What's Lies Beneath Subtext?

It's a fact of communication that you can say one thing and mean something completely different.

For instance saying "What did you say?" to someone who has just threatened to kill you doesn't carry the same subtext as saying the same thing to someone handing you a piece of cake.

With the first example you might be thinking, "I need to buy some time!" while your face contorts and your heart races, your breath shortens, your body language becomes defensive, and you begin to mentally prepare yourself for the next few moments of your life.

In the second example you might slightly bow forward with a smile, think "this looks good!", breathing naturally, hands held out as a receiving gesture, enjoying the moment, maybe making eye contact depending on your personality.

In both instances the phrase didn't change, but the thought changed dramatically. The same form of communication is a powerful tool in illustration, but it requires a mind invested into the character's personality, thoughts, imaginations, desires, etc. . . You ever looked at a painting and related to the image saying, "Yeah! I know exactly what s/he's thinking!"

The trick to creating believable subtext in an illustration is to distinguish what you want to say in subtext first, and then decide what you want to be said verbally. Of coarse the expression should follow the nature of the subtext. Voila! A character that appears to be self motivated!

It's a technique I find too few and far between with any given comic illustration which is why there are the greats. If they can guess what I'm thinking, there's a good chance I'm going to relate to their characters and that's a mouth full!

Cover for Week June 23 - 27

CHALLENGE WEEK!

This week we'll be looking for a challenging subject that our covers should feature.

A cover in which, you think, has the strongest form of subtext. More specifically, an image that provokes you to believe the characters are thinking, be it differently or not, from the situation they are in.

Sincere subtext is one of the hardest messages to convey as an illustrator, I believe, because it's a one step difference from creating a stagnant image, to establishing a believable, living character. Subtext haunts actors on stage because not only must they use it regularly when performing, but effective actors have to make it relatable to a wide audience.

I would like our covers for this week to be submitted without telling us what you think the character's thinking, at first, so we can ascertain our own subtext messages. Then we can compare our thoughts after all the posts have been submitted.

Please submit no later than Thursday so I can have time to post, and we can have a week to discuss.

I'm looking forward to your posts.

Enjoy!