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

I enjoy both traditional and digital processes and try to practice both. For my professional work though, I often go digitally. I’m more comfortable with, and it’s faster for me. I can come back on any step of my process, and I love the technical possibilities that digital provides. I use a Wacom tablet and Photoshop CS4. I start from zero in Photoshop, so my digital work is 100% digital. But I also love drawing with good old pens and pencils. Recently my favorite pencil is a Conté Pierre Noire, I love it because it makes really deep blacks. My friend Victoria Maderna also gave me a wonderful little pencil: Schwarz Black soft, by Faber Castell. It’s soft and oily, but not greasy. Sometimes I draw with pens as well. For the colors, I’m an addict of watercolors.

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

I do not prefer pen rather than other medium, but sometimes I feel like drawing with them. My favorites are Pilots, I have several of that brand. I try to use different sizes in the same drawing, but depends, sometimes I start doodling with a ball pen and I end up filling a full page. Another one that I find very useful, is this Japanese ink pen, with a brush: Pentel GFKP. The brush is really good, allowing to vary the line density, and easier to carry on than an ink bottle.

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

As I said, my favorites are watercolors. These are awesome and also frustrating to use, but I love it. I have two boxes of Winsor & Newton watercolors, had them for ages, and they still feel kind of magic. Plus you can take them anywhere, they fit in any pocket! It happens that I use color pencils as well, or acrylics, but I’m not that good with paint. I never trieds oils, and I feel quite ashamed about that haha! In the near future I would like to practice more painting though.

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’m quite difficult about paper. For exemple, I don’t like Moleskine paper much, because it’s yellow and you can’t really add water on it. They are good for pens though. I often prefer watercolor paper, or Canson. About sketchbooks, a friend of mine who is an artist too, Jens Claessens, always buy these A4 and A5 books for me, in a little art store of his town. They don’t have any particular brand I guess, they are only huge books with an hard cover, black or blue, with nothing on it, and the paper is perfect for me. That said, depending of the context, I draw on anything, like on a paper napkin, wood, stones, or the walls of my bedroom…

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

I don’t recall this happened, except maybe in school, trying out my schoolmates’s tools. I like being inspired by others but I try not to “copy” other artists process too much. I would be afraid of losing my own personality by trying the tricks of other artists. That said, most of the mediums I use are pretty common. I think it’s how an artist uses a tool that makes it unique, more than the tool itself.

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

I only use Photoshop. I used to mess around a little bit in Illustrator and Painter few years ago, but not seriously. I’m a bit of a noob!

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 for my commission work (for press, graphic novels, illustrations for clients), because it’s easier. I love the freedom that digital process provides me. For quite a long time I didn’t had a scanner, so I learned to draw everything digitally, without traditional sketching. It was more a constraint at the beginning, but in the end it made things easier. I developed my style this way and I can work quite fast now. For my own pleasure I still draw traditionally though, but less than digitally. I sell original artworks on Etsy. I do some when I have time to produce stuff just for fun. No pressure. It seems more difficult for me to work traditionally for a client. I’m not confident enough with it, less practice.

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)?

Definitely all of the above! It would be crazy to say that it’s not helpful. Not especially for creating art, there is tons of full traditional artists that don’t really need a computer as a tool of creation. But for creating a network, contacts in the industry, for job seeking, to have a website, to communicate with clients, to find reference, for inspiration, etc. Computers and the internet are obviously a huge resource.

Like mostly everything else, it also can be a huge distraction and a tool of procrastination. It’s up to people to use it in a clever way. I’m still trying to figure it out!

Thanks Aurélie!

Aurélie Neyret can be found online at her weblog Clo! and on Twitter (@ZeuClo). Prints of her work can be found at INPRNT and some originals are available on Etsy.

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

My all time favorite tools (for now) : Pentel pocket brush, Pilot G-Tec C4 (0.4), Pilot Hi-tec point V5 (0.5), Any technical pencils, Wacom Tablet.

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

Depending on what I’m working on, I’ll choose the most suitable tool to use. When I’m doodling or sketching I like using my ink pens and colored inks. For roughs or defined roughs I usually use a pencil. I used to use pens for my roughs, but recently I’ve been using pencils and have been pretty happy with the results.

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

I absolutely love pens, especially of the black ink variety. The main pens that I use, and have used for years are: Pilot G-Tec C4 (0.4) and the Pilot Hi-tecpoint V5 (0.5). I have tried dozens and dozens of pens, but these seem the most reliable to me. The G-Tec is water resistant so it’s nice to add watercolor on top. The Hi-tecpoint is not, but when added with water makes a nice effect. The G-Tec is also very nice for cross hatching.

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

I love color, in my earlier ink illustrations I used very bright colorful primary colors to balance with my dark line work. Nowadays I’m experimenting with more subtle tones.

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?

For color on my ink works, I use mainly Dr. Ph Martin’s Transparent watercolor. I bought the full set of 36 inks, however I realized later on that I only needed 4-5 colors. The inks have a nice immediacy to them, they are bright and colorful and are really fun to play around with! I also recently bought a set of Staedtler Triplus fineliner color markers for doodling. They work really well, and have a really nice flow.

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

The Fabriano Venezia artbook is my tried and true sketchbook I’ve been using for almost 5 years. I always try to use another one, but I just have been too accustomed to the paper and set up. I find everyone has a different sketchbook that suits their style of sketching and work. There is no right sketchbook to buy but, there is a sketchbook that’s right for the artist.

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

Yes, lately I have been finishing my work with color in Photoshop. I really like the solid clean flatness you get with Photoshop colors. Even with some of my works with ink, I would scan the ink textures and line drawings to fix them within Photoshop for the final illustration.

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

Yes all the time, sometimes the results are good and some bad, but curiosity is a great ally when trying to explore new ways to express yourself. Word of mouth of new pens, inks, paper or techniques on Photoshop is a great way to learn new things.

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

In my pure digital art, I use tend to use just Photoshop.

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?

It is always a fight between digital and non-digital. The convenience of digital sometimes shadows the feeling of doing something traditionally. To me, both are equally as important to master, especially nowadays. For rough drafts and defined roughs, I usually tend to stick more to a traditional approach with pencils and pens. However I prefer to finish with Photoshop because I feel that sometimes there is a nice blend with a traditional approach finished digitally. I’m finding myself using digital a lot more lately due to tight deadlines. However in the end I would prefer traditional over digital. There is a rewarding feeling about finishing traditionally and feels nice to hold onto something after you finish a piece.

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 do believe in the present day that the computer is a very important tool people should embrace and not take for granted. The internet has been a great source for networking with other illustrators, finding a community of artists and finding inspiration through various blogs and websites. I found it enormously important to keep my blog and website up to date, to gain interest from the public and the art community. The blog is also a nice way to show your more of your personality and connect with other people. Websites have allowed work to be seen all around the world, and even allow you to create a shop to sell prints.

However I do believe a computer to be a double edged sword. I think finding inspiration and references online is great and a sure time saver, but I always try to tell myself to remember that there is inspiration out there other than my computer screen. That there are beautiful images around us that Flickr and Google images sometimes don’t have. Of course with really tight deadlines people usually do what they have to do to make sure they get a great image on time…Man life is complicated!

Thanks Juan Carlos!

Juan Carlos Solon can be found online at his portfolio website juansolon.com, on his weblog donkeyjuan.blogspot.com, Facebook, Twitter (@juansolon), and on Society6.

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

I use pencils—I always have in my case (1) a clay eraser and a .5 mechanical pencil from Faber Castell, (2) 3H, HB, 5B and 9B Pencils from Staedtler, (3) a sharpener, and lastly, (4) a shading stump, which I just discovered recently (No more dirty index fingers from smudging). I actually have more shades of pencils but always find myself using just those four in particular.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers? All of the above? Do you ever do any kind of post-processing (like adding color in Photoshop or similar tool) to your drawings?

The embarrassing truth is, I’m not too familiar with traditional colors. I used to just pick up any pen or pencil (I didn’t even know the shades before) then scribble like crazy the first thing that comes to mind. I had no formal art education unless you count the short-lived basic cray-pas coloring that I tried out as a kid, so I wasn’t “introduced” to the different traditional coloring media. I always do my colors digitally with a pen tablet and Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. I would really like to learn watercolor and acrylics (and I will, sooner or later). I’ve used colored pencils, that I was pretty good at, but I haven’t touched one for ages.

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

Yes, definitely. I try to find tips and inspirations everywhere, especially art exhibits/museums and the internet. Every now and then, I try and search for a new artist’s weblogs/sketchdump. I also frequent DeviantArt, CGSociety, and PencilJack.

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

Yes, I basically use anything to make illustrations and other stuff. You can ask my mom, who was a little unsupportive after seeing some of my “art pieces” when I was experimenting as a kid (e.g. drawings on the floor using her flower pots, “sculptures” I would make with my food instead of eating them, etc.). I know curiosity killed the cat, but I always feel a little victorious after discovering new ways to make art or conquering a specific medium, so I just keep on experimenting.

When creating your digital art, what are the software programs you use? Is one used more than another?

I use Photoshop, Illustrator and 3D applications such as Maya, Blender, and Google Sketchup. I use mostly Photoshop—I would die without it. For a time I even stopped using pencils and did my sketches directly in the PC with a pen tablet. The 3D applications are there for support when dealing with difficult perspectives and shadows. I also make some 3D-rendered pieces from time to 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?

To be honest, I prefer to be working digitally—less dirtier and much much easier. Although recently, I have been trying to get back to using traditional pencils. Working digitally has lots of advantages, but it spoils you….a lot (think layers, undo, etc). At some point, if you’re not careful, it even pulls you down. I believe you should master traditional tools and techniques first. The computer should only aid—you shouldn’t be dependent on it.

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 would say all of the above. Ever since I found out about the internet, I was glued to it, addicted to the endless information it provided. Now that I’ve picked up the pen (and the Wacom tablet) again, I find myself constantly looking for information and inspiration on how to become a genuine, solid artist. I used to be shy and kept my artworks to myself, but I have seen people grow unbelievably fast by participating in art communities and hearing out other artists’ comments. These I think are the true benefits of the web—the accessibility and the interactivity. For a long time, I was stagnant because I had closed doors, but I’m slowly throwing my artworks to the lions (pride, shame, and other feelings aside) to grow as an artist. While the web is not a substitute, a lot of people like me who did not have formal art education can learn a lot from artists all over the world. Distraction? Yes, I love computer games and they make it so hard to focus, so I got a laptop solely for working and use my desktop for games.

Thanks Paolo!

You can find Paolo Lazatin online at The Six Thirty, a shared art weblog with Alex Lapa, and at paolaz.deviantart.com.

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

I have to admit, being a girl first and nerd second, I spend all of my money on art supplies, video games and shoes. I love my Wacom tablet… one day it will be a Cintiq. Dr. P.H. Martin Concentrated Watercolors are great and last a lifetime. Any old mechanical pencil will do, Prismacolor Pencils (always True Blue and Crimson Red). Any and all paper, the stranger the size and texture, the better. Gray Tombow markers, Copic Markers, Winsor & Newton sable brushes (the Rolls Royce of brushes), acrylic gesso, extra fine sand paper, and Guitar Hero for when I can’t think of anything to do with all those art supplies.

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

I honestly can’t! I go crazy when I walk into an art store, buying everything I see, and then I put it all away in my closet never to be seen again! HAhaha! I usually open it up whenever I feel inspired, get overwhelmed, close the door and walk away. My little sketchbook from my bag and my laptop are usually where all my ideas end up.

If there is a project that can’t be done digitally, like painting a vinyl or a canvas, I usually pull out my P.H. Martin watercolors and some acrylic paint. The two blend well and are incredibly vibrant!

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

I like warm gray Tombow markers, gel pens and Pigma Microns. Also, dried up Sharpie markers are fun to play with, especially when you take out the felt from the inside and ball it up to use as an underpainting.

My friend, Stephane Kardos taught me that. Merci!

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

I usually color everything digitally because it’s 100% forgiving. Plus you can quickly reference textures and photo elements with ease and apply those bad boys to your painting directly.

I think using Photoshop automatically makes you a p*ssy. HAHah! You don’t chose to be, you just become one unwillingly!

I like to think that Photoshop is like a kind, nurturing mother who feeds you three well balanced, delicious meals a day… reads you a bed time story and then tucks you in at night until you realize that you’re thirty years old, have a flabby backside and you haven’t seen the sun in 6 years! So then one day you leave home, finding that the world is a terrifying place and you’re a hot mess!

Traditional media is the reality that’s harsh and unforgiving and it’s tough going to that from something so predictable and forgiving.

Not for me man, I’m sticking with Photoshop…. and maybe acrylics and watercolors if I’m feeling craaazy!

I really admire artists like Travis Louie, who can achieve what us digital artists can with just their hands and a canvas.

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 love cheapy mini watercolor sets. The color’s usually aren’t too saturated which is great for subtle sketching and quick tonal gestures under any ink or pencil drawings. It’s really fun and not too permanent.

Sakura Koi watercolor sketch boxes are my personal favorite. It’s refillable so you can swap out the little color cakes for any color you choose, which is great because pre-determined watercolor sets usually have a lot of “blah” colors.

And did I mention it comes with a refillable water brush! Sha! Awesome!!

Also Escoda travel brushes are great for field paintings and are gorgeous.

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 like sketchbooks.

As artists, I think we’re a little disorganized by nature, so we have to be extra attentive to our collective selves to keep us from tripping over stacks of papers and spending hours looking for something in a cluttered office. I don’t mind the size or the type, as long as it’s recognizable and in some way bound together.

On that note, I love Kunst & Papier sketchbooks. They have a great variety of sizes and won’t fall apart if they get wet or when you’ve schlepped them around with you for a while!

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

I love series paintings so if I can find a canvas or material that’s an interesting shape with a couple different variations to match, then that’s what I’ll get!

Like any artist who wanders the aisles, wood piles, junkyards, etc. You look for that canvas that inspires you.

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

Always! Photoshop is the artist’s crutch but I love it.

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

Of course! I often look at Cartoonbrew, Conceptart.org, CGsociety.org, and blogs like animationbackgrounds.blogspot.com, and characterdesign.blogspot.com for inspiration.

Blogs are great for getting the artist’s perspective on the project rather than just looking at a finished piece with a limited description.

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

Well sometimes I use a chain saw and human blood but that’s only on special occasions. ….That was a bad joke, I’m totally kidding!! BAAH!

Well, honestly, I sometimes use my hands, cotton, beaver whiskers, sharpened sticks, whatever is lying around that you think might make for a nice effect. Being an artist is being an inventor and an engineer…. and in some cases a MacGyver too.

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

Well I wouldn’t say “purely” but I use a lot of different software. It all depends on the project. As an artist, it’s good to learn as many different tools as you can so you have a bigger tool box, so to speak, when a particular projects presents itself.

For me, I rely predominantly on Illustrator, ArtRage, Sketchbook Pro, Maya, Zbrush and AfterEffects.

These days, I’ve been doing a lot of digital painting so Photoshop and ArtRage are my apps of choice! ArtRage is the MOST fun and only something like $25! Also, Alias’ Sketchbook Pro is great for sketching and cartooning. They have a free trial on their site too so go check it out!

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 usually always start a project with a sketch in my sketchbook or on marker paper. Siiigh… nothing is more exciting than getting a new book of marker paper and tearing out the first page for scannage! Am I right!?? Ooh life’s simple pleasures….

Sooo, I usually start a project using just a regular mechanical pencil and some paper. Then I’ll scan it in or take a digital photo and paint on top of it in Photoshop. I’d say I rely 70% traditional, 30% digital.

I prefer sketching out my ideas before I scan them into the computer because it keeps me focused on the idea rather than the techniques and the color. Too many options can become distracting and before you know it, you have a beautifully rendered, boring idea. Kind of ironic how eliminating your options can make you more creative.

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 can be all of the above! I can’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent researching something for unspeakable amounts of time when I should have started the project long before. But that’s what’s so incredible! The internet is an endless recourse. I’m going to sound like a huge dork right now, but technology has brought so many ideas to life, so many questions to resolution and so many seemingly unattainable dreams to reality. I’ve met people via Facebook and LinkedIn that are freaking giants in the art world and they’ve taught me so much! Social networks and blogs have bridged generational, occupational and experiential gaps like nothing has ever done before! And online tutorials are teaching people things that us chumps paid, oooh, only about 100K for! Hahah (this is where I break into Kip’s “Technology” song from Napoleon Dynamite). Anyway, I like learning new tools and with the internet and software today, the skies the limit!

Some good sites for meeting other artists are: LinkedIn, Facebook, CGSociety, ZbrushCentral, Etsy, Artist’s Blogs, Artist’s Websites, and Google.

If you play your cards right and try not to freak anyone out (which I’ve done myself too many times to count hahaha) you can directly email your idols using these sites! Just tell them that you’re an artist looking for some feedback, blah blah blah, whatever! More often than not, you won’t hear back, but sometimes you will and that’s what makes it all worth while! One day when we’re all rich and famous artists, someone will randomly write us for guidance and we’ll be happy to help!

Thanks Whitney!

You can find Whitney Pollett online at her portfolio website whitneypollett.com, and on her weblog whitneypollett.blogspot.com.

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

I like mechanical pencils because I tend to draw in a very quick scruffy style and would have to sharpen a normal pencil about every couple of seconds. Even illustrations that end up rather minimal and tight start out as a mess of lines and corrections. For that reason, I also find a putty rubber indispensable, because it can get into all the little nooks and crannies of my drawing. I get into a panic if I don’t know where my putty rubber is. It’s a bit like Dumbo’s feather.

I use a lightbox a lot, because I like to keep my pencil artwork separate and the lightbox enables me to experiment with different approaches to the same illustration.

I use a Wacom when I’m on the computer, although it’s just a little A6 tiddler, so I find it’s only useful for rough sketches and quite broad actions, like using the burn tool in Photoshop.

My favourite pen would be my Pentel brush pen.

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


It generally depends on the subject matter. How a given medium supports what you’re trying to communicate is something that really interests me. For example, I recently drew a character for a story set in the 80s so I’ve used half tones to give the illustration a kind of 80s newsprint feel. If I want to do a creepy, Victorian style illustration I’ll use dense linework and treat paper in Photoshop to make it look older. Upbeat kids stuff might be looser more expressive pencils with bright, fresh watercolours.

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


I’m forever hassling people to take up Pentel brush pens. They’re really convenient and versatile, you can use them in an expressive loose kind of way, or reign them in for nice tight graphic work. That said, I’ve recently started playing around with a mapping pen and have been really pleased with the results. 



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



Mainly watercolours and Photoshop. If I’m using watercolour I tend to make a set of swatches, scan them in and then compose the colours in Photoshop. I also colour things directly in Photoshop, and use bits of texture – old paper, metal etc. to give things a bit more depth. Photoshop is great with watercolours and pencils.

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 like using felt tip pens, I think because of their associations with being a kid. If I think of colouring in, I think of felt tip pens. I also like drawing with biros, for a similar reason – it reminds me doodling in exercise books in school.

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 do most of my work in A4 sketchbooks with heavy paper with a bit of a grain to it. I need heavy paper because I make such a mess, it needs to be paper that can take a bit of a battering. I like the grain because of the way it picks up the pencil and the smudges…it gives more information to Photoshop that I can play with later, burning bits in or cloning nice bits of texture etc.



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


Pretty much everything goes through Photoshop. I use curves a lot, and the burn and dodge tool. I play with the colour values and I like to use multiply layers, e.g having a bit of old paper as a multiply layer, or having my inks on a multiply layer and colouring beneath. Even the scruffiest sketch gets curved up and has some bits burned in and other bits knocked back.

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

Almost everything I use. I think it’s really important to keep experimenting and to stay clued up. Everything I’ve mentioned so far can be traced back to hearing about it or seeing it somewhere. I picked up the Pentel Brush Pen because the guy who does the concept art for the Metal Gear Solid videogames uses one. The last design studio I worked at had a really healthy culture of trying stuff out and sharing knowledge. I picked up loads of useful bits of Photoshop from the designers there. If I’m not sure how someone’s achieved a particular effect I hunt around on the Internet for a relevant tutorial.

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

Not really. After talking up the computer so much I’d like to say that I’m a big fan of the ordinary! If the audience can understand how a picture was made, then I think that’s another level to the relationship between the work and the viewer. There’s something magical about seeing an amazing piece of art that is just pencil marks on paper.

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

I’m going to continue the trend of contradicting my last answer. I really love drawing in Flash, especially the way you can grab your lines and fills and pull them around until you’re happy with them. Also, Flash and Illustrator are great for more modular pieces – loads of characters and stuff, because you can easily rearrange, resize and edit different elements.



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?


Nothing beats drawing in a sketchbook.

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)?


Well, generally I think computers are great. Especially for getting your work seen, communicating with clients, researching content for work or seeing what everyone else is up to. The danger with computers is that because they’re so clever and offer you so much choice, you can struggle to keep a focus on yourself and your work. Regarding the Internet, sometimes it can be inspiring and sometimes it can be a bit bewildering when the whole creative industry is out there for you to explore and find your place in. Regarding post-processing, it’s always a worry that by the time I’ve inked a sketch and scanned the inks and cleaned them up and moved them about and coloured them and added a texture I may have killed the spark from the original sketch stone dead. The trick with computers is using them to enhance whatever it is that makes you unique as an artist in the first place.

Thanks Chris!

You can find Chris Rodenhurst online at his weblog Sketchybeast.

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

For my sketchbook drawings, I use a Pilot Precise Rollingball V7 (fine tip) Pen..in colors black and red. For my commercial work I use the Wacom Tablet. I also ink my commercial pieces digitally. For Spot coloring and some full page coloring in my sketchbook, I use watercolor brush pens.

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

Trial and Error is the most honest answer. I have tried every pen… every tool on the market. And while I don’t believe that the ones listed above are the best of the best in general, they are the best for me. Everyone needs to find their tool of choice..and sometimes it might take years of experimentation and quite a bit of failure. However, the proper tool can not only make drawing and/or painting easier..but also better looking.

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

Pilot Precise Rollingball V7 (fine tip) Pen- They flow beautifully on the Moleskine paper of my sketchbook. The “FINE” thickness is perfect for me, because the thinner the pen, the more it slows me down. I use the color black for my main drawings, and accent details and fill negative space with a red pen.

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

For my sketchbooks, watercolor mainly…rarely acrylics.

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?

There are rare occasions where I find myself traveling and working on sketch journals. In those instances, I prefer to use the watercolor brush pens…not any kind of sets, because I prefer to limit my color palette.

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 always use the Moleskine sketchbooks. I use the 100-page one with slightly thicker paper to reduce transparency and support watercolor and/or paint application. The feel of my ink pen flowing on the Moleskine paper alone is reason enough for me to use this sketchbook.

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

Have not painted since college :(

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

My commercial work has gone full digital now. However, I do find myself fixing up, adjusting and adding digital touch-ups to my sketchbook pages. Pretty much every sketch page that I scan is carefully fixed up in Photoshop… even if it is the simple addition of the white color in some spots.

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

Everyone has been praising the pen that James Jean uses. Once I got a hold of a box… I realized that it is nothing more than a very think ball-point pen that has a tendency to smear and is too thin for my taste. But that just goes to show that there is a specific tool for everyone.

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

My sketchbooks are the most experimental works that I have. My recent experimentation was playing with transfer markers and xerox copies…nothing out of the ordinary, though.

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

It’s all Adobe Photoshop. On very, very rare cases, I use Adobe Illustrator…and even more rare cases Corel Painter.

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)?

A computer is a tool. As long as the artist keeps that in mind, it is extremely helpful. Most people these days misuse the computer, causing endless circular debates whether it is good or bad. If you cannot draw..any tool is useless and cannot be used to your advantage. if you can’t paint, oils are us eless too. The only bad thing about the computer is that it allows those without skill to cheat..and those people are the only ones creating the problems in the first place.

Thanks Tin!

You can find Tin Salamunic online at his portfolio website salamunicart.com, on his weblog, on Twitter (@Salamunic), and he also contributes to the group weblog Urban Sketchers.

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)?

Lately I’ve really been into using a .5 mechanical pencil (Papermate Pro Touch II) with millions of Chartpak markers. I’m starting to get into using brushes and brush pens for lines.

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

When I’m sketching it really just depends on my mood what tools I’m going to use that day. I can tell if I feel like drawing scratchy or drawing smooth and I choose my tools accordingly. It’s all about texture and what it feels like for me to draw with what. If it’s not right in front of my face, I tend to forget I have it. With my markers, I keep them all in a bag that I just reach into and grab around in until I find one that works (and is the right color).

For finished pieces, the idea usually comes into my head fully formed. I see what it looks like so I know what materials I need to use, or else I figure it out after a couple of tries.

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

Depending on what I feel like, I go between 3 different pens. One is this great super dark black watercolor brush pen (SAI). The other is a Crowquill nib and Higgins inks (Speedball for black). I like the super fine pencil like lines I can get from using light ink with the crowquill, it kind of makes me feel like I’m doing a naturalist sketch log. I also have this great square shaped .38mm black super inky pen that my cousin got me from a Korean dollar store. There are little cartoon pigs all over it, I think its name is MonokuRo Boo. For some reason I only like to use it for lifedrawing. It’s probably a good thing, too, because I wouldn’t know where to find another one if it runs out.

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

Before I started at art school in 2004, I have to admit I never really experimented or used much of any actual art materials. I did mostly really, really horrible, amateur digital art. So when I got to school I was blown away by all this real media I never really knew about. I started in on this process of trying to find the Right Coloring Materials (and figuring out what I don’t like on the way). I think it’s a quest for what will give me the flattest and brightest colors. I was seriously into inks for a while, switched to cut paper, then gouache. I’ve got a short attention span and I am always changing how I do what I do. Right now I am really into markers. I love Chartpak markers for the flat color I can get with them when they are super fresh. I think I might try gouache again next.

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?

About a year ago my friend Carly Schmitt introduced me to Chartpak markers. Everytime we went to the art store we would test out a lot and then pick one or two and get them. Since I started doing that I’ve gotten a collection going. Even though I have a lot of colors, from picture to picture I like to try to keep my pallet somewhat limited. I’ve found that sets, while they might be able to save me money, seem to have a lot of useless colors, and never the ones I need.

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 usually have 2 or 3 sketchbooks going at once because at different times I just feel like working on different surfaces. Sometimes when I sit down to draw or sketch, one doesn’t feel right and I have to switch. I just finished a Moleskine. I really like the paper in those, it’s so smooth and off white. But sometimes I absolutely hate it and have to switch to something rougher, just a regular store brand sketch pad, sometimes a small Strathmore drawing pad. For bigger pieces sometimes I break out the smooth bristol. I’m sort of cheap when it comes to buying materials though, so I don’t get much fancier than that.

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

I only ever painted when I was in school and it was usually on canvas board (because it was cheap). I was not a huge fan of it, or painting, either.

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

When I’m working physically or digitally, it’s all or nothing. I don’t like to change my physical drawings too much on the computer. When I know a piece is finished, it’s how it’s supposed to look. I don’t like to add anything to it that you’re not going to see in the original.

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

Yes. When I try working with something that I’ve seen another artist use I feel like I can unlock all of their secrets. A lot of the tools I’ve been using lately (like markers and brush pens) were introduced to me by other artist friends.

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

I have a couple boxes of sparkly things (mica, tinsel, sequins) I like to toss in sometimes. I haven’t really been using it lately, or doing much else out of the ordinary. I know a lot of artists like to draw on hard surfaces or desks, but I really prefer just to rest my materials on my lap with a piece of cardboard underneath. I guess that is sort of unusual.

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

When I’m doing something all digital, I really like using Corel Painter X. I got it while I was in school and I really like fooling around with all the different tools it’s got, even if I don’t end up using them in the end. I really like it for digital drawing because the pens and brushes are pretty close to real tools. It works well with my dinosaur Wacom tablet. For finishing that stuff and color corrections, I like to use photoshop. Another cool program is Alchemy, though I really use it just for fun. I do more fooling around digitally than actually finishing anything real.

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 do more non-digitally unless I have this idea that I know I can only execute digitally. I have a better time drawing on paper because I can physically feel it. It’s more real. I like to sculpt or carve out with line, which doesn’t feel the same on the plastic of a tablet. Also since I draw looking down at something on my lap, usually hunched over with my face a couple inches away, it’s a big difference to look at what I’m doing straight ahead on a screen. I mostly use the computer when I have an idea that is huge in scale or requires a ton of colors that I know I wouldn’t be able to put down smoothly or brightly enough in the physical. I’d like to work on combining the two, but so far I haven’t really found a way that I’ve been satisfied with.

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)?

For me it’s definitely all of the above. I need to be distracted to concentrate (I guess that is something else out of the ordinary). Being able to go online opens up this endless universe filled with reference material and inspiration. It’s all right there. I’ve got this huge image file of art, photos and useless junk that I can go through whenever I want to.

Reading blogs and looking at artists’ sites helps to keep me motivated, too. I see what other artists are doing. And looking at my own stuff on my blog or website, I can see what I’m doing, what I’ve done and what I need to do to keep going. It’s like a personal timeline.

Thanks Lauren!

You can find Lauren Albert online on her portfolio website plslala.com, her personal weblog (exegesis)!!, her alien-art weblog ALIEN, and on Flickr (plslala).

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

My favorite tools are pencils, ballpoint pens and the Pentel brush pens with permanent ink in them, which I purchased while I was living in Japan, god, eight years ago. The Pentel permanent ink is so nice and heavily pigmented that it is really permanent. I made our address sign for the placard at our apartment door with it, and it sat in the full blaze of the Japanese summer sun for two years without a sign of fading.

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

The project is usually going to dictate the medium. If the deadline is tight you need something that’s going to be dry and finished fast, especially when working with paints. For the drawing tools, it depends on what kind of mood you’re going to evoke. If I need a more uniform line weight, I’ll reach for the ball points, if I need verve, power and snap, I’m going to go with the brush pen. If I need some subtlety and variation in tone, it’ll be the pencil.

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

For pens, I usually use Papermate pens. The ink comes out of them pretty readily and heavily, and I can get a wide variation out of the line/tone quality. If the ink comes out meagerly or is too liquid, you lose that play and option in the linework. You don’t need those SKG-whatevers that James Jean uses, you just need a ball point where the ink comes out easily but not too liquid. Then you can get all of that lovely “dry-pen” look that he gets.

How do you like your color? Watercolor? Acrylics? Oil? Colored pencils? Markers? All of the above?

I work a lot in oils, which are a very forgiving medium. Watercolors are also a favorite, but to work opaquely over them, I use gouache, which is some of the most unforgiving stuff out there. Mainly because the amount of color and value shift from the wet to dry paint varies widely from color to color, and when you’ve got a mix of them going on, well, you’re never perfectly sure what you’re going to end up with. But I use them anyway, and I’m getting better at predicting how they’ll curveball on me.

Do you prefer travel sets or do you need a full set of colors? If you have a different set of tools for working in your studio (or office, or home, or on the couch) and out in public (at the park, or a coffee shop), what are the differences?

I have a very portable kit that I take with me for sketching. It consists of a cloth fold-over wallet that holds several pens and pencils of different uses, and then a tin that contains a water brush pen and a small watercolor pan set. With those items I can make notations of almost anything I need to out in the field. The only difference between field work water colors and studio watercolors is that in the studio I have a wider selection of tubed gouache paints. In the field, I just mix the watercolors with Chinese White, which is just white gouache.

For plein air oil painting, I use the standard french easel and my full palette, which is a modified version of Richard Schmid’s palette. From left to right on my palette, I lay out: Ultramarine Blue, Cobalt Blue Deep, Viridian, Transparent French Red Ochre, Pyrrolo Ruby (looks like Alizarin but permanent), Cad Red Light, Yellow Ochre, Cad Yellow Deep, Cadmium Primrose (a greenish yellow) and Titanium White. (I’ll use Flake or Zinc white for special effects some times, but Titanium is the workhorse.)

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 always have a Moleskine with me, mainly because it’s small and takes pen and pencil well. I don’t use the sketchbook version, just the plain (I get more paper that way!) For bigger sketchbooks, my wife makes them for me out of selections of nicer paper that I buy in sheets and she binds together with covers and coptic binding, which allows the pages to lie nice and flat.

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

I prefer to make my own canvases, because the mass-produced ones are just generally crap: the weave of the fabric is skewed or wavy or the primer is acrylic, which is like sandpaper and can kill nice oil brushes. (I have a nice bristle bright that I used to scrub in some shadows on a 18x24” canvas and when I was done, at least two-thirds of the length was worn away.)

I do increasingly use panels, since they don’t have the give of canvas and I can be assured that when I push the brush into the panel with some force it’s not going to bend and make me miss the mark I was trying to hit. Real Gesso makes excellent panels with traditional panel gesso or oil-primed linen surfaces.

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

Other than correcting the photos of the artwork to match as closely as possible, not usually. Sometimes I will do some compositing to meet a deadline or accommodate some changes that an Art Director wants.

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

Sure! I think most artists do. I’ve tried out Rives BFK after seeing James Jean use it, but the loose nap got on my nerves. My favorite paper for ink and watercolor work these days is Annigoni paper. There’s a light tan version that has a great unifying effect on any colors that go over it and it absorbs ink in a way that makes the ink look like it’s part of the paper instead of sitting on top.

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

I have some weird brushes, like Epiphanes varnishing brushes and a weird assortment of calligraphy brushes I often use for oil painting, but that’s about as “out there” as I get.

When creating your digital art, what are the software programs you use? Is one used more than another?

I use Photoshop with a 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 work digitally on certain projects like storyboards. That way they’re done quickly and are easily editable and I can make quick changes and crank out a set of 10-15 in a day.

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)?

Computers are a great and useful tool, as long as you know what they do well and what they don’t. Promotion by computer is a necessity these days. I can’t imagine getting the word out about my art without it.

Thanks Kurt!

You can find Kurt Ankeny online at his portfolio website and weblog kurtankeny.com and on Twitter (@kurtankeny). You can find out more about the classes he teaches at ankenystudio.com.

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

Faber-Castell HB and 2B pencils, kneaded erasers, gum erasers, Prismacolor Verithin non-photo blue pencils, Speedball india ink, Hunt 101 and 102 quill nibs, Isabey Kolinsky sable brushes (sizes 0-6), Stonehenge vellum finish drawing paper, Wacom 3 tablet and pen (9x12”), Mac 0S 10.4, Photoshop CS4.

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

I use whatever I need to get the job done; I’m not particular about any of the supplies, but what i have are my preferences.

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

Digital.

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 always carry around one of several sketchbooks. One is from NY Central Art Supply, and another I like was a gift from a friend while who visited Paris.

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

I don’t paint much but when I do I guess I prefer panel.

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

Yes.

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

Sure, but not in a long time. Now I’ll usually ask an artist what they use and I’ll try it out. For example, I used to only use Hunt 101 nibs, but I was talking to American comic art legend Scott Williams about inking and he uses a 102, so I started using that to see what it was like. I still prefer the 101, but sometimes the 102 is better.

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

Sometimes I’ll use construction paper or charcoal as fun textures to scan in.

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

Photoshop CS4.

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 because I like the end result and because it’s very fast. Also it allows me to focus on drawing, which is my favorite thing.

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)?

Computers are as essential as a pencil or a pen for commercial artists working today. The degree to which they are used in artmaking is up to the artist, but basic knowledge is a prerequisite.

Thanks Frank!

Frank Stockton can be found online at his portfolio website frankstockton.com. Some of his original art can be purchase at his Etsy store, and some of his prints are available at Gallery Nucleus.