective.

I've also noticed that taking a break seems to allow me to consolidate what's been learned from past experience, while disassociating from the negative mindsets I might have fallen into before.

I'm not quite sure what it is. But time away seems to do me good. Gets my head straight, and restructures the frame I should create my art within.

I hope you enjoy this piece - I had a lot of fun creating it. My next comic book Borork: A Bloody Bounty is coming soon and I can't wait to introduce you to the cast of characters in this dark fantasy epic!

By the way - I recorded the entire process for this piece and will be doing a live narration for it in the near future inside the How to Draw Comics Academy. If you'd like to see it, be sure to join us at: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/academy-memberships

20/01/2024

Forgive me if this comes across as a humble brag... but sometimes I look at my past artwork and feel genuinely intimidated.

Like with this piece I created for Eric Weathers of his character Thea, from Battle Brick Road. Seeing this just makes me wonder how the heck I even managed to pull it off.

There's this fear that I wouldn't be able to accomplish something like this again. Which of course isn't true... I did it once, and if I did it again now, it'd probably come out even better based on my track record.

What helped me push it this far in the first place was the sheer challenge of meeting the expectations I have for my work.

Looking at legendary art of Alfredo Alcala and Bernie Wrightson, and using it as my compass.

When you're filled with that much inspiration, you'll sit there at the drawing board for as long as it takes to accomplish something that pushes you to exhaust every ounce of skill and effort you possess.

That's when you evolve.

Set the bar high, and know that you are capable of meeting it.

Looking back at this piece also makes me realize, I need to draw more, at this level and beyond. To crush the intimidation I feel when thinking about how I'd execute it again, and also to optimize my speed and workflow.

This year, I want to see how much further I can take it.

10/01/2024

There's less than 48 hours left to claim your big discount on the How To Draw Comics Academy: https://www.howtodrawcomics.net/academy-memberships

In case you're wondering what the HTDC Academy is, it's the ultimate online learning platform for comic artists who want to take their knowledge, abilities and art to a professional level.

You'll learn how to draw characters, backgrounds, comic book sequences and covers, with Less stress, less confusion and way more confidence than ever before.

And even though it's just increased to the full market value, I want to give you one last chance to get in at the founders rate.

Because I know you've got big goals to hit in 2024 for your comic art, and I truly believe the HTDC Academy can help you smash them!

Just use the coupon code FOUNDER when you enroll today, and you can get in for a whopping 80% off... perpetually, forever - until you unsubscribe.

IMPORTANT: The coupon code is valid for the next 2 days only! After that, it expires.

The way I see it... you can keep day dreaming, and talking about the amazing comic books you'll create someday, or you could take action right now and start making it happen!

The choice is yours.
-Clayton

17/08/2023

Today on the Creator Spotlight, I'll be catch up with B.A. Turner to talk about his comic book Vigilantes' Creed - A lovecraftian tale about a gargoyle and his team of vigilantes fighting terror in Detroit.

Click here to tune in LIVE at 9:00PM EST: https://www.youtube.com/live/ECVaElZuTKw?feature=share

We'll talk about Brent's background in comics, how he got into the game, what his approach is and how he took a great idea and turned it into a full blown sequential tale.

Look forward to seeing you there!
-Clayton

26/07/2023

In today's LIVE Demo I'll be showing you some examples of neck and shoulder movement in character illustration through a series of example sketches.

Specifically we'll be looking at the trajectory of movement the shoulders take as they curve forward or back, and observing the effects on both bone and muscle positioning as a result. I'll also show you an example of a basic angled shoulder tilt from the front.

Join me LIVE at 7:30PM EST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zKnhMUTd-x8

19/07/2023

Here's my finished fan art of Majin Vegeta, raging out!

Initially, I was going to ditch the shadows and rendering, opting for a cleaner line art style instead... because these days, all those details can be taxing time and energy-wise.

But I couldn't help myself - went all the way, and hatched it to heck. Got it done quicker than I anticipated and didn't mind the end result either.

As I get older and think about the volume of work I'll create over a life-time, optimizing my style in a way where it can be done in a timely manner, but still have it look amazing is a current focus of mine right now.

It's pushed me to experiment, and try new things in an attempt to innovate - and maybe arrive at a style that's more unique, true and aesthetically pleasing than ever before.

This is why I love art. It never stops evolving with you.

I know Majin Vegeta is a fan favorite for many of us Dragon Ball Z fans out there. This one is for you my friends!

Enjoy,
-Clayton

17/07/2023

Guess who's featured in my next Dragon Ball Z fanart? That's right - it's Majin Vegeta!

Figured I'd take a stab at squeezing in a sketch before bed last night. Hour and a half later, this is how far I got.

He's one of the most bad-ass character's in all of DBZ - powerful, ruthless, with an unrelenting desire to surpass Goku in strength and ability. Once he acquires the dark powers of Babidi he's finely able to let his pent up rage loose!

I want Vegeta to look like an overpowered beast in this piece. I really want to get the rage coming through in his facial expression, his muscles bulging and veins popping in the final piece!

Still a work in progress, and I have some other work to get done today - but I'll be chipping away at this drawing during my breaks.

Barton Bros Studios