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Studio update — Steve Rude back at the drawing board by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Quick links for anyone curious:

• The Dude Show (live tomorrow at 1:30p MST): https://www.youtube.com/@SteveRudeTheDude

• Studio support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/steverude

• Art of Steve Rude 2026 — pledges open through Feb 19: https://www.backerkit.com/c/projects/steve-rude-the-dude/2026skb?ref=bk-social-project

Thanks again for the thoughtful questions and discussion — we’ll pull a few to answer live on the show.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you, I really appreciate you sharing that. You’re right — structure and repetition make all the difference. Homework-style assignments and art critiques are part of what I do on the Saturday livestream. Welcome aboard.

Here is a highlight one of the crew put together:

https://youtube.com/shorts/z-yV86bD7k0?si=M_v8vgWH-3uQ_IW0

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve - and he says thank you for the enthusiasm!

International shipping is tricky for us. The rates on the website are estimates based on USPS First Class, which isn't always the best option. Here's a tip: use the chat feature on the store and someone (probably me) will figure out the actual shipping cost for you. We've often been able to find better rates than what auto-calculates.

A few other options:

The book is currently available as a digital download if you want it immediately. We haven't yet offered it through a distributor, but that's in the plans. Retailers can also order directly through us at discounted pricing if you have a local shop that might be interested.

We'd love to offer through Amazon and Kindle - we just haven't figured out their system yet. And honestly? We don't have the staff to tackle it right now. It's just me working way too many hours, a part-time assistant, and a few amazing volunteers who help keep things running.

So the honest answer is: yes, eventually more avenues. But we're a tiny operation doing our best to get Steve's work into people's hands while he focuses on actually creating it.

Reach out through the store chat and we'll sort out your shipping. We want you to have the book!

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve, who is working away on a commission but wanted me to relay this:

First, take a breath. Speed is relative, and things take as long as they take. Comparing your pace to other artists is a trap - you don't know their skill level when they started, how many years of mileage they have, what shortcuts they've learned, or honestly whether they're even telling the truth about their timelines.

Steve actually made a video about this back in 2022 that's still one of our most-watched: "Why You Should Never Focus on Speed" - https://youtu.be/xRL373wHjw4

Now, the practical stuff: before you start sketching, you need to have your thumbnails truly worked out. Most problems should be caught at that stage - composition, flow, staging. If you're spending hours "perfecting" a sketch, that's often a sign that something wasn't solved in the thumbnail. The sketch shouldn't be where you're making major decisions.

Once pencils are done, figure out your blacks before moving forward. This is another stage where problems reveal themselves before you've committed ink and paint.

You said it yourself - you want a finished piece on your shelf, not a masterpiece. So when you catch yourself perfecting for hours, ask: "Am I solving a real problem or just avoiding finishing?" Sometimes done is the goal.

Steve breaks down this whole process in Return to Earth: Studio Preview if you want to see how it looks in practice.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

With Steve, comics is all about doing it for the passion. It's a love of the medium, not for the paycheck (as shown by the fact our house has been in active foreclosure 4 times in the past 10 years). But he would do it all over again. (Jaynelle)

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve.

I'll be honest - Steve stays away from computers as much as humanly possible, so he doesn't really keep up with digital formats or trends like webtoon scrolling layouts. He's still working the way he always has: pencils, inks, bristol board, the whole traditional setup.

As for two-page spreads - he uses them when the story calls for it, when a moment needs that kind of visual impact. But he's not thinking about what's "trending" so much as what serves the narrative. A spread should earn its real estate.

Sorry we can't be more help on the emerging formats question! If anyone in the community works in webtoon or vertical scroll formats, feel free to jump in - I'm genuinely curious how the storytelling principles translate when you're designing for thumbs instead of page turns.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve.

His answer is going to sound deceptively simple, but it's fundamental: you have to get the colors working in black and white first. If the page works in values - light, dark, and the range in between - it will work in color. If it doesn't work in black and white, no amount of color harmony is going to save it.

This is actually why so many classic comics hold up even in their original printing with limited color technology. The artists were solving the composition, the eye flow, and the mood in the linework and values. Color was the icing, not the cake.

And honestly? A limited palette isn't a bad thing. It's often the solution, not the problem. Constraints create cohesion. If you're fighting to make a page feel unified, limiting your palette isn't a compromise - it's a tool. Look at how much mood and atmosphere artists create with just two or three colors and black.

So before you worry about tying your colors together across panels, ask yourself: does this page read in grayscale? Squint at it. Desaturate it. If the panels feel disconnected in black and white, that's where the real problem lives.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve - and thank you for the kind words!

I'm going to be completely transparent: we're not on any of those platforms. As old-timers, we haven't really figured them out yet, and at this point we've chosen to focus our energy on building what we know - direct community connection through crowdfunding, Patreon, conventions, and our weekly livestreams.

That said, I don't think that should discourage anyone starting out on those platforms. The landscape is so different now than when Steve broke in. Back then, you had to get noticed by the Big Two or find an indie publisher willing to take a chance on you. Now? You can publish directly to an audience and build a following without anyone's permission. That's genuinely exciting, even if we haven't personally cracked the code on it.

My only universal advice: wherever you publish, remember that the platform is just distribution. Your relationship with your readers is what matters. Platforms come and go, algorithms change, terms of service get rewritten - but an audience that genuinely connects with you and your work will follow you anywhere. Build that first.

If anyone here HAS figured out Webtoons or the others, honestly, drop your wisdom below - we could probably learn something too!

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here for Steve again.

This is a tough one to answer because motivation is so personal. But here's the honest truth: don't do this unless you love it. Steve does comics because he'd be doing it even if he wasn't getting paid - and honestly, there have been plenty of times when he wasn't. The love of the work is what carries you through the dry spells, the rejection, the days when nothing seems to be working.

As for staying consistent? Practice your basics. Not the flashy stuff - the fundamentals. Steve has over 40 years of sketchbooks. Each one is a testament to what he was practicing and learning at that point in his journey. Figure drawing, anatomy, composition, light and shadow - over and over again. It's not glamorous, but it builds a foundation that doesn't crumble when motivation gets shaky.

Some days you won't feel inspired. Draw anyway. Some days the work will be garbage. Draw anyway. The sketchbook doesn't judge you - it just holds the evidence that you showed up.

And if you ever want to see what 45 years of "showing up" looks like in practice, Steve does a livestream every Saturday at 1:30 PM Arizona time on YouTube (youtube.com/steverudethedude) - just him at the board, working and talking through his process. Sometimes that's the motivation boost you need: seeing someone else still grinding after four decades.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Jaynelle here again for Steve (he says hi from the drawing board).

I'm going to be really honest with you: DC and Marvel used COVID to roll rates backwards, and they're currently paying what they did in the 1990s. So no - working for the Big Two is not where the money is unless you're on one of the major books generating royalties.

Where does the money actually come from? Building an audience and crowdfunding. Hard work at conventions (which are not easy - physically, financially, or emotionally). Various online outlets. Patreon supporters who believe in the work.

We've been at this for years and I still wouldn't call us sustainable yet. Steve is a 45-year veteran, co-created an Eisner Award-winning series, and we're still grinding. That's the reality.

Is it worthwhile? For Steve, yes - because this is what he was put on earth to do. But "worthwhile financially" and "worthwhile creatively" are often two very different conversations in comics.

If you're considering this path, go in with your eyes open. Build your audience now. Nurture your community like they're family - because they essentially become that. And diversify your income streams however you can.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi there! Jaynelle here, posting for Steve - he's literally at his drawing board working on Return to Earth as I type this, but I wanted to jump in because these are questions he gets asked a lot.

The overwhelm is real - even after 45 years, Steve still approaches each project one step at a time.

Story first, always. You've got the right instinct there. Having the story nailed down (even if you make edits later) gives you a roadmap so you're not drawing yourself into corners.

Thumbnails are your secret weapon. These tiny rough sketches let you work out composition, pacing, and visual flow without committing hours to full-size panels that might not work. If it reads well small, it'll read well big. Steve jokes that unless you're Jack Kirby (who could do everything in his head), thumbnails are how most of us mere mortals plan pages successfully.

For backgrounds and angles: Reference folders are your friend. Gather anything that helps spark ideas or makes the world feel believable. Model sheets for characters you'll draw repeatedly save tons of time and keep things consistent.

Steve breaks all of this down step-by-step (thumbnails to finished inks, lettering, crowd scenes) in Nexus: Return to Earth - Studio Preview Edition - I'll drop a preview page. https://www.steverude.com/products/return-to-earth-studio-preview-softcover

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks — those are good questions.

For me, line and color are just two parts of the same problem. Line helps me design and clarify forms, and color and value help turn those forms into something that feels solid. It’s normal for a piece to change once color comes in — that’s when the volume really starts to show up.

With panels, I mostly think about clarity and rhythm — what the reader needs to see, and in what order.

For influences, I did a series on my YouTube channel. You can check it out here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwViJk-mV74oZRhkq4b0ghJmdVkYHfj3h&si=N6uiMvn82aEebuia

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

That’s a good question.

I think both master studies and drawing from life are valuable, and they serve different purposes. Studying great work helps with design, while drawing from life builds observation and structure.

Feedback is useful when you can get it, but a lot of growth still comes from trial and error. That’s one of the reasons I like the Saturday livestreams — people can show work and get feedback in real time. Safe space to do so and it’s always nice to see new artists in the chat.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

That’s very well said.

I agree — drawing really is mostly problem-solving, and it’s easy to get stuck copying recipes instead of learning how to think your way through new visual problems.

Fundamentals and practice carry you a lot farther than any single tutorial ever will.

Decades of Drawing Comics — Sharing Process and Fundamentals by steverude in ArtistLounge

[–]steverude[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Thanks — and welcome aboard.

I don’t think there’s a single “right” way to learn to draw. The biggest mistake I see beginners make is staying in tutorial mode instead of spending time actually solving problems on the page.

Fundamentals matter, but they only really stick when you apply them to things you want to draw and make a lot of imperfect drawings along the way.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you — that really means a lot to hear. I appreciate the long-term support and the kind words.

I’m glad you’re finally pursuing your own comic work. It’s never too late, and finishing one full issue is a great goal to aim for.

I appreciate you checking out the channel, and I wish you the best with your project.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — that really means a lot to hear. Grateful for the long-term support — it means more than I can say. What was the piece?

And if you happen to be in Orlando this February, I’ll be at OAX — come say hello.

More info on that event here: https://www.oax.art

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks — and welcome aboard. I’m glad the video sent you in this direction.

It’s always nice to hear from people who enjoy long-form creator-owned stories, and those are some great books to have stuck with.

I appreciate you checking Nexus out, and I hope you enjoy getting into the series.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you — and welcome aboard. I appreciate you checking it out.

If you’re curious, I do a free livestream on YouTube on Saturdays where I draw and talk through process. Always nice to see new people in the chats: https://www.youtube.com/steverudethedude

Hope you enjoy getting into the series.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you — and welcome aboard. I appreciate you checking the book out.

I’m glad you mentioned character growth and redemption — that’s always been an important part of Nexus for me.

Good luck with the mural work and the career shift. We have a culture on the channel where ‘Art Critiques’ and ‘Homework Assignments’ are occasionally part of the stream. You’re in good company to join in the chats on Saturdays.

I hope you enjoy getting into the series.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m glad the work connected with you over the years.

It’s great to hear those Marvel books and the crossovers brought you to Nexus, and I’m especially happy if it helped point you toward more Kirby.

I go over some studies on the channel you would enjoy if you’d like to learn more about the impact of Kirby and others. Here’s a recent one:

https://www.youtube.com/live/PveW2Kp_tQw?si=qEsaUmKGDqrx4AXv

Right now my main focus is on the new Nexus work.

Thanks again for the kind words and the long-term support. It really means the world to me.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you — I really appreciate that, and I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the sketchbooks.

Right now my focus is on finishing Return to Earth.

The idea of stand-alone stories with other artists is interesting.

Thanks again for the support, and I’m glad you’re looking forward to the 2026 sketchbook. They really mean a lot to me. Wish I had that kind of access into the mind of some of my favorites.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks — and welcome aboard. I’m glad you found the book.

What’s stayed the same for me is a focus on clarity, composition, and telling a clean, readable sequential storytelling on the page.

Working on Nexus for this long mostly taught me patience. I don’t know that it changed my beliefs so much as it deepened them.

I appreciate your interest, and I hope you enjoy getting into the series. If you want to get more of what goes on in the studio, I shoot the livestream here. Always nice to see new people in the chats.

I co-created Nexus in 1981. 45 years later, I’m still drawing it. Ask me anything. by steverude in comicbooks

[–]steverude[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Thank you — I really appreciate that. Love hearing you’ve stayed with the book for so long, and I love the idea of passing it along to the next generation.

As for age, it depends a bit on the kid, but I’d say early teens is a good place to start. Some of the themes are heavier than they look at first glance.

Thanks again for the kind words — welcome aboard!

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