Introduction and a few tips for the upcoming Manga Sketching program for the CCPL Anime Club members

I subscribe to the "Manga" definition of being simply "Japanese-style comics" to include the work created by actual Japanese artists as well as the works inspired by manga sensibility and conventions regardless of the nationality of their creators. It is undeniable that the Manga art movement's popularity has grown exponentially in recent years judging by the large sections that bookstores and libraries now dedicate to their manga collections. The Japanese pop culture effective reshaping and integration with American pop culture can be observed in the anime/manga stylistic influences in current American toy lines, animation, and even live-action movies. As a self-taught artist raised on a steady diet of anime, manga, American comics, and sci-fi movies, my cartoon sketching techniques have developed as an amalgam of the most striking representative visual elements of these popular sources.
For our first meeting I plan to go over some of the drawing tools and materials suitable for drawing Manga characters, monsters, and robots while demonstrating my design philosophy and quick-sketching techniques. No special materials are required, but you are welcomed to check out the suggestions and tips posted on the right column of this blog. Whatever pen or pencil you already have at home along with some regular printer/copy paper would be fine to get you started. While I am a bit of an art supplies collector myself, there is no need to get everything from the list of suggestions. In fact, it would probably be best to try only a few at a time before you get stuck with tools that you do not care for. Drawing tools selection is rather subjective, and there is no magical perfect pen that will make you a great artist overnight. That said, you might find the learning process and sketching more enjoyable if you choose reliable quality tools. If you would still like some specific suggestions and tips on local retailers check out the comment tags on this photo. A good minimal starter kit would be to pick a 9"X12" sketchbook along with the Sakura Pigma Sensei manga drawing set. That would give you plenty of paper to practice, a nice 0.7 mm mechanical pencil, a foam eraser, and a range of different pigment liner nibs to cover most inking needs. In the meantime, feel free to ask any questions through the comments section or by contacting me by e-mail.
Quick tip: Small plastic toy animals can be useful as portable 3-dimensional references for more believable quick sketches of the subject models viewed from different angles. Don't get distracted with textural details since generally these type of toys are not that accurate on that regard, but use them as reference to get the general posture and relative position of the limbs. Gradually rotate each figure 360 degrees, and draw it from different points of view until you are satisfied with the results.