There is some illustration work near the end of this post, I just wanted to talk about something first…
You all know how I’m a digital artist first and foremost. I don’t really do much that isn’t digital. It’s just where I’m most comfortable. It’s where I got my start and what I’m most familiar with. And of course it’s so easy to drown yourself in familiarity.
Not that I haven’t ever drawn on paper. It’s just extremely rare since I find it entirely intimidating. Maybe drawing with pencil isn’t so scary, but when it comes to the inking, it frightens the heck outta me. I don’t have the steadiest hand, and I panic and make mistakes. I know that mistakes are good and you learn from them. I guess that’s my biggest and probably most irrational fear - that I WON’T get better and I’ll find out that I’m just a big phony and can’t actually do any of this.
Some years ago I drew a series of faeries on paper in pencil. I used Victoria Secret models as my models for the “bodies.” I was really pleased with them. I scanned them and put them up on “Elfwood,” a fantasy-art site. I got a lot of slack for not inking them, but I never dared to ink them for fear of ruining my beauties. I think I HAVE to scan them in and put them up later this week just so you can see.
Everyone’s going to be yelling “but you just HAVE to PRACTICE” at me and I know they’re right. I’m just a big ‘ole chicken.
That being said, I have decided I really want to give it a go this summer. I wish I could take an art class to learn pencil and inking techniques, but it’s not feasible right now. But I’m going to look into it for the spring.
Man I wish that I had figured out what I really wanted to do when I went to college, and did a graphic design degree instead of a Comp Sci one. *sigh*
Anyway, before I go on and show what I’ve been working on, I have a question for the other artists out there. What kind of pen do you use to ink? I need to know what specific TYPES of pens you use, since brand names mean nothing (since I probably don’t have the same brands here), and also because I haven’t a clue. Felt tips? markers? I have no idea!! And what is this “Indian ink” I read about?
Okay, onto the fun bit. So I decided to do a little fun sketch on paper in pencil and do the rest digitally, just to see what I could do. So here’s the original drawing scanned in:
Once I scanned it in I decided to do some “digital inking” in photoshop. I’ve never done this before. I draw everything directly in illustrator. I decided to give it a two-toned style (if that’s what you’d call it…)
I had a lot of trouble figuring out what to do with the eyes on that one. I think it’s obvious, because they look odd. Anyway, then I decided to do it in color:
The coloring really isn’t anything new for me, since I do that often. Not to mention the coloring is fairly simple too. But it was fun to color something I originally drew on paper.
I like it for the fact that it was the first time I tried something like this. What I don’t like is that the lines just aren’t smooth enough. I know a lot of people who use this methon and their lines are slick as anything. I’m wondering if maybe I should have scanned in the image to a much bigger resolution than I did (it was already big, but still…), so that when I inked it and shrunk it down, it would have come out smoother.
Now I just wish I could do that kind of inking on paper.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
I’m so not an illustrator, etc., but I really like your free hand drawing. I like the fact it’s not smooth - more authentic.
Just to give you an example, I ink with a dip pen using a crowquill 103 Mapping nib and speedball super black india ink. The panel borders and lettering are done with a copic multiliner sp pen. The artwork is 11″ by 17″ an shrunk down 60% to 6.6″ by 10.2″.
Do not fear the ink.
I’m no artist, but if you find out the names and types of the pens you need before the weekend let me know and I can pick them up here for you before I fly out. I know they have to be much cheaper here! Or any other art supplies too!
I use Micron ink pens as well. I was a little nervous about them, because like you I have shaky hands, but it’s just something you’ve got to put aside. If all else, you can take it into Photoshop and touch up your mistakes. One thing that’s really important for me to remember — don’t smear the ink! I have a bad habit of inking large dark patches and not waiting for them to dry, and then I smear them. One trick I’ve found is to put a post it note over the freshly inked area, so that I can work on other areas without worrying about smearing (too much). Different papers will react to the ink in different ways — some are shinier but smear more easily, some absorb the ink better but then aren’t as vibrant. You just have to play around. I’ve also played with brush and ink on occasion. That can be really fun or really frustrating. For me it’s just a matter of luck and trying not to spill the inkwell over my picture.
When I first started doing cartoons I uses a sable hair brush to do my inking because that’s what the pros used. Sadly, I never developed the knack for using a brush so I switched to pens You can get some nice linework going with a crow quill pen and some India ink. Today, though, I mainly use Microns and Sharpies to do my work.
I used to use Precise v5 Extra Fine, by Pilot. I had very shaky hands too. All the scaling in the world didn’t help.
Thank you all SO MUCH! I really appreciate you taking the time to answer. After reading all the comments (and the answers on a forum I belong to), I think I’ve decided to go for the Microns. It seems to be what most people are using, and I think it’s a good start for me. The quill pens frighten me (they look so… advanced!). and I don’t know how a brush pen would work. I think I’ll start like this. AGAIN, thanks SOOOO much. You guys (and gals!) are the greatest
I think the best thing about “real” drawing and use pen/pencil/paper is the fact that it doesn’t have to be perfect! Little mistakes give the drawing something extra and make it more real! Either way, you’re a great artist and talent!
I use micron pens, pitt pens and copic markers. Or just about anything else I can get my hands on. It’s better to experiment though than to match someone else. Use them all to see what your own hand likes to use. Fun post!
hello irma! i think this colored version of your penciled-drawn girl looks fantastic. the uneven lines make it more natural and “fresh”. i love the look of your colored drawings, i especially love the little girl huddled with all the hands and “haha” pointed at her. your style is very fresh and real-looking. i think you should think seriously about illustrating books for children or teens. ps i am not an artist, i am a psychologist from the philippines. i found your site accidentally when searching for images of “coffee”. thank you and keep going! peachy
Sorry this is totally off topic but I didn’t find an email address: I love your smilies and since today I use them on my blog. Just one question: My blog is red-coloured and I’d love to have this smilies in red. Unfortunately I am not able to re-coloure them by myself. Could you do this for me? That would be great!
Hope it is ok to re-colour them: Just trying it - stop me if I am not allowed to. #9F2300 will be the colour