Step 1:
I start my comics with an idea from the mind. I trace those ideas onto paper with a #2 pencil so I can make many mistakes and use a white eraser before I like the final appearance of my subject matter. I do not fill in or shade anything, I keep those details in my mind for later with the pen tool!
Step 2:
Using a nice easy to grip pen (I use a ball point at the moment) I begin to slowly and gently trace over my well-defined pencil line’s that I want outlined. This steps takes great care, time, and patience, you can’t erase a pen mistake very easily! During the process also avoid smearing ink with your hands while tracing your comic sketches. Do not fill in or color anything just yet! We want the defined lines, but NOT too much ink just yet.
Once you have traced all lines with the pen, dry the ink, and use the white eraser to remove all the pencil lines from the previous step.
Step 3:
After erasing all remaining pencil markings, you comic will look similar to something like this image above. Notate how clean the images appear now compared to the previous step’s image. If you missed any pencil lines with the pen, this is the best time to go over your entire image in fine details and correct anything missing. Again, when using the pen take your time and start slowly to minimize mistakes with the pen ink.
Step 4:
Once all your ink lines are well established and defined, it is time to move on to the final step: inking and coloring! As always with any pen tool, this process requires patience and careful attention to minimize mistakes! If you are doing simple grayscale coloring/texturing, apply appropriate pressure to the pen. For more rigid, densely defined lines and colors, apply more pressure of the pen into the paper, but be cautious you do not apply too much pressure the ink seeps under the paper and onto other papers or the desktop itself! For lighter, shadowy colors apply less pressure with the pen. Imagine gently and softly drawing/coloring in with the pen with very soft and light pressure.
Always be mindful of hand placement while coloring in and filling in the extra details to avoid smearing ink all over your artistic creation! Once you’re satisfied with the complete look, let the ink all dry for a bit on the paper and share as you wish with whoever you want!
This is my basic technique in the making of Suzy & Belle Comics from brainstorm to final inking! Each image has more details in each of the four steps. I hope to inspire anyone else out there aspiring to try drawing for fun! Learning for free! This is my Ted Talk!
#art #cartoons #freelesson #drawing