STANDARD ATTRITION

M.ellis · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 147 Location: New Mexico, USA

Tried to get this answered on another board and there were no takers, so, take two:

Comic artists (aspiring or otherwise): what materials/ techniques are you using? Why? What reference materials?

I'm trying to do the indy comic thing, and I'm experimenting with all manner of pens/inks/brushes/paper. I'm really liking crow quill pens with speedball india ink on medium - heavy weight Strathmore paper, something with a moderate-to-small tooth.

As for reference books, I joyously shat myself when I got "How to Draw Noir Comics" by Shawn Martinbrough. It's one of the few "teach your fanboy ass to draw comics" books that actually contains practical exercises.

I also liked the DC Comics Guide to Pencilling Comics. And you cannot get anything better than Dynamic Lighting and Shade by Hogarth.

jock · Featured Creator Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 235

one of these -

bit of this -

bit of that -

and some of this if needed -

and maybe -

hope that helps!
_________________
http://www.jockonline.co.uk
http://twentydrawings.blogspot.com/
http://thetinbot.com/products/jock/
http://www.splashpageart.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=21

M.ellis · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 147 Location: New Mexico, USA

Can you recommend a sturdy, refillable brush pen? I find that Micron brushpens wear out too quickly, and while I love my Faber-Castell brush pens, I'd rather not be pitching them in the trash all the time.

jock · Featured Creator Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 235

mine's a PENTEL... not sure if it's any better, but it works for me!
_________________
http://www.jockonline.co.uk
http://twentydrawings.blogspot.com/
http://thetinbot.com/products/jock/
http://www.splashpageart.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=21

M.ellis · Joined: 20 Oct 2007 Posts: 147 Location: New Mexico, USA

Hey, Jock. Could I coax some constructive criticism/feedback out of you for some pictures of mine I posted here: http://jasonaaron.org/viewtopic.php?t=281 ? Thanks if you have the time.

spi_der · Joined: 19 May 2008 Posts: 95 Location: Athens, Greece

I am using the upper half of jock's list of materials, (plus the other half with minor variations) and I really can't recommend it enough.
I also make extensive use of wacom tablets and photoshop.
But I think the most useful material is the one with which you and only you find yourself comfortable with.You 'll eventually resort to this through trial and error.I don't think there's such thing as an all purpose material, and more often than not, the type of artwork you want to produce will dictate the appropriate tool.
Hope that helps.

Lonomatik · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 23

i want that PENTEL MICRO CORRECT pen, but it looks like its only available in europe! i'd rather not resort to ordering it online, anybody know of an american equivalent? sumthin i could pick up at Staples perhaps?

drawrobot · Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 50 Location: columbus,ohio

I switch back and forth between the Faber Castell brush pens, two different sumi's, and the second to smallest brush you can get. I can't tell what brand the sumi's are in because it's in japanese. I bought them at a japanese gift shop here in town and they always keep a point. A sign of a good brush.

I've also been playing with some watercolor pencils and graphite sticks.

Once I work up the drawing to a certain point, I scan it up and work it in Painter.

What's been great fun lately is loading up a brush with ink or thinned paint and blasting it with canned air or an airbrush compressor. I think I need a bigger air compressor. The splats aren't forceful enough with the airbrush compressor.
_________________
opencrashcomics.com
(comics)(prints)(design)(commission)(williams)

brianwood · Posted: Sat May 24, 2008 7:56 pm Post subject:

Lonomatik · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 23

thanks Brian! i appreciate the response...

jock · Featured Creator Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 235

yeah, i've seen video's of american artists using them... the label looked a little different, but essentially the same thing.
it's one of my favourite tools! but i don't use it as much as i used to... awesome for rain tho if you use fast bold strokes.

(i used it a little too much here, but this is the only example i could quickly find online...)

_________________
http://www.jockonline.co.uk
http://twentydrawings.blogspot.com/
http://thetinbot.com/products/jock/
http://www.splashpageart.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=21

Lonomatik · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 23

thas' pretty sweet---luv the heavy blacks.

Cliff Chiang · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:33 pm Post subject:

If you're still having trouble locating it, the label on my US Pentel correction pen says PRESTO! You can pick 'em up at Staples.

Hey Jock, are you using the regular ink refills with your brush pen, or are you using your own ink?
_________________
www.cliffchiang.com

jock · Featured Creator Joined: 19 Oct 2007 Posts: 235

hey, cliff's come round! alright fella?

i still use the regular ink refills, but that's on DC rough board... on the smooth i think it can be a bit problematic. lack of drying + smudging etc.

i haven't tried using my own ink - is it do-able? a friend of mine was asking that very question just the other day.
_________________
http://www.jockonline.co.uk
http://twentydrawings.blogspot.com/
http://thetinbot.com/products/jock/
http://www.splashpageart.com/GalleryDetail.asp?GCat=21

Cliff Chiang · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:54 pm Post subject:

Wassup, Jock?

Haven't tried it, but the brush pen refill looks a lot like the cartridges on the Rotring ArtPen, which might mean you can use that snazzy refillable piston cartidge from the ArtPen. As for ink, I bet rapidograph might work OK, but the safe bet is Pelikan Drawing Ink A, which is pretty waterproof without all the lacquers and stuff that go into other inks.

I'm a total nerd for brush pens. It's great to see there's more of these synthetic hair brush tips now, too. I've been hoarding the ones I have, but more manufacturers seem to be making them these days.
_________________
www.cliffchiang.com