Speaking of outlines, I tried the crowquill nib.

stefstef
edited April 2006 in Comics
And the results are in! The first row is sketches, the second row is inking in my usual manner (with 08, 03, and 01 Micron drafting pens), and the third is inked with a crowquill nib.

Though the line variation with the crowquill nib was really cool, I had trouble making it look neat. This is because the nib just doesn't want to be pushed in some directions, whereas felt-tipped pens don't give a damn. It was also very hard to get thick lines, which makes the drawing look kind-of reedy. I know this kind of pen can be used in a precise manner-- they use them to make science and medical drawings! so I guess I just need practice.

I might see if the crowquill pen works better on smaller drawings.

Comments

  • jasonjason
    edited April 2006
    Thanks for the report, Stef. I've gotta check me out one-a these sooner or later.
    I might see if the crowquill pen works better on smaller drawings.
    I'd be interested to hear...as I'm one of those folks who draws on a smaller scale anyways.

    Hoooooooray, insommmmmmnia!
  • stefstef
    edited April 2006
    Heh. I draw kinda small too, and I think in my case it is a bad habit. Most heads in my comic are 1-1.5" high, and this one was about 2". I prefer drawing larger images, because I feel that I can fix or prevent mistakes instead of just drawing so tinily that the mistakes are less evident. But until I get a larger scanner and more workspace, I have to draw what fits on an 8.5x11 page for the comics.
  • hlavcohlavco
    edited April 2006
    Most of my drawings are about an inch tall, because they have to fit in the margins of your average worksheet. I really need to pay more attention in school...
  • Doom ShroomDoom Shroom
    edited April 2006
    The notebooks I bought for my classes are strangely big, which has led to a lot more doodling and a lot less notetaking. That in itself is bad, but it's even worse when you factor in that I have absolutely no artistic merit whatsoever.

    Edit: I looked crowquills up online to see what they are. They do seem to be really good for fine details. And I really like how your characters look in that penstroke; I can only imagine how awesome they will be with practice.
  • LangLang
    edited April 2006
    It looks good! You seem a bit more experienced with your original inking style, but for a firstish try, it looks great.

    Now, if I can only find out how to get a good virtual inking pen nib in OpenCanvas or Photoshop...
  • jasonjason
    edited April 2006
    Old news to you, Stef, but I'm putting this link in here for posterity (and other brave souls tempted to try crowquill nibs)...
    Jennie Breeden, local Atlantan who draws Devil's Panties, offers a nib pen inking tutorial.

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