DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Le Zombie, whole no. 63, July 1948

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Le Zombie, whole no. 63, July 1948

Page 3

A Short Course in ART for Fanzine Illustrators 

Fans who draw women, nude or clothed, for fanzines simply don't know a damned thing about women. The ignorance of these artists is terrible, as the first glance at their nude illustration will reveal. The features they place on the women are out of shape, badly proportioned, and untrue to life. Their fond illusions discolor artistic judgment. 

Consider the bust most usually seen in fanzines, the healthy looking object to the right labeled "A". Artists who put this type of bust on female figures are due for a shock when they get around to studying their first woman; a woman's muscles will not support such a weight at such angle. The "B" exhibit is the correct one for the size indicated, even though it may offend the artistic senses. 

And watch the height and build of your figures. Only a fairly short, well-padded girl can have "B". Tall, thin women possess "C", "D", "E" OR "F" and nothing else. If it appears to be something else, do not be fooled, it is only a gimmick known as a 'falsie' and pictured in "G". Nature will not give a tall or thin girl a healthy bust; the artist, to be life-like, must follow nature's lines. 

Conversely, a short and fat girl is represented with "E" or "H", usually the latter depending upon her glandular activity. While few such fat figures ever appear in fanzine illustrations, it is well to note this for future reference. 

Figure "E" probably represents the average American girl and should be followed in fanzine illustrations; for it will be noted that where girls appear in the picture alongside a man, a machine or an animal the height given to the girl by the artist indicates her to be average, or normal. Less than five feet, six inches for a certainty, hence figure "E" is correct for this average, or normal build. Figure "C" sometimes appears on such women but does not readily lend itself to good picturization. Figure "D" is found on the Oriental girl, but rarely in America. 

In studying female figures in fanzines, you will not that women artists do not make these mistakes; some of the very best published nudes have been drawn by women, and the male artist will do well to study, even copy, the feminine illustrator. To some degree is is also true that the male artist who has studied a live model will be more faithful in reproducing the correct proportions on paper, although all to soon he, too, tends to slip away from rigid natural busts and distort the illustration for the sake of romanticism. This tendency must be held in check and the artist must force himself to remain close to Nature's models. 

Figure "I" indicates an elderly lady. Skip it.

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A Short Course in ART for Fanzine Illustrators Fans who draw women, nude or clothed, for fanzines simply don't know a damned thing about women. The ignorance of these artists is terrible, as the first glance at their nude illustration will reveal. The features they place on the women are out of shape, badly proportioned, and untrue to life. Their fond illusions discolor artistic judgment. Consider the bust most usually seen in fanzines, the healthy looking object to the right labeled "A". Artists who put this type of bust on female figures are due for a shock when they get around to studying their first woman; a woman's muscles will not support such a weight at such angle. The "B" exhibit is the correct one for the size indicated, even though it may offend the artistic senses. And watch the height and build of your figures. Only a fairly short, well-padded girl can have "B". Tall, thin women possess "C", "D", "E" OR "F" and nothing else. If it appears to be something else, do not be fooled, it is only a gimmick known as a 'falsie' and pictured in "G". Nature will not give a tall or thin girl a healthy bust; the artist, to be life-like, must follow nature's lines. Conversely, a short and fat girl is represented with "E" or "H", usually the latter depending upon her glandular activity. While few such fat figures ever appear in fanzine illustrations, it is well to note this for future reference. Figure "E" probably represents the average American girl and should be followed in fanzine illustrations; for it will be noted that where girls appear in the picture alongside a man, a machine or an animal the height given to the girl by the artist indicates her to be average, or normal. Less than five feet, six inches for a certainty, hence figure "E" is correct for this average, or normal build. Figure "C" sometimes appears on such women but does not readily lend itself to good picturization. Figure "D" is found on the Oriental girl, but rarely in America. In studying female figures in fanzines, you will not that women artists do not make these mistakes; some of the very best published nudes have been drawn by women, and the male artist will do well to study, even copy, the feminine illustrator. To some degree is is also true that the male artist who has studied a live model will be more faithful in reproducing the correct proportions on paper, although all to soon he, too, tends to slip away from rigid natural busts and distort the illustration for the sake of romanticism. This tendency must be held in check and the artist must force himself to remain close to Nature's models. Figure "I" indicates an elderly lady. Skip it.