It’s easy to come up with excuses not to be your best self you have to get up early in the morning, your coworkers don’t always support you, you have countless other responsibilities to take care of. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Take some time to figure out your true passions and use them as inspiration to become your superhero. We all have our gifts and abilities, so the only thing stopping you from being great is yourself! Use these ten tips to help you discover your inner superhero and bring it out into the world for everyone else to see!
1. Start Simple
It’s easy to be intimidated by something as seemingly complex as art, and we often overthink what we want to do before we even start. So if you’re a beginner, don’t go too far outside your comfort zone: A few simple lines and shapes are all you need. Starting with something basic will help build your skills and confidence and set you up for future success.
2. Find Inspiration in Nature
Go outside and explore. Natural beauty can be inspiring—and is often more potent than artificial creations. Find a park, trail, beach, or another natural area that inspires you. Then spend time in that place writing in your journal or sketching your ideas on paper.
3. Sketch It Out First
Sketches are essential as a guide, a way to work out your ideas, and a reference point when you’re creating. Drawings help clarify your ideas and make sure they’re easily transferable. They also serve as a reminder of what you were trying to accomplish—and how much further you still have to go! Artistic styles change over time, but it’s always interesting to see how different artists approach things from vastly different angles. Observe these sketches from manga-ka Kōhei Horikoshi – better known as his pen name, Kouhei Horikoshi – creator of My Hero Academia
4. Give Your Character a Costume
An essential part of being a superhero is to have an identity, so be sure to give your character a costume. A costume is more than just clothing; it shows how your hero will fight crime. Will you dress up as a policeman? Or maybe wear a cape and shield-like Superman? The choice is yours! When creating your superhero, think about what kind of superhero you would want to be. Would you like to have incredible strength or shoot webs out of your wrists? Let’s get started! The first step in drawing any character is always to begin with an egg shape. Then add two circles below that are smaller than your original egg shape.
5. Design Dynamic Postures and Movements
When drawing out your inner superhero, you may want to use some inspiration from professional comic book artists. When creating dynamic postures and movements, they’ll often look at models or use themselves as reference. By referencing real people, comic book artists can draw characters with more authenticity rather than relying on static poses and generic drawings. For example, take a look at Spider-Man’s original design: he’s just swinging down on a web. Now compare that to how comic book artist Todd Nauck designed Spider-Man’s swing
6. Express Emotions Through Facial Expressions
No matter how strong your superpowers are, you won’t be able to save everyone. It’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t go according to plan, but your inner superhero doesn’t give up! Remember, good communication is often more powerful than physical strength or magic abilities. One way you can effectively communicate through body language is by using facial expressions. If you’re feeling brave, try putting on a silly face; studies show that smiling can make you feel happier and less stressed. Not sure what emotions would best fit your situation? Use these tips as inspiration
7. Be Prepared for Challenges
Be prepared to deal with setbacks, disappointments, and rejection. These are all part of life, even if you are a superhero. You can’t expect things to go exactly as planned all of the time, but that doesn’t mean that your inner hero should give up on his dreams. Instead of letting these challenges get you down, use them as opportunities to learn something new about yourself or hone a particular skill. All of your experiences will help shape who you are inside and out as you continue along your journey toward becoming a hero in your own story.
8. Learn From Other Artists
There’s no shame in taking inspiration from others. Some people have spent their lives honing their craft, and that expertise is something you can benefit from. Take time to study these artists, but also try to push yourself out of your comfort zone. Learning how to draw doesn’t come naturally for everyone, so it may take time and practice before you begin seeing improvement in your work.
