The Art Help Thread!! - Page 2

*Spike Spiegel* · 12-21-2007, 11:47 AM

I am trying to take my art to a new level, and I have often wondered about inking...are Sharpie markers ok to begin with, or should I just go straight for the expensive inking tools??

Ra · 12-21-2007, 06:41 PM

It really just comes down to what you are trying to do. Sharpies are good for trying to get those big, bold lines in. The inks are very much needed for the detail that Sharpies can not provide. Really, if you've tried to draw fine detail with a Sharpie, you'll quickly realize that it's a very dumb idea.

I honestly don't know what scale you are working on, so I can't give solid adivce. If you are working on canvas, like I am at the moment, Sharpies are a godsend since they give you solid lines quickly. If you are working on paper, however, definately go with the inks. You can practice with them and, although they may be expensive, make your works look that much better. But if you feel that you need a Shaprie, pick one up and play around with it a bit to see if it suits your style or the effect you are going for.

Bigfoot · 12-21-2007, 06:50 PM

I am a graphic designer here in Milwaukee WI, so I have had my fair share of "art" teachers and professors. I do remember my first high shool art teacher, she was a hippie that was totally into getting dirty. We made this mural using our hands only, made clay ashtrays, we even made a still life painting with our toes... she was pretty out there now that I think about it. Then computers became more popular, and so did image editing programs. My art teachers started pushing the graphic design and visual communication aspect. I went to college, and it was a completely new experience. Every student got their own computer and drafting table area. Many of the classes, the teacher would give an assignment, and leave it up to the student to ask questions on how a task was accomplished. It was nice, because I would read online tutorials the day before, and know exactly what to do the next day. Sad to say, but teachers in college were pretty useless to me. They were good contacts for people in the outside world, but I really thought I knew more than some of them, not all of them. I guess thats why my carreer took off, and they are still teaching abnoxious high schoolers, no offense. I have actually thought of being an art teacher but I can't stand kids. Pretty funny considering I am probably the biggest kid in the world. If you want to make money with your art, you will have to conform to what a client wants. If you want to make art for fun, do whatever you want, and call it a masterpiece.

*KROW* · 12-21-2007, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty McFly

I am trying to take my art to a new level, and I have often wondered about inking...are Sharpie markers ok to begin with, or should I just go straight for the expensive inking tools??

I never use Sharpies for art. Whenever I need to ink, I use art pens of various widths. They're not that expensive, I don't think. They last a long time if you don't use them excessively, so the price balances out with longevity.

However, if you're going for bold outlines, a Sharpie (or better yet, an ink pen with a wide tip) would be okay to use.

*Spike Spiegel* · 12-26-2007, 01:14 PM

Looks like I'll be buying some pens soon...although I still use my Sharpie for outlines, sometimes...very hesitantly.

The last time I used one the "bleeding" was just out of control

*Raven* · 12-26-2007, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marty McFly

I am trying to take my art to a new level, and I have often wondered about inking...are Sharpie markers ok to begin with, or should I just go straight for the expensive inking tools??

Another thing to note on inking in general is lines, after you have the tools you'll want to think about these things. A small pen will of course be used for small lines. Seems simple right? Well practice it until it just comes to you.

You'll want to play with the width of the line and figure out how light affects it. Theres alot that goes into inking if your going to take it serious, but try to have fun with it also.

I dont know about you but I find that I need to be more patient when inking over a drawing, when drawing I can be quick but inking I have to be right on.

*Masked Ninja* · 12-28-2007, 12:08 PM

Yeah, the problem with even the thinnest Sharpies is that they bleed like crazy. However, expensive inking tools aren't always necessary either. I tend to just go with normal liquid ink pens myself... like Uniball ones or whatever. The thing you need to watch out for is making sure the lines have plenty of time to try before you erase the pencil, or it smears the ink. I suppose more expensive, specialized inking pens dry faster, but yeah.

Something you might want to check out in the way of inking pens at a hobby/craft/art store would be Microns or one of their similar brethren. I have one really thin one that I use sometimes because I draw small and sometimes a 0.5 Uniball tip is still too thick.

Fledermaus · 01-01-2008, 05:47 AM

Sharpies work beautifully if you use em right. They're way cheaper and very effective tools IMHO. I draw with them a lot, often straight with no pencil. BTW here's the blog of an old teacher of mine, John Mahoney. Scroll down and observe just what can be done with sharpies. I kid you not, it's a kickass medium. But like with all mediums, don't use a sharpie marker like you would a pencil, or a quill pen, or a toothbrush, or even one of them fancy sakura pens (which recently I've stopped using because their ink isn't all that great considering their price).

A tip: working with sharpie is great if you want to do detail work and make interesting contours. Great for linework, and even the comic book look. I'll see whether I can get some scans in to show you some recent work I've done in sharpie.

I use ultra fine point or extra fine point, which gives a pencil thin line.

*Spike Spiegel* · 01-02-2008, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fledermaus

A tip: working with sharpie is great if you want to do detail work and make interesting contours. Great for linework, and even the comic book look. I'll see whether I can get some scans in to show you some recent work I've done in sharpie.

I use ultra fine point or extra fine point, which gives a pencil thin line.

Thanks.

BTW, I looked in the gold mine that is my recently acquired Wizard: How to Draw book, and saw a shading technique that treats the pencil like an inker's pen.

Good practice until I get some more advanced tools, I suppose.

*Masked Ninja* · 01-06-2008, 02:06 PM

That's true... Fled does do some kickawesome stuff with Sharpie. I suppose my problem is I draw so small that the bleeding really does ruin stuff.

12-21-2007, 06:41 PM	#22
Ra It's my desire? Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In your pants. Posts: 4,441	It really just comes down to what you are trying to do. Sharpies are good for trying to get those big, bold lines in. The inks are very much needed for the detail that Sharpies can not provide. Really, if you've tried to draw fine detail with a Sharpie, you'll quickly realize that it's a very dumb idea. I honestly don't know what scale you are working on, so I can't give solid adivce. If you are working on canvas, like I am at the moment, Sharpies are a godsend since they give you solid lines quickly. If you are working on paper, however, definately go with the inks. You can practice with them and, although they may be expensive, make your works look that much better. But if you feel that you need a Shaprie, pick one up and play around with it a bit to see if it suits your style or the effect you are going for. __________________ "So. The whole lot of you against little old me? How retarded."

12-21-2007, 06:50 PM	#23
Bigfoot Stone Warrior Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Wandering aimlessly... Posts: 764	I am a graphic designer here in Milwaukee WI, so I have had my fair share of "art" teachers and professors. I do remember my first high shool art teacher, she was a hippie that was totally into getting dirty. We made this mural using our hands only, made clay ashtrays, we even made a still life painting with our toes... she was pretty out there now that I think about it. Then computers became more popular, and so did image editing programs. My art teachers started pushing the graphic design and visual communication aspect. I went to college, and it was a completely new experience. Every student got their own computer and drafting table area. Many of the classes, the teacher would give an assignment, and leave it up to the student to ask questions on how a task was accomplished. It was nice, because I would read online tutorials the day before, and know exactly what to do the next day. Sad to say, but teachers in college were pretty useless to me. They were good contacts for people in the outside world, but I really thought I knew more than some of them, not all of them. I guess thats why my carreer took off, and they are still teaching abnoxious high schoolers, no offense. I have actually thought of being an art teacher but I can't stand kids. Pretty funny considering I am probably the biggest kid in the world. If you want to make money with your art, you will have to conform to what a client wants. If you want to make art for fun, do whatever you want, and call it a masterpiece. __________________

01-01-2008, 05:47 AM	#28
Fledermaus Mad Scientist Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,115	Okay, Sharpie advocate coming your way! Sharpies work beautifully if you use em right. They're way cheaper and very effective tools IMHO. I draw with them a lot, often straight with no pencil. BTW here's the blog of an old teacher of mine, John Mahoney. Scroll down and observe just what can be done with sharpies. I kid you not, it's a kickass medium. But like with all mediums, don't use a sharpie marker like you would a pencil, or a quill pen, or a toothbrush, or even one of them fancy sakura pens (which recently I've stopped using because their ink isn't all that great considering their price). A tip: working with sharpie is great if you want to do detail work and make interesting contours. Great for linework, and even the comic book look. I'll see whether I can get some scans in to show you some recent work I've done in sharpie. I use ultra fine point or extra fine point, which gives a pencil thin line. __________________ We're calling it a freeway. Eight lanes of shimmering cement running from here to Pasadena. Smooth, safe, fast. Traffic jams will be a thing of the past. I see a place where people get on and off the freeway. On and off, off and on all day, all night! Soon there will be a string of gas stations, inexpensive motels, restaurants that serve rapidly prepared food! Tire salons, automobile dealerships and wonderful, wonderful billboards reaching as far as the eye can see! My God... It'll be beautiful.

12-28-2007, 12:08 PM	#27
Masked Ninja Doodles TMNT for fun Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sploshin' through some sewer... Posts: 2,137	Yeah, the problem with even the thinnest Sharpies is that they bleed like crazy. However, expensive inking tools aren't always necessary either. I tend to just go with normal liquid ink pens myself... like Uniball ones or whatever. The thing you need to watch out for is making sure the lines have plenty of time to try before you erase the pencil, or it smears the ink. I suppose more expensive, specialized inking pens dry faster, but yeah. Something you might want to check out in the way of inking pens at a hobby/craft/art store would be Microns or one of their similar brethren. I have one really thin one that I use sometimes because I draw small and sometimes a 0.5 Uniball tip is still too thick.

01-06-2008, 02:06 PM	#30
Masked Ninja Doodles TMNT for fun Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: sploshin' through some sewer... Posts: 2,137	That's true... Fled does do some kickawesome stuff with Sharpie. I suppose my problem is I draw so small that the bleeding really does ruin stuff.