The Girl...

Hand drawn, inked using a manuscript mapping nib, and a brush. I'll edit this post tomorrow with a version inked using OpenCanvas...
... and here it is! Changed the hand slightly, and made some other mods. Also made a mistake under the arm, which I'll have to correct. Not sure which one is best though!


The last one is Xara Xtreme. Interestingly, both the digital ones took 45 minutes to ink.

The new "ME"

New version of my avatar, drawn digitally using OpenCanvas!

Sketching again...

Just a few quick sketches I did this lunchtime - I'm slowly improving...:)

Inking, pens and all that jazz...

Been doing a lot of thinking about inking lately. I've tried a multitude of implements to ink my cartoons over the past year, trying to find my favourites, and I've come to some unusual conclusions...

• Use what makes your cartoons look great
• Use what feels right

With this is mind, here is the top 5 inking implements for me...

1. Fountain Pentel. Without a doubt the most used pen in my box. It's not permanent, and I can't use it for cartoons that I colour traditionally, as it's not waterproof, but (and it's a very big but) it gives the most wonderful line. It's flexible point can give thick or thin lines, and it's just so expressive. Also available as the Stylo or Tradio, although the standard Fountain has the most expressive point. My all time favourite!
2. Faber Castell PITT pens. Wonderful pens, filled with permanent indian ink, and available in many colours and point sizes. My favourites are the M & F sizes. The B (Brush) option is one of the best available, although it doesn't hold it's point for long. The only disappointment in the range is the S tip (superfine) - it's too soft, and bends too easily.
3. Pilot DR Pens. Another brand of technical pen that's permanent and lightfast. These may be replaced in my arsenal soon by the Staedlter equivelent, as I find the barrel a bit chunky...
4. Copic Sketch Marker. Great for large black areas, but bleeds through the paper. may be replaced by Sharpies soon...
5. Copic Multiliner BS. Another technical pen, but refillable by cartridge. I've only tried the BS (Brush) option in these, which is similar to the Faber "B", but slightly more robust (saying that, when it goes mushy, it's VERY mushy...)

Soon to be tried - Tombow ABT dual tip pens, Sharpie Dual Tips and Staedler Pigment Liners.

Technical Pens and White Ink...

More of an exercise this one. The main robot is with Marsmatic technical pens, the heads & effects are with a Fountain Pentel. Not sure which ones I prefer at this point...


Very quick drawing, using the Marsmatics again (0.5 & 0.7) as well as a 0.5 with white ink for corrections. Not sure if it's the paper I'm using, but sometimes the Marsmatics give me a bad line...

More brushwork - Bar

Did this quickly at lunch today. This is ALL brush, and I'm quite pleased with it (my drawing still needs to get better - Teeah & Crash's arms are a bit too long and thin). Hopefully, If I get a few spare minutes, I'll colour it...