Inking the New Hotness: Part 2

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More talk about inking! Yes!

So, as I mentioned last time, for inking I use a size 6 Silver Ultra Mini brush and a pot of Bombay India Ink. Because I discovered I'd randomly bought them one day. One of the new challenges I've encountered with using a real brush is the ink usage. How much to put on your brush? When to blot? When to wash your brushes?

 

 

When I started using this brush, I quickly realized I'd need a blotter and a way to test out the line I was brushing before I got to the page. For me, using paper towels and a sheet of scrap paper was the easiest. Not the prettiest setup, but whatchagonnado.

 

 

Oh and I keep a roll of tape around my ink bottle for security, since this guy is always waiting for his opening.

 

 

Every time I dip my brush in the ink, I need to make sure the excess doesn't clumsily ruin all the nice lines I plan on doing. This works for the most part - I'm still working through when I'm allowed to make certain brushstrokes during the space between dipping my brush again. Swoopy lines tend to happen for me right after I dip and blot, but thin, controlled lines have to wait until after a lot of the ink has left the brush.

 

 

Purposefully scratchy lines are something I'm still working on - for me I haven't quite found the right balance of ink and control to get them just right. I love the inbetween, gray texture of them though.

 

 

Mostly I tend to probably OVER dip, or put too much ink on my brush. That's pretty much how I solve every inking problem - it's like a reset button for me. Line getting too weak? RESET, GIMME MORE INK. Brush seeming to diverge into uncontrollable side lines? RESET.

This here is one of my biggest pet peeves:

 

 

The dreaded brush off-shoot. You know, where suddenly one or two hairs on your brush decide they're NOT all in it together and decide to go their separate ways. Then, just when you think you're inking one solid, has-it-together line - BAM - a tiny twin line appears, just to mock you.

I used to think this meant I needed a new brush, or needed to wash it out more frequently. I'm still not exactly sure what the cause is, but naturally my solution is RESET. MORE INK STAT.

Then I feel more comfortable ignoring the problem, because it's slathered down with more ink, less likely to cause trouble if I keep weighing it down.

 

 

This can get a little messy. And because of my tendency to over-ink, I've taken to washing my brush out after each page  just to start fresh once again. Or if my line starts getting really out of hand and acting out on me, I'll wash my brush to see if it helps.

 

 

Now, since I am a novice at inking technique, and a super novice at using a brush, I'd love to hear how YOU guys are going about it. Are you washing your brushes all the time? Replacing them all the time? Using different sizes, or one size like me? I'm especially curious to hear whether or not you plop your brushes in soapy water during your inking - I've been wondering if that would solve my split personality brush hair problem.

All these inking samples are taken from my webcomic Gods & Undergrads, and the book I'm currently working on for Oni. :)

Other posts about inking: Inking the New Hotness Part 3 Inking the New Hotness Part 1

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Inking the New Hotness: Part 1

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I've been doing a LOT of inking lately and I think I'm in love with it. A couple of months ago, I  switched over from only using my beloved Pentel Brush Pen to using a tiny brush and a pot of India Ink.

Inking used to be one part of the Comics Process Trinity that I liked okay (because at least the pencilling was over with), but I was always disappointed with the lack of control I felt. Lines that looked so cool in pencil were suddenly ruined by the shaky, fat line that completely surprised me when I drew it on the page.

The smaller brush seems to have made a huge difference in giving me more control in line weight and distribution of ink. It took some adjustment at first to get used to holding a thinner drawing instrument (welcome back, carpal tunnel!), but now I wouldn't have it any other way. I even tried to get slightly larger brushes of the same style - #8 and #10 - but #6 remains my jam.

I'm a total inking novice, so I wanted to do a couple posts on my newfound love of it and how I'm (hopefully) learning to improve upon my process. New exciting tools that make me excited to do it - CHECK!

Inspiration is also a huge kick in the pants of making we want to improve, too. Here are a few of the folks whose inking stylings I'm super crushing on:

Other posts about inking: Inking the New Hotness Part 3 Inking the New Hotness Part 2

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Horror Heroine Prints - Set of Four

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Yes yes it's almost Halloween! I've printed out my Horror Movie Heroine Series on little 5 x 7 cards, and you can buy the whole set in my Etsy Shop! (and psst - get 15% off through the end of October!)

And check out this post, and this one on my process drawing them.

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Small Boob Awards: Katina Choovanski

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Like a lot of the ladies I give out the Small Boobs Award to, this one also doubles as a Kick-Ass Woman. Katina Marie Choovanski, aka Katchoo, is one of the main characters of Terry Moore's Strangers in Paradise - an epic, amazing series about ladies in love, assassins, intrigue, and best friends.

I first fell in love with Katchoo because she was petite, gorgeous, had HUGE bags under her eyes, chain smoked, and was always pissed off. It was the first time I'd seen a female character in a comic book allowed to be real - in all her good, bad, and awkward moments. Strangers In Paradise (and Terry Moore) is given a lot of credit for its depiction of real bodies, mainly because of the tall, realistically busty Francine. But since I am on the flat-chested side, I tended to relate more to Katchoo.

Plus you don't get too far along in the series before you find out she can hold her own in a fight, and used to work alongside a slew of assassins. That's pretty much everything I want in a story - realistic, relatable characters and secret organizations full of female assassins. With some scenes of junk food eating and TV watching thrown in, to boot.

Here's a blurry picture of a sketch I did of Katchoo back in 2009, when I finally got to meet Terry Moore in person:

There are very few characters who've influenced my comicking as much as Katchoo. I'm so lucky I got introduced to her when I did.

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NYCC in the Can!

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Ahhhhhh I had SUCH a lovely slash exhausting slash wonderful slash tiring slash awesome time at New York Comic Con this weekend! So much so that my dreams last night were full of zombies even though I haven't watched The Walking Dead since season 1. How's that for marketing seeping into your subconscious? So while I'm still recovering over here in sad little Baltimore (seriously, NY is too much - randomly happening upon amazing places to eat and drink every night AND walking by Peter Dinklage on the street? HOW DO YOU PEOPLE LIIIIIIVE), I'll share with you a few of the recap pics and sketches I did over the weekend. Also, I met/hung out with some amazing peeps including Maxine Garbarini (his stuff is GORGEOUS), Matt Loter (designing super fun, feminist games), and Gary Erskine, who's embarking on a MAJOR rollergirl comic series featuring real U.K. skaters. Awesome!

OH YEAH. And Buzzfeed included me in their awesome round-up of 20 Pieces of Advice From Female Artists to Female Artists. Eeeeee!!

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New York Comic Con Plans!

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I'll be sharing a table with amazing comicker/longtime pal Tim Fish at New York Comic Con this weekend, table I-7, yayyy! It'll be my first time exhibiting in Artist Alley, so I'm running around all squirrelly right now, trying to figure out what all to bring (that I can also physically carry). Rest assured I'll at least have some books, prints, and will be doing sketches either in your sketchbook or on my li'l 5x7 bristol boards. Whether I'll be able to finagle my way on the train with my display banner remains to be seen, so please do come to row I since there's a possibility my table won't be that noticeable. I'll try to wear something bright and/or put more lipstick on my face just in case.

You can find me at I-7 from Thursday - Sunday, and at the Oni booth on Saturday from 3 - 4:00. I have a limited supply of Glitter Kiss's left (because apparently I hate planning in advance), BUT if you come visit me at the Oni table then, they should have plenty.

Here are some of the non-comics goodies I'll be bringing!

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Furies Having Fun

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A couple of years back I created this drawing of the Three Furies having fun, hanging out Sex & the City style for the back of my 2nd Gods & Undergrads book:

Because really, why do they always have to be so angry and upset? Maybe they like to kick back a few cocktails every now and then too!

So, since I've been itching to do some new prints lately I figured I'd continue with some vignettes of the Furies, out and about in their every day life. I've got two so far, but already have ideas for more in the series. If you like 'em, I've got them for sale in my Etsy and Society 6 shops!

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Eesh, Here We Go

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So . . . I might be doing some posting about weddings here. Sorry guys, my bad!

My boyfriend and I recently got engaged (and by "got engaged" I mean "had a conversation and decided to get married"), the details of which leading up to our decision you can read in my new webcomic 4 States 2 Months, starting this Wednesday!

I have mixed feelings about weddings and marriage, so this whole process is going to be interesting. I debated over whether or not even mentioning it here, because who cares? My blog is about the art stuff I do, not the life stuff I weird out about! Okay maybe I do talk about small boobs and food issues here too. . . But now I'm thinking this just might be the tool for keeping my sanity over the next year - using this forum to vent and ask you all questions and keep reminding myself that IT'S ALL JUST A FRIGGIN PARTY NO ONE CARES. Or how Jezebel put it best - your wedding is a press conference for your relationship. And we should all just get over ourselves.

So if you're into how an awkward, artsy, kind of nerdy gal with a giant family will handle planning a big event, tune in here! I'm sure it'll be a fun learning experience. And embarrassing to boot!

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4 States 2 Months

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Whew!

2 weekends of 2 back-to-back local comic conventions are over! They were SUCH a blast. Attending SPX this past weekend was a total whirlwind of emotions. SPX was the first show I ever attended (in 2001) and exhibited at (in 2002, back when I was just giving out free stickers and telling people to look at my website - webcomic marketing at its finest!). Since SPX was a regular trek for me every year and held conveniently close to my home, it's always held a squishy, warm place in my heart. Many of the connections and friends I've made over the years have been due to those close quarters in the old hotel conference rooms, the hotel bar, the hunt for restaurants that would take 20 people, the chocolate fountain.

However, the last couple of years I've missed out on tabling for various reasons, so I was starting to feel disconnected from this show that had really kicked off my involvement in comics. So THIS year, with table-aggedon (i.e. the enthusiasm with which all of us exhibitors broke the SPX online registration system) I was convinced I would yet again be relegated to showing up an hour before the end of the show and trying to worm my way into some friends' dinner plans. Luckily the wizards at SPX Headquarters managed to get me a table, and I had the joy of participating in a MUCH bigger, happier, and more packed SPX than I've seen . . . well, ever. I've read a bunch of other recap posts about how the enthusiasm and the attendees were the biggest attractions of the show and I agree - you guys all made me love and appreciate and get excited about comics all over again! I mean, I'm already obsessed with comics and stuff, but injections of inspiration are never ignored!

So anyway. Just a brief love letter to SPX 2013 and now I'm on to other THINGS! For one, you may have noticed that since Book 3 wrapped up, Gods & Undergrads hasn't been having many (any) updates. It'll be on a hiatus for a little bit, so's I can make actual progress on this Oni book and catch up on other things. But since I AM obsessed with comics, while I was on several road trips this summer I thought it might be fun to take down some notes and compile a little travel journal comic about my experiences (Lucy Knisley-style). So while Gods & Undergrads is taking a snoozer, I present to you 4 States, 2 Months, a webcomic updated Wednesdays starting October 2nd! Weee! Happy Fall, everyone. :)

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