COMPOSITIONS: How to Arrange Items Within a Panel

[@alexisbecker1976]

Hey Mark, you taught me how to draw a decade ago. I'm an art teacher now, thank you for all your help ❤

[@furiouschicken1]

Sameeee!! I do pro comic book work now and I still listen to mark's vids. Its sooothing~ Reminds me of the early days.

[@GreenLanternPrime01]

Composition is extremely underrated in it's importance. It's one thing to be able to have a good sense of design composition and another to be able to explain it clearly. You have done both of those things well, Mark!

[@markcrilley]

"Just ordered all 4 brody's ghost books they look amazing" --Thanks MrOrkZ! Greatly appreciate your support, and I really hope you enjoy the story. ~Mark

[@EthosArts]

Thank you, Mark, thank you.

[@Furawatchi4]

You're how-to-make-comics/manga playlist has been SO HELPFUL for me in terms of how to format and lay the basis for my ideas :D I love making comics but haven't made what I considered a "full fledged" one in a very long time... always so afraid to go past drafting and pre-planning and ruin the whole final product... But these videos have restored my confidence in making comics and make feel more aware of what I'm doing and taking the right step to articulating my drawings, ideas, and stories properly, but in my own way that works for me! Thank you Mark Crilley! You rock XD

[@markcrilley]

+Furawatchi4 Glad I can help!

[@kyberstudios3253]

markcrilley I Use Your Brodys Ghost Videos A Lot, If U Had a PO Box I Would Send U a Bit Of My Art Btw I'm Only A Kid

[@theindianyouwatch]

*your

[@sirstratocaster]

yes, this type of video is awesome. Your knowledge is very valuable so it is good to hear. I am learning a lot. I am surprised when I see how long your videos are, because when I watch them they don't seem that long. Because they are interesting. Thanks a lot.

[@markcrilley]

sirstratocaster Thank you!

[@shirecrawler932]

+sirstratocaster I had to scroll up to see how long it was 20 MINUTES?!?!? Almost half an hour and it didn't even seem like 5!

[@sirstratocaster]

Shire Crawler :)

[@VicVictory99]

+Shire Crawler 21 minutes and 44 seconds but whatever. Close enough.

[@Lee-nd2jb]

I feel the same way! They are really interesting, the way Mark points things out is catching and effective and he puts so much enthusiasm and joy in it that u find urself having fun while learning and that is just awsome, dont know how to put it, but i feel i am learning a lot and cant stop watching them. Thx a lot Mark!! This videos are a wonderfull gift to all comic books drawing aspirants!!

[@zzz-qb4vz]

This is art school just for free lol

[@alfonsoarcher3106]

i guess Im asking randomly but does someone know of a way to get back into an Instagram account? I was stupid lost my account password. I would love any tips you can offer me.

[@monkeykong6230]

Actually, it cost mark 25 years. I’m grateful for it.

[@red___cemetery8554]

@@alfonsoarcher3106 there should be a “forgot password” thing on the login page

[@Spidermansthirdcousin]

In the clutter of books at 3:22, you can see deathnote!

[@hyper4831]

@@nikideckers7282 ...why do these comments exist

[@hanaeve__]

Niki Deckers Wha...?

[@DesiDeslei]

@@nikideckers7282 uh...haha???

[@esmeraldasgacha9555]

What?

[@EmdozPro]

I love this video. Ideally this video is targeted towards for comic books, but it's so versatile. It can be used in landscapes, character placement, drawing interior rooms, making drawings more interesting, making you more aware of focal points, balancing foreground and background objects, making buildings more interesting from their position and size, and a lot more.

[@Yasumi_Hoshikawa]

Thank you so much for these videos. So helpful and insightful to the amount of mental work that goes into a single panel. It's both exciting and frustrating for a beginner. and it seems you have to be a pretty good photographer to be a good comic artist...angles change so much.

[@mingmi531]

I have been a huge fan for almost 3 years now, and my drawing skills have improved greatly since I first decided to try and follow along. I leave for the military on Monday and I plan to keep on drawing. Even though I will not be able to watch these videos religiously anymore, while I am out there if anybody should like what I do, I will say Mark Crilley showed me EVERYTHING I know! and maybe point them along to some mastering manga.

[@1hahnes]

3 yrs off but hey better late than never, I love these videos! And they're so helpful, I am drawing as I watch and I just find you inspiring :)

[@markcrilley]

+hahe_1 Thank you!

[@DedicatedtoGreatness]

I've been slowly but surely making my way through all of your videos like this and I must say. What surprises me isn't what you know but how well you are able to teach it.

[@markcrilley]

Thank you!

[@KalvinNi]

Mark, is the "Draw Your Life" video almost done? I'm so excited to see it. =)

[@emmannicolas6031]

.

[@The1TruSHAKA]

As a film guy & photographer whose first love was becoming a comic book artist now realizing with all the software & materials available for me to get back to the desire to complete & publish my own graphic novels I lean on your knowledge & skills a lot. More so than the others. I see the oneness of it all. The fact that in this tutorial when Brody enters into the shop with the guy on the phone & you brighten the outside world coming into darkness. In film & photography we see that as "EXPOSING" for the foreground & mid-ground. Leaving the background "OVEREXPOSED". Or "BLOWN-OUT". This was probably my most favorite Crilley video to date. & that's saying a lot, cause I like all your videos. I feel like I'm looking at scenes in a movie. Even the opening bedroom scene. I could virtually see a dolly push in past the clutter in the foreground. Your brilliant! & you spark my imagination & I see more of how to approach my own works. Thank you.

[@markcrilley]

Thanks so much! It means a lot hearing from someone like you who has expertise on this subject. Thanks for your kind words. :)

[@joshuamorgan2114]

I like the way you say "I probably only spent a few minutes on it" it takes me 100000000 hours to draw a circle! 😂😂😂

[@markcrilley]

Thanks, Venifiction! I'm glad people enjoy these kinds of videos; I plan to do many more in the months and years ahead. ^_^ ~Mark

[@kakaroto24poorta]

man your rough sketches are way better than mine

[@nilesnow2698]

IKR

[@sonicking02]

***** its too haaaarrrrrrrdddddd

[@lilamasong421]

***** but im tired of prrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccccccccccccccctttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccccccciiiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnggggggggg

[@nilesnow2698]

I know I wish I could just skip a few steps and be great.

[@nemoku1071]

I think it's really cool how cropping an image makes it seem more interesting, like how it m forces the eyes to focus on the bigger shapes and it creates a directional flow. I'll definitely use that when working on my composites.

[@macrochaos]

this really helped me out, even more than your how to draw/ line by line ones, please make more!

[@markcrilley]

macrochaos Thank you; there are 16 such videos in this playlist: kzbin.info/aero/PLBiW8y5LSHK4ajygBf6GBYC5KLBenvkaI

[@hendrikhanshavermoudt7520]

this is my personal favorite video of mark crilley, just because it not only the "manga" drawing style, but it can be applied to any kind of drawing style, photography, video making, just almost anything you create. For anybody who is interested in training these techniques, the way they teach us this in my arts school is quite childish, but really works: We train creating compositions by using boxes, making a hole in them, and the use scribbles, clay things, cut outs from magazines, and we create a certain scenery. This is really fun to do, especially in small groups, but can be quite time-consuming. Just trying to make interesting pictures is good enough as well. Just sit down with your camera and start making a certain moment. I personally try to make up a certain story- and then try to visualize how the story would play out as a movie. Then i would try and put all the information of this visualization into one shot. This can be a picture, a scribble, a short movie or (like i said before) A box with a hole filled with scribbles, clay, buttons, sticks, or anything you have on you right now. After doing this a few times, you will start to realize what looks good and what doesnt. I personally like to go even a step further and screw around with things like lighting, or visual-manipulation, but this is not necessary. Sometimes learning how to draw something takes no drawing at all, just a new way of looking a things- seeing different ways of making something happen or understanding how things look in certain situations. Try thinking like have never thought before. Visualize in your mind what you want to draw, and visualize how you are going to make the lines. Be confident in your lines, dont go erasing everything, it doesnt matter if you make mistakes. Dont be afraid to make sketches, however bad they may look, if it helps you get that image form your head onto the paper, its not a bad thing. This applies to whatever type of visual you are trying to make. FIlms, photos, drawngs, whatever.

[@bigmouth0317ab]

Extremely helpful. Thank you for posted these kinds of videos. By far this was the most helpful video to date. Actually made me realize how important, and lacking, my composition is. I am looking through your library of videos and was wondering if there already is one or if you wouldn't mind doing one on the layout of not only the frame but the frames on the page. Maybe a sort of page layout concepts video that talks about what kinds of layouts works well for the dialogue or sequence being portrayed.

[@habz4464]

its been so many years and im still learning from you. i can say that i wouldnt be anywhere near where i am now if it weren't for your youtube videos. I am grateful Mark.

[@sandraedwards52]

I really appreciate these videos ... i am sharing with my art student son.

[@markcrilley]

Thank you Sandra!

[@VickiiMelissa]

I personally, love when you branch out and discuss themes of art and not just how to draw or represent a specific object. Line, balance, texture, composition, depth, hue, and the like are all important in any drawing we create, and they are touched upon in your other tutorials, but it's nice to see when they get highlighted and given focus every now and again.

[@JayKMinecraft]

13:40 I would have did the point of view from inside the cabinet.

[@linzertube]

Fantastic lesson about composition! Dramatic differences from thumbnails to finals that clearly illustrate how to make a page more interesting to the viewer's eye. Thank you, Mark!

[@sofyuchiha9]

This was a VERY interesting and helps me a lot. I'm not seeking to make comics for a living, but something to do on the side purely for fun! It is hard to find the right advice I'm looking for and this definitely helps! c:

[@markcrilley]

+sofyuchiha9 Thank you :)

[@shirecrawler932]

I am one to say, this is EXACTLY what I was searching for. This whole playlist is all I was looking for thank you so much! Since it's my first time making comics I felt a little bit lost about where to start, how to frame scenes and so on... again. thank u. This playlist got u a subscriber, that's for sure!

[@pielord33321]

"Uhh, yeah, this is a, uhh, thumbnail sketch, this is on purpose, yeah. I can do better, sure." I love the Brooklyn guy so much.

[@thundercade64]

Don't stop doing this type of video. Any insight to your process is extremely helpful and guidance on composition is rare. Thank you!!

[@atari_hmb]

Yo I need to buy this book. Brody's ghost sounds pretty hype and the art looks more detailed than most Japanese Manga I've read....THAT'S RARE for me.

[@HORSESNDOGS9]

I found his book at Barnes and noble

[@m.x.p955]

+Link057 actually those mangas were originally supposed to be short but they got popular and shonen wanted them to make their stories longer and that's why the animes have filler

[@aaronblaylock2092]

I come from a background of drawing strips like in a news paper so I was habitually drawing flat compositions without realizing it. This helped me so much! Thank you, Mr. Crilley!

[@sewergoblins4843]

3:16 IS THAT A DEATHNOTE CAMEO I SEE??

[@jimgeorge2437]

Mark videos like this and your perspective videos are a great help. Being self taught there are just some things a book doesn't communicate, and these videos shed some light on the subject.

[@RPalo71]

Mark, I teach art in Warren Consolidated Schools. I have some 5th grade students who make comics and have asked me about how many panels are needed on a page. I don't make comic myself so I don't know the answer to that question. How do you know how many panels you need on a page? Any rules of thumb?

[@markcrilley]

Richard Palo It really comes down to the page beginning to look crowded. I'd say 4 rows with 3 panels in each is about as many as I'd try to pack in, personally. More often it's 3 rows, 2 to 3 panels in each as my limit.

[@MsSkapie]

Thank you Mark. I realized through this vid that I often draw things staged and flat! It opened my eyes to use more definition and push some characters or objects more to the front to create more depth. Really a very informative video!!! I admire you!!

[@LauraSeeber]

Thanks for posting this. Appreciate your insight

[@markcrilley]

Laura Seeber Thank you Laura :)

[@LauraSeeber]

markcrilley - just started following you- out of curiosity, do you ever use a nib or dip pen in your work? If so, any tips for someone trying to get back into using it?

[@Deborah1549]

Story telling with art...not just the characters, but their environment, manipulated to get the most interest in the scene. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@aaroncofer3387]

3:45 lol, i just noticed the Death Note

[@albertross2456]

9 years ago and here I am, still getting alot of great info. You're a good teacher , bro and thank you!

[@shadamyhedgehog6531]

at 3:24 i realize there was a book that says "death note" XD

[@m.x.p955]

XD

[@m.x.p955]

Brody is light

[@dizelccm]

Yesterday I bought "Mastering Manga" .... This is Awesome!! The best book I've ever seen !!! Greetings from Poland!!!

[@zeldamccreary5978]

Your comics should be an anime!

[@Jason-td9jw]

No...

[@m.x.p955]

+Jason Hernandez why

[@Jason-td9jw]

Señor Zane because no one wants ANOTHER anime... he has a nice style that shoulfdnt be limited by anime

[@m.x.p955]

Jason Hernandez still makes no sense

[@laurenscholling2452]

still want an anime...

[@saulmz1]

This is one of my favorite videos that you have ever done! I love when you do videos that help with comic creation in ways other than simply drawing. Thank you.

[@MOOSEMAN7809]

I see deathnote in the bookpile

[@RazvanPt]

Thank you so much for uploading videos like this! There are a lot of your viewers (myself included) who more or less know the basics of drawing and can draw a sword or a chibi or a wing on our own provided we have a good reference. However, there isn't a lot of information on composition, page layout or creating atmosphere on youtube so when we want to create a comic page, a cover or a even a painting we're mostly at a loss. Please keep uploading stuff like this :)!

[@Salokin92]

Even though I am not really interested in creating a Manga or Comic myself, I still am enthralled by the ideas you have! You are a genius Mark Crilley, for as I watched your "don'ts", I probably would have laid out most of my panels in that fashion. Yet, as you showed the way you do it instead is ingenious! The contrast is fascinating, and I also love watching these theoretical videos of yours.

[@teentitans4momo2zuko]

I didn't think I'd end up watching all 21 minutes.... BUT I DID!!! THANK YOU MARK!!! I feel as though I've gained an entirely new perspective on viewing layouts and depth. THANK YOU! :D

[@Honksterr]

Another really helpful video! I liked that we got to see you do loose sketches. People always say to do thumbnail sketches, but I've never actually been taught how. Seeing you actually draw them while explaining the thought process helped a lot.

[@Whichendup]

Great stuff. As an amateur myself, I do have a tendency to start in the middle and work out with my comps. I really enjoy how you use compositional details convey mood for the entire panel. The last example where to put him as he's walking, can project a feeling of foreshadowing, he is about to move into new, interesting areas; and/or show where he is on his journey as a whole and the background could reflect his mood. He is feeling dull as he walks by a dull wall, and isn't even half way across

[@PhantasmNexus]

Loved this! Composition is one of the more trickier fundamentals that kind of tip a few people over so this video definitely helps out a lot on that regard. Thanks a million, Mark! Totally needed a refresher course on some of the basics.

[@Sacorian]

Mark I think you have truly hit your stride in terms of balancing the content of your videos. Some time lapse, some full narration, videos that focus on different topics, videos that focus on different elements. Keep up the good work mate :)

[@angelosanfilippo6221]

I'm writing and illustrating my series of books and through watching this video. It has opened my eyes to another perspective. Another great video, truly thankful!

[@nellekx]

These videos dont seem to be as popular as your ones on how to draw characters and such... but they are soooo helpful to those of us who want to create a manga/comic of our own. Please keep it up Mark! You're the best :D

[@bboylilizzi]

great video, it's great to understand why a panel sometimes feels like it's missing something, and here you do a great job of explaining that and going more in depth... THANK YOU, A REALLY USEFUL VIDEO!

[@amysamin]

I know this video is more than five years old (still working my way through your channel!) but I just wanted to say I found this to be extremely helpful. I did not go to art school, and I do tend to draw very boring compositions. Now I will have your words of wisdom in my head when I try to come up with more dynamic scenes. Thanks!

[@CK-op7ho]

I could watch these all day. I'm learning so much.

[@Rhodebunny]

I enjoy these because as a manga illustrator this is a skill that is understated. You draw, but also compose and tell stories. Thank you Mark :D

[@GreyAnya]

I was working on a storyboard and had a bit of a problem with one scene looking too repetitive. This video COMPLETELY fixed it -- it was the right video at the exactly right time. Thanks! (I love your drawing videos, but your technique/advice ones are more helpful to me.)

[@Fluttershy0037]

I don't normally draw or create stories, for fear of the long process of drawing so many pictures, but this video has actually inspired me to do one! So now I can make all those pictures more fun to draw with the different perspectives and lessons I learned in this video. Thank you~!

[@vladkostin7557]

This is the best kind of content for me. The final shot of the messy room is so brilliant. I wonder how much experience you had drawing comics before you were able to make this one.

[@LeonWillow]

That is the most amazing concept I have ever seen!! The Picture of his room is just WOW! I love it!! You are very creative!!

[@ShelbyAQD]

I really liked this one. I've never really been too sure how much detail should go into thumbnail sketches, so I've never been comfortable doing them. Now that I've actually seen someone else make them, I might start doing so myself.

[@omdjee]

I'm so glad I found this! I have to do a composition art assignment and I had no idea what to do and what it is, thanks to you I know what it is and what to do! Thanks a bunch💖❤️💖

[@CrimDeel]

I love this man, I'm still a new artist and pretty much self taught (No art teacher has been helpful) Having things like this helps me so much, I'm glad I found your videos!

[@sweeterthencandydeco]

i really enjoy your tutorials on the actual comic making process. it helps a lot since I want to start my own web comic here. I'm in the process of it, and this really gives me a great idea.

[@LiDaMangaka]

Mr. Mark, please don't hesitate doing more videos like this in the future!! There's more to true art than line-by-lines and how-tos. You are OUR mentor :)

[@Dingdongtime]

To back up your comment on these types of videos getting less views but being more helpful, I really cherish when you do these kinds because, as someone who is planning to publish a manga series, it helps to solidify my understanding of these sort of details that I might not have known, or known little of. So thank you so much for passing on your knowledge and I look forward to more of these in the future.

[@crimsonact4]

You honestly help me when it comes to drawing.. you don't teach me how to draw things but you give me ideas on how drawings should go. I think these are more usefull thank you

[@kenmacmillan716]

This was really helpful! I'm picking up this issue of Brody's Ghost in support of your generosity. Thank you, and continued success!

[@markcrilley]

+Ken MacMillan Thank you Ken!

[@thomasvasta3688]

Thanks for this session Mark, it really gave me some different points of view to consider when creating my scenes.

[@SimonBeed]

I believe it's just as important to teach elements of composition to help artists improve their work. So more of these kinds of videos please!

[@DeanaESayles]

Thank you so much I love when you teach about the details of drawing. It would be amazing if you could teach how shadows fall on the ground and what shape they should be!

[@JohnDoe-co7kc]

Mark, I have been following you since I first found out about your youtube channel. I have to say I admire all the time you take out of your day to share this with us. My thanks to you....

[@mabobandarify]

you’ve changed the whole game to me man I’m soooo grateful thank you so much

[@margiedeeb]

I definitely prefer these videos to line-by-lines: I don't draw Manga, and yet I learn so much from your videos like these - you're a phenomenal communicator as well as artist. Thank you

[@mandymckk]

I'm not a comic book artist. I'm not even all that interested in manga, if I'm completely honest. But Mark Crilley is still one of my favorite people on youtube. I find something I can put to use in my own artistic pursuits and paintings in every single one of his videos! This was especially helpful, because I'm always struggling with backgrounds. :D

[@valleyd5363]

By far the best Composition tutorial u provided some realistic explanation free of "rules" I love it!!

[@JoyLyte]

Really good. This isn't the kind of video that you follow step by step, but you learn more general knowledge. That can be applied in many places

[@arrowmoons]

So helpful Mark! Been watching you for 10 years. Love coming back to these when working on my own art❤

[@Whitby_Abbeys_Ghost]

Your videos are getting more and more helpful and in depth. You are an excellent teacher!

[@TheMoonliteshadow]

You know mark, you have made it to the point where I look forward to Fridays not because its the weekend, but because I know you'll have a new video out cx

[@fallonsbasement]

This was timely and makes me feel better about taking the instinctual approach. I always find your videos enjoyable and informative. With my recent pursuits, however, this particular video has been invaluable. Thanks so much for giving in your time to do this and I'm looking forward to your next video, as always.

[@Shibby27ify]

I loved book 4. I got my brother, (the writer of my comic) to read Brody's Ghost and he loves them too. I feel that your videos are centered on characters much more than environments and other logistics of comics. I find this very helpful. Bring on more about environments/backgrounds!

[@OriginalSketch6494]

I loved this video. It was focused on a more advanced technique of drawing that we can all work on that will make every one of our drawings better. It's a broad concept with big payoff. This will make our creations all around more pleasing, as opposed to knowing how to draw a hand or something.

[@chuckmcintosh8309]

Thanks for your candid instructions, Mark. Very helpful and entertaining. I just found you yesterday and it appears you've been doing these videos for a while.Good job!

[@RCAvhstape]

Mark, I'm a photographer, not an artist, but your vids fascinate me, and make me think about how I construct photographs, especially city scenes. Good stuff.

[@CrimsonMists]

I've had a lot of comments telling me to be more compositionally interesting so I find this video really helpful! Thank you!

[@sinca78]

This was exactly what I've been struggling with while drawing manga myself! I find that creating interesting depth that pulls the eye in to a certain point is most difficult to achieve.

[@andysimmons2648]

Thank you for this video. For the record I enjoy your art practicals and your comic theory videos pretty much equally. I really appreciate the time and effort you take to make them. Thanks again.

[@markcrilley]

Andy Simmons Thank you Andy!

[@perfectstorm333]

Your intro is so consistent that it took me at least six seconds to realize the reason why I wasn't getting sound anymore was because my speakers were off..and I wasn't getting it in the first place, I just imagined your voice there.

[@nathanclarke6345]

Recently bought Mastering Manga and Brody's Ghost Bk 1 and 2. Your books are great. Can't wait to get books 3 and 4. Keep up the good work Mark. You've given me some great tips on how to draw.

[@robertmead6543]

Thanks for making this video. Please do more like this. I find these incredibly helpful with creating my comics.

[@FizzyStarRats]

Really helpful and great to see how your original ideas evolved into the brilliant Brody's Ghost.

[@AshiroYami]

Sir Mark, I'd been watching your videos for 1 month straight, And I had improved my Drawings thanks to you, please make more videos!

[@Sage2Strike]

Unbelievably helpful! My backgrounds and settings are always so boring, this helped a lot. I have a lot of new things to try now!

[@miaandrilla3983]

These videos really help with drawing and give lots of advice. Thank you, Mark Crilley!

[@Jaseproduce]

I really like the before and after! You're very talented!

[@_Digishade_]

Sensei, interestingly enough, it isn't so much the composition of the page in the Brody's Ghost volume that you show us, so much as the dedication you wrote before page 1 that really grabbed me. While I learned a lot from this video, I also learned that even YOU get just as frustrated and discouraged with your work (for whatever reasons), as I do. Thanks again for doing so much for us. :)

[@markcrilley]

re:"hello 20+ minuet videos, i've missed you" --I uploaded a 20+ minute video seven days ago. Please check out my official playlist (there's a link in the info box) because I've been uploading longer videos pretty consistently in recent months. Thanks! ~Mark