Art Style Analysis- HELLBOY - Clip Studio Paint


Hellboy art style analysis

Here I'm going to be analyzing the HELLBOY art style, the line-art, colors, shadows, proportions, etc. Plus ways to get similar results.

Line-art

  • Lines are thin and have no 'pen pressure' (no thick-to-thin lines).

  • Many lines are used for texture throughout the drawing which makes things look less flat. It also helps to show distance since things further away have less detail.

  • This style doesn't use lines to show form, or even for shading.

  • There aren't perfectly straight lines, or smooth curves. Everything seems hand-drawn, no rulers seem to used.

Video analysis

Colors

  • Most of the colors are very desaturated, except for Hellboy, he stands out from the rest.

  • There isn't much shading, but the colors aren't flat either. There's a gradual change in the colors, they go from light to dark in a smooth transition.

  • Colors have a watercolor texture so if you're working digitally make sure to use some watercolor brush or texture.

Shadows

  • shadows/ inks are pretty much solid shapes, there's no shading effects like hatching or cross-hatching.

  • Instead of hatching this style uses some triangular shapes as the edge of some areas.

  • They're completely black, the lines and inks aren't colored.

Proportions

  • Proportions seem to be close to real life proportions but things are changed to be more angular, and more into shapes.

  • There are not many 'organic' shapes.

I hope this was helpful here's a few Hellboy books if you're interested:

Mike Mignola's Hellboy Artist's Edition (Artist Edition)

Hellboy: The Art of Hellboy

Hellboy, Vol. 1: Seed of Destruction

Hellboy, Vol. 2: Wake the Devil

Hellboy, Vol. 8: Darkness Calls

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