Pen and Ink

Tyler C. Hendrix · Post by **Tyler C. Hendrix** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 2:18 pm

Well, I find my art fix through the wonderful Pen and Ink. For anybody who doesn't know what this is, it's using a a dipping pen and a bottle of ink. If anybody knows any good techniques, or if there's any way I could help myself improve, please say so. I'll post a few references if somebody asks.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:52 pm

Use your arms, not just your wrist.

The Snoo · Post by **The Snoo** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 4:46 pm

Make sure you clean your nibs after you use them. I find that lots of poeple don't do that.

And regardless of how thirsty you get, don't drink the ink! Drink out of the toilet, if you're thirsty.

Tyler C. Hendrix · Post by **Tyler C. Hendrix** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:14 pm

Thanks. I've heard that arm thing before. What exactly does it accomplish? All I do is use pens for inking and adding details. I start with penciling.

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 8:07 am

Using you arm helps give you more fluidy to your strokes. Too much wrist and finger can make you lines look uncertain. This is even more important if you use a brush.

Tyler C. Hendrix · Post by **Tyler C. Hendrix** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 6:59 pm

I think I understand. Thanks. Also, anybody know if diluting white out with water to make white ink actually does any good?

Bookofbiff · Post by **Bookofbiff** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:09 pm

To add white I've always used white gouache and a brush. It's a nice opaque white. I use it mainly for adding a white outline to something when it blends into the background too much. You can see it in this comic where Biff has a white outline to separate him from teh background texture.

-Chris

TheSuburbanLetdown · Post by **TheSuburbanLetdown** » Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:11 pm

Yeah, go with the gouache. White-out is not archival. Plus you can control the opacity with the gouache by adding water.

ShardZ · Post by **ShardZ** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 11:54 am

bookofbiff wrote:To add white I've always used white gouache and a brush. It's a nice opaque white. I use it mainly for adding a white outline to something when it blends into the background too much. You can see it in this comic where Biff has a white outline to separate him from teh background texture.

-Chris

May I just say... that is so cool!. I just figured that effect was done though very careful linework; wouldn't have guessed it was "white ink."

I can't tell if the technique is actually being used in certain comics with crosshatched darkness or somewhat-less-crosshatched darkness (though there are comics using total darkness for which I could see possible usage). At times there are lines, and light blurring, going through the white outlines. Added after the fact? (I'm too lazy/shy to ask the artist. Plus, he's really busy right now.)

Sometimes it seems that audiences value color and cg over linework... I'm sure I'm just looking in the wrong places, though.

EDIT: Added a couple of examples from my favorite webcomic (as if anyone cares at this point). If you do click, it's best to ignore the dialogue and odd-looking characters, and just focus on the technique...

Bookofbiff · Post by **Bookofbiff** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:20 pm

Years ago when my my cartoons were distributed via photocopied mini comics I had to use gouache to fix mistakes. Now I use photoshop if anything needs to be fixed but the gouache is still great for white line effects.

-Chris

[AlmightyPyro] · Post by **[AlmightyPyro]** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 8:04 am

The Arm technique is really hard. I have trouble controlling the line that way.

Caduceus · Post by **Caduceus** » Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:21 pm

Relax the arm. Thinking about "controlling" it will shake up your lines.

You must let the arm flow across the page.

That being said, "The Art of Comic Book Inking" by Gary Martin is excellent. It is out of print but well worth digging up. He discusses dip pen, brush and a variety of other inking techniques.

Tyler C. Hendrix · Post by **Tyler C. Hendrix** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:16 am

Sorry for being stupid, but what exactly IS gouache, and where might I find it? Also, if anybody wants to list any other good supplies and tools to keep around for pen and ink, feel free. I've enjoyed the help so far.

Bookofbiff · Post by **Bookofbiff** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:24 am

Tyler C. Hendrix wrote:Sorry for being stupid, but what exactly IS gouache, and where might I find it? Also, if anybody wants to list any other good supplies and tools to keep around for pen and ink, feel free. I've enjoyed the help so far.

It's a thick opaque watercolor paint. Thin it with a little water to get it to the consistency you like. Clean up is easy as well... just rinse your brush with water.

http://www.dickblick.com/categories/gouache/

Dburkhead · Post by **Dburkhead** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:47 am

Caduceus wrote:Relax the arm. Thinking about "controlling" it will shake up your lines.

You must let the arm flow across the page.

That being said, "The Art of Comic Book Inking" by Gary Martin is excellent. It is out of print but well worth digging up. He discusses dip pen, brush and a variety of other inking techniques.

Per Amazon.com There is a second edition that "usually ships in 24 hours."

Garneta · Post by **Garneta** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:06 pm

Heh...this thread is really convenient, since I just bought a dip pen and some ink the other day!

Tyler C. Hendrix · Post by **Tyler C. Hendrix** » Sat Apr 22, 2006 7:38 pm

Awesome. Two people asking questions is better than one. Now you know!

AND KNOWING IS HALF THE BATTLE! GOOOOO JOE!