What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)? If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day? If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

I don’t have a huge collection and I’m not hugely experimental with my technique. For pencilling I always use BicMatic disposable propelling pencils. For inking I always use Uniball Eye Micro rollerballs and Pentel Micro Correct whiteout. I use a Wacom for computer work. In my sketchbooks I also use Pilot G-tec C-4 rollerballs. Lying around my desk I have lots of Sharpies and Tombow brushpens for doodling

The Uniball is my favourite tool. I like the flat, unvarying line it gives, and the ink is lovely and black too. In a way I want the line (and, in a way all elements of technique) in my work to be quite unexpressive, just being there, not really being noticed.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

I might add a bit of marker colour to doodles with a pen but generally all my colour is done in Photoshop.

Is there any particular type of notebook or drawing pad you prefer? Or does any scrap of decent-sized paper work in a pinch?

I use a Maruman F2 art spiral sketchbooks, they’re Japanese and are a good size for my work (19 x 25cm landscape) and have a good, slightly toothy paper.

My finished artwork is done on Daler-Rowney 96gsm drawing paper.

And I doodle on copier paper and post its.

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

Yes. I do all my colour and cleaning up of artwork with Photoshop. I also usually do a pencil drawing, scan it in, fiddle with the scale and composition and then print it out and trace off that on my lightbox, to make another pencil or the finished ink. I’m really into composition and I find the computer really helps me work on this. I’m a bit colour-blind so I’ve always had some difficulties with this, but the computer lets me endlessly change things till they’re right, plus I can check the CMYK values and be sure I haven’t made something pink instead of green for example.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

I tried using blue pencils after seeing some Chris Ware originals in an exhibition, but they didn’t work for me at all.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

Not really. I have a nice big lightbox which i use a lot.

If you work both digitally and non-digitally, which do you find yourself doing more? Is there a reason you would prefer one of the other? Is it because of the tools available in either space?

I don’t really enjoy being sat at my computer but it is so useful for editing and repositioning and colouring. I use it for everything I do to some extent. But I much prefer to start with doodles in a sketchbook or drawings on a paper, I don’t seem to be able to come up with ideas in front of the computer.

I asked about post-processing on a computer, but do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

It’s certainly a distraction, I spend way too much time looking at stuff on the internet. But as I said before it has some amazing functions. I think sometimes that the computer can rush me into making finished art before the idea is completely ready. I try to stay away from it when I’m trying to think. I try and leave the studio and just take my sketchbook when I can.

Thanks Tom!

You can find Tom Gauld online at his portfolio website cabanonpress.com, on Flickr (tomgauld), and some of his books can be purchased at Buenaventura Press.

What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)?

When I’m in the studio, I typically draw with 2B pencils, but any old pencil will do for doodling. I sometimes draw with a non-photo blue pencil when I’m really trying to work something out in a study. If I’m inking on paper, I prefer nibs to brushes, though I’m trying to transition to brushes by working with brush pens. I find the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen particularly fun to use. But lately I really only ink my comics on paper—most of the inking I do is done in Flash MX with an Intuos drawing tablet. People familiar with my work already know I’m a large proponent of using Flash as an inking and drawing tool. I grew accustomed to it through animation; it really creates a fantastic brush-like line once you get the hang of it. I’ve actually written a few tutorials on my blog, Drip!.

If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day?

When it comes to comics, I always prefer working on paper with a dip pen. I really enjoy working with ink, and it’s much easier to lay out a comic on bristol board than it is on a computer screen. Plus I like to work big, normally at 14x17—a screen can feel so tiny. I ink with an assortment of vintage nibs, the Subway Stub being my favorite. But when I’m working on an illustration or just doodling around, my instinct is to hop on the computer and draw in Flash. It’s the quickest way for me to draw something that looks sharp and professional—so, speed and ease-of-use are deciding factors. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere, but in my opinion Flash MX (note, not MX2004) is the best version of the app for drawing and inking. They (being Macromedia/Adobe) screwed something up along the way.

If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

I haven’t tried too many inks, but Higgins Black India Ink seems to do the trick.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

I haven’t used gouache or acrylics in awhile. I do most of my coloring in Flash or Photoshop. On a tip from friend and fellow cartoonist Sherm Cohen, I’ve been playing around with a fabulous digital painting app called ArtRage. It’s basically an easy-to-use stripped down version of Painter, offering up only a dozen tools. I couldn’t recommend it more, and its cheap. So, ArtRage for texture and Flash/Photoshop for laying in flat colors.

Is there any particular type of notebook or drawing pad you prefer? Or does any scrap of decent-sized paper work in a pinch?

Any kind will do—I keep a few sketchbooks at a time. One for jotting down ideas and working rough in pencil, and one that I do cleaner inked studies and doodles in. I’ve tried Moleskines, but they are a bit small and I normally feel inclined to dirty them up. I just got a new sketchbook that I’m breaking in. I keep a stack of 11x17 copier paper nearby for drawing because its fun to sketch big and loose.

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

When I begin on paper, my drawings always end up in Photoshop for coloring. I spend time tiling and cleaning up my scans, and I correct the few marks that need editing in my inks. I don’t use white-out as much for corrections anymore, as it can be done just as easily in post on the computer.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

Yes, I’ve picked up tips from an assortment of blogs and on Twitter—a recent tool being the Pentel Pocket Brush Pen. I just inked a comic with it. I’m looking to get my hands on a G nib, and Meg Hunt recently reviewed a Akashiya bamboo barrel brush pen. I love trying new tools, especially when it comes to working with ink. I was recently disappointed by my first chance to try a Cintiq. I like my Intuous, but something about the Cintiq really irks me. Maybe it’s because they are so expensive, but I found it really distracting to have my hand in the way as I drew on the computer screen. Not to mention the gap because of the glass. There is something profoundly predictable and intuitive about working on paper that the Cintiq attempts to mimic (and fails at, in my opinion). We’ll see—I’ll might come around eventually.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

Not really. Though, I stumbled upon a box containing my father-in-law’s writing pen from grade school (a dip pen). Drawing with it was what first turned me on to inking with pen nibs, and I seek out vintage nibs because of it.

If you create purely-digital art, what are the software programs you use? Is one used more than another?

Again, Flash MX, Photoshop, and ArtRage. But Flash is open most of the time.

If you work both digitally and non-digitally, which do you find yourself doing more? Is there a reason you would prefer one of the other? Is it because of the tools available in either space?

I work digitally when I want to get something done quickly and if I know I’ll be making edits along the way—traditionally when the piece requires a certain amount of care. Comics, in particular demand a traditional touch, and I like to have the original piece to hold in my hands when I’m done. I’ve worked digitally for so long that I find myself wanting to do more on paper.

I asked about post-processing on a computer, but do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

I find it extremely useful—I’d be kidding myself if I didn’t say so. But in addition to the tools I use (like Flash), the online community of artists is an endless source of inspiration and the Internet provides a wonderful way to connect with like minds. You need to know when and how to tune it out, but it’s here for good…and I think for the better.

Thanks Bob!

You can find Bob Flynn online at his portfolio website www.jinxthemonkey.com, his weblog Drip!, Twitter (@bobjinx), Flickr (bobjinx), and contributing to the group weblog, Creative Juices.

What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)?

I only use a nib pen and watercolors to create my illustrations. My nib is a Waverly nib from Edinburgh. The back of the tin has a phrase that I’ve never understood. ‘They come as a Boon and a Blessing to men, The Pickwick, the Owl, and the Waverly Pen.” Maybe your readers will know. It’s the only nib I use, and found them in an art store in college 20 years ago. I’ve never seen them since, but the tin has over 100, so I’m set. I use whatever paper is available for sketching and figuring out layout for a book. Newsprint, copier, and trace usually.

If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day?

Just the pencil and nib pen for inking.

If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

I usually waver between Higgins Black Ink and FW Ink.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

I use Winsor & Newton Watercolors, usually out of the tube. I have many colors but usually use only a few.

If you do use paints, inks, pencils, or markers for coloring, are there any in particular that are your favorites? Do you prefer travel sets of paints to a full set?

The watercolors I use most are: New Gamboge, Rose Dore, Cadmium Scarlet, Burnt Sienna, Light Red, Manganese Blue, Cobalt Turquoise, and Payne’s Grey. These are tubes that are squeezed into a John Pike Palette that I bought in college.

Is there any particular type of notebook or drawing pad you prefer? Or does any scrap of decent-sized paper work in a pinch?

Any scrap of paper works for rough sketches. I use ink so some paper bleeds, but I’m usually more interested in capturing a pose or scene than how perfect it is on paper.

If you paint, is there any particular type of canvas you prefer? Do you like to paint on wood or any other materials?

Watercolor paper is used for my final art. It is usually hot press, although I have been enjoying using bristol board with watercolor. Winsor & Newton is my usual paper.

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

No.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

Sorry, but I am hopeless. I have been using watercolor since I was about 10, and dip pens since college (20 years ago) and don’t really like to change.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

Nothing I can think of. I have, as I said before, never come across the Waverly Nib since college, and I have been in lots of art stores. So that may be out of the ordinary, I don’t know.

If you create purely-digital art, what are the software programs you use? Is one used more than another?

No digital art. I use my Mac for scanning art and putting together picture book proposals.

Do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

I see the computer for making art as a tool, like a pencil, or pastels. Some use it, some don’t. I know almost all the artists I know have a computer, even if it’s for building their site, or scanning art. But there are a few who still do paste-up and it works fine for them.

Thanks Frank!

You can find Frank Dormer online at his website/portfolio frankwdormer.com, and his weblog. You can find more information about the books Frank illustrated on his site, and on Amazon.com.

What are some of your favorite drawing tools (pens, pencils, markers, drawing tablet, all of the above)?

When I am sketching, I usually like to use Col-erase blue pencils on zerox paper or 6B pencils. I like to ink with this strange little Japanese pen that I cannot read the writing on, but it is blue on the outside with a small spongeish tip. I like to paint with watercolors using a large flat brush and a cat’s tongue brush for the lines and details (which are hard to find, it seems). I also use Photoshop with my Cintiq for piecing things together and trying out value roughs. I also paint full concepts on it for my video game concept work.

If you have a wide collection, how do you decide on which to use on a particular drawing, project, or day?

Well, it is usually all the same. Comics are with the pencils and brush pens, while the watercolors are for the paintings. Almost always. I sometimes watercolor my comics when I have time. When I am sketching, I usually have to feel out what makes me most relaxed to help me think of ideas. I am superstitious like that somehow.

If you prefer pens, is there any particular brand, color, or type of ink you like best?

I really have no idea what kind of pen this is that I am using, but I have been using it for many years. I can’t refill the ink cartridges so I have to keep buying new ones. Expensive and wasteful. I am sorry, the earth.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers?

I like watercolors the most because of the texture and airyness. I also have a hard time with committing to things, so I can work light and keep bringing up the value contrast with layers. I can also wipe stuff out if I want. Watercolors are really forgiving. But the texture is what I really dig about them.

If you do use paints, inks, pencils, or markers for coloring, are there any in particular that are your favorites? Do you prefer travel sets of paints to a full set?

I use Winsor & Newton out of tubes. I look for colors that feel good in a spectrum. The basics.

Is there any particular type of notebook or drawing pad you prefer? Or does any scrap of decent-sized paper work in a pinch?

Any scrap works good, but I find that copy paper is the most relaxing when I am trying to come up with ideas. I sometimes sketch in little Moleskine books and various spiral bound books and toned paper, but the copy paper is less permanent. I have stacks of doodles on copy paper.

If you paint, is there any particular type of canvas you prefer? Do you like to paint on wood or any other materials?

I like to paint on rough watercolor paper, so I can get lots of texture!

Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

I try not to do this, but when I am concepting, I do quite a lot.

Have you ever tried a new pen (or paper, etc) from reading about it, or seeing the results in another artist’s work?

Definitely. I have seen numerous artists get great muted colors and textures on paper and tried experimenting after seeing such things. Marcel Dzama gets great muted colors with his work. One of his shows that I saw, really inspired me to explore the watercolor chilled out route.

Do you have anything you use out of the ordinary for making your art?

I’ve been using the same little 50’s coffee saucer with the little ring of designs for the past few years. I use it as a palette to mix my paints.

If you create purely-digital art, what are the software programs you use? Is one used more than another?

I use Photoshop primarily. I have accumulated a bunch of amazing brushes that fellow artists have made, that helps the process a whole lot. The Cintiq has changed my life for sure. I may rely on it too much. When I am away from my home studio, I struggle with a mere Wacom tablet.

If you work both digitally and non-digitally, which do you find yourself doing more? Is there a reason you would prefer one of the other? Is it because of the tools available in either space?

I prefer non-digital because I like the roughness and imperfect looks. You can get some great texture in Photoshop, but basic drawing and painting materials still feel and look the best for me.

I asked about post-processing on a computer, but do you think the computer is a helpful tool for making art? Whether it’s looking for inspiration online, or using it to build a weblog to promote yourself and your art, do you think a computer is necessary, helpful, or a distraction (or all of the above)?

I definitely have rules for myself for keeping away from the computer, especially in the mornings. Email and the internet can be very very distracting. But on the other hand it is incredibly helpful to me. Even for my painting process, I use it to piece together all of my doodles and mess with sizes and compositions. I definitely rely on it quite a bit. as far as promoting with weblogs and things, I think it is an amazing tool. I love that part of it. it is very exciting to share your art with people around the world and discover inspiration from others. The quick feedback with comments is very satisfying. It used to be that you slave away on your paintings and comics and wait for the public to see it after it is published, but with the internet, you can get quick fixes of gratification by posting your comics and paintings yourself. I think this has helped my motivation to create tremendously.

Thanks Scott!

Scott C. can be found all over the web! You can start with his weblog at scott-c.blogspot.com, then Flickr (scottlava), and Twitter (@scottlava), his online comic at Doublefine (the first compendium of which will be released by publisher Nerdcore in Spring 2009), and his art is available for purchase at Gallery 1988, Gallery Nucleus, and at a Paper Tiger.