Eric Canete gets some interesting reader mail:
So I got this e-mail a week or so ago. It put a smile on my face when I read it the first time (and an even bigger smile each consecutive time I’ve re-read it) and I thought I’d share it with you kind people. Oh, and please remember, he’s an artist too…and thusly adds legitimacy to his critique. Remember that. And if you *don’t * remember it, don’t worry. He’ll be sure to remind you (us) every so often.
The email itself is amazing… Here’s an excerpt:
First, your anatomy is beyond terrible. Again, trust me when I say I know what I’m talking about when it comes to this topic. I’m an artist myself and when I look at you figures I literally cringe. Not only do you blatantly break all anatomical rules, but you do it so terribly that I believe you didn’t even know that rules in the first place! I mean, panel to panel your figures fall apart even under the mildest of scrutiny. Your shoulders don’t work, your biceps are not realistic, your legs and feet are poorly drawn. I understand artistic and stylistic license but you have to have a good foundation BEFORE you should start experimenting with a “style”. It’s pretty typical for people who are just starting out, but in your case I think you try to cover up your shortcomings as an artist by putting a so-called style on top of weak drawings. And yes…they are WEAK drawings. Trust me.
Second, your panel-to-panel work are in dire need of serious help. I know that there are many, many books out there that act as a beginner’s guide on how to tell a good, well paced story. I suggest you invest some money into any or all of them. I think you can start with “How to Draw Comics The Marvel Way”. That’s only fitting considering you actually work for them.
Much, much more at the link. Also, check out the comments, for responses from Skottie Young, B. Clay Moore, Eric Nguyen, and more…
(Thanks, Jonathan)
January 23rd, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Regardless of one’s feelings about Canete’s work- and I have mixed reactions to it- that was some shockingly stupid writing.
January 23rd, 2008 at 5:06 pm
It should be up to the publisher to find the artist they think is best for the comic and it is very silly to say that there is a right and a wrong way to draw something.
I can kinda understand the guys opinion though, the work of Eric Canete is not really to my taste and i dont really understand the appeal.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:05 pm
The letter was ridiculous, but what gets me is the comments thread. The amount of anger, shock, and apparent hatred expressed in the comments (with the notable exception of Eric himself) towards the letter writer is somewhat off putting. In this day and age, is an ignorant letter like this really worth all that? It’s good for a few chuckles, but otherwise I think they’re all giving this way more attention that it/he deserves. Shoot, that letter is an example of intelligent, civil restraint compared to half the posts on Newsarama any given day.
January 23rd, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Eric’s work is really fantastic and clearly displays a knowledge of the figure proportion and anatomy as well as composition, design and light/dark balance. The letter writer at no point is able to clearly express what he thinks is wrong with the work other than it not fitting his taste.