Here’s a quick update from me about what I have been up to lately.
Let me know what you have been working on in the comments below. As a bonus, let me know what you’re most looking forward to improving about your storytelling this year.
As promised, below are my most recent top 10 tools for storytelling.
- A laptop or tablet you can draw on. I am not calling out any one brand here but my top picks are Wacom Cintiq companion, Ipad Pro with procreate, Microsoft surface pro 4 tablet. If you’re strapped for money, get a used machine of any of the ones above. Having a portable digital drawing tool has been indispensable lately for working on my projects. A desktop machine is great, but having a portable tool will unlock a world of opportunities for jobs. You can get a used Surface pro for $400-600.
- Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. They just released a complete free version. It has some of the best drawing tools of any program on the market. Get it here.
- Adobe CC subscription. Just get it. From After effects to Premiere to Photoshop these tools are solid and just work for any storyboard gig you could have. You can get a student version cheaper here.
- A sketch book. Don’t leave home without it. You can’t go wrong with the classic moleskin.
- Bodies in Motion- by far this is the best figure drawing resource on the internet. Check out our latest talk with creator Scott Eaton here.
- Save The Cat. Great starter book for story structure. Check it out here.
- Figure Drawing for All It’s Worth. I still love Loomis. Check out why this book is still a bestseller for artists.
- Double Macchiato with almond milk. This hits the spot for a late afternoon pick me up and some cafe sketches.
- Instagram. It has become a goto tool for posting your work and getting scene by clients. I get hit up often by clients who need help with jobs. Share the love and follow us on instagram. Show us your instagram storyboards!
- Wake up early. Instead of staying up late, I discovered a better way to avoid distractions is to get up before anyone else around 5 or 6am. Get your day started with the most important drawing task and art project and your whole day will fall into place. Of course you will need to drop that habit of staying up late watching Netflix. Save that for the weekends 🙂
Sergio
Hello Sergio,
I am looking forward for the Star Wars resistance and thanks for the story tool tips .
I am currently storyboarding of a feature film for self study and its driving me crazy to visualize the action scenes in my mind. Sometimes, I get distracted with cleaning up a shot and in 8 hours I hardly produce 15-20 shots. The problem is I am unable to focus and I get distracted with reading a book about cinematography or watching in a scene. How to consciously avoid spending more time on reading and rather spending more time on boarding ?
Thanks
Thanks for your update. Yep, feature boards are challenging, but you are not doing so bad with 15-20 shots per day. As long as the shots are solid keep up that pace.
I have a trick I like to do which is work in blocks of time. For say 2 hours I lock myself to my desk and don’t get up, answer calls, or emails, or anything else. Then after that time I will stretch a bit or get a snack. Then again back into concentrated focus time for my scene. It can be challenging to avoid distractions, but learn to stay focused and the results with show for itself.
Send us a link so we can see the progress ?
Great update. Just to add to it, might want to try venturing into Affinity software. The photo software, their photoshop, is amazing and far cheaper than Adobe. And designer, wow, far superior to illustrator for me and again, way cheaper. I know it takes time to get use to it but a lot of the same tools, keys and of course, they both read all the file formats.
I agree with you Sergio, put phone on mute, don’t look at the computer and just create. I make a schedule, blocks of time to do client work and then my work. But you need to take breaks and do something totally different. Enjoy and refresh the brain. I also use a certain day, for a few hours, doing emails, updates, and the like. Like today is that day. Thanks for the great webinar sessions. I am currently cranking away on so many projects, artbook in production, children’s book, animated story, busy busy. Cheers. Here’s the link.
https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/
Very cool stuff Ralu.
If you get bored easily it’s best to do longer term projects in smaller chunks so you don’t get overwhelmed with the full task. Having accountability is a huge help as well. If you work with partners or have friends who can keep you on task that is a great way to keep on it.
I think we all get a little bored sometimes with the things we work on. The irony is how come we don’t get bored when we work on projects with clients or for a company? There is no room for boredom in the schedule. That feeling might creep in a bit but you power through it and get the job done on time because of professional pride.
Now if we can only apply that same logic to our own projects as well.
Hey Sergio,
Thanks for the great tips! I recently acquired an iPad Pro and have been using Procreate which has been a real game changer. It’s allowed me to switch up where I work which has been nice – especially since I can be outside.
I’ve been chipping away at a short story I see as an animated short. It’s been fun but the most challenging aspect has been an action scene of a speeding-out-of-control RV while incorporating camera moves into the scene. I’m pushing through and hope to have it wrapped up soon. I’ve posted progress if you’re interested!
Hello, Sergio!
I’m happy to have found you today, 1 MAY 20, by total coincidence!! My friend and you share the same NAME!! I’m hoping this site is still active. If not, hoping you’ll find my Insta post.
Your New Found Friend In The Arts,
Terr.
Hey Sergio!
We’ve met a few times, I’m pretty sure. Most likely at the old WildBrain. But hey, I was wondering, what are your thoughts on including “old” boards in a portfolio? Does it really matter as long as they rep ones best work?
I ask because I’ve mainly been creating VFX for the last few years, and any story work I have is certainly “older”.
Thanks for this amazing site! Take care!
Dan