Aug

13

My Drawing Tools

Filed Under Dr. Rizal, Elmer, Humanis Rex!, My Comics | 15 Comments

Arno from the comments section asked me about my drawing tools and I thought I’d post a scan of some of the things I use to create my comics.

I use a variety of tools, combinations of which differ with the kinds of projects I do. From the top, the first thing there is a Staedtler Mars Graphic 3000 given to me by illustrator/inker John Beatty, and it’s one of the best brushes I’ve used. It’s perfect for fine detailing to delicate cross hatching. (Thanks John!)

The next one is a beat up brush I use for blacking out large areas.

Next is a Hunts #102 quill, which is the favorite tool of a lot of inkers, and I’ve used it myself numerous times, specially when I’m inking Whilce Portacio. The flexibility of the nib allows you to make very fine lines as well as thicker lines. Used a certain way, you can make thin to thick lines in just one stroke.

Next is a Penesco quill I found being sold for cheap at a local school supply store. It doesn’t give a fine line as the Hunts 102, but I like it for the thick lines I’m able to do. And I LOVE thick lines, even as a lot of artists don’t.

Next is a standard Speedball pen, this one is a B3, I think. Like I said, I love thick lines and this allows me to create them, as well as fill out black areas.

Next are a couple of UNI drawing pens, which is my favorite tool at the moment. They come in a variety of thickness from 0.1 to 0.8. This is what I use to draw ELMER almost exclusively. I also used this to draw Humanis Rex, and I’m also using it to draw Dr. Rizal.

Next are a couple of ROTRING technical pens, which come in a variety of thickness from 0.1 to 1.2. I used this a lot in my inking, specially inking Leinil Yu who likes to see clean, consistent linework that a techpen could give. I’m familiar with the techpen because it’s been the tool I’ve used the most throughout my years as an architecture student and as a licensed architect. Having been so used to it, I managed to use it to my advantage in comics, making it do things that it wasn’t supposed to. I use a 0.3 tech pen to letter Elmer.

My favorite drawing pencil has been, and always be, the #2 Mongol pencil. Although I prefer the “For Kids” Mongol because they’re thicker and easier to grasp.

Comments

15 Responses to “My Drawing Tools”

  1. Ed on August 13th, 2007 1:02 pm

    Gerry, what about white outs like Magic Touch, Liquid Paper and Poster Color?

    …and chicken blood? Hehehe.

    You know, you can use the biggest feather of a chicken or turkey to make quill (that’s why it’s called quill, stupid Ed!). I tried it but it was too soft coz the feather is quite small.:D Also bamboos.

    :P

    -ed

  2. John Beatty on August 13th, 2007 4:07 pm

    Gerry-

    And any of you other’s there…if you all need some stuff brought over, pens, brushes, etc…let me know! I do not know how hard it is to get supplies there in the RP…but I can bring some in October if you need anything, write me and ask!

    -JBeatty

  3. Melody Marigondon on August 13th, 2007 4:24 pm

    Hello Mr. Alanguilan! ^_^

    Mongol #2 pencil is really good.. I use it everytime I sketch…

    –Melody Marigondon
    I certainly hope you remember me.. :)

  4. Garro on August 13th, 2007 10:37 pm

    specially inking Leinil Yu who likes to see clean, consistent linework that a techpen could give.

    Sir Gerry, so ayaw ni Leinil na ginagawang thick to thin yung hatches nya?

  5. Arno on August 14th, 2007 2:54 am

    Thank you so much.

    Its great to see that, it looks like old “weapons”.

    I tried a lot of things but i still have trouble with my inking. I will try to find some Uni ball pens.

  6. Rod Samonte on August 14th, 2007 2:59 am

    Hi Gerry,
    Interesting set of tools. Once upon a time the great Alfredo Alcala invented a brush that could hold ink so you don’t have to dip everytime it runs out. Wonder if that’s available. Sharpening that Mongol #2 takes a lot of time. May I suggest an automatic pencil holder that can take the same lead size. Just my two cents. Everyone of course have tools that they get used to, and their best work comes out of those tools. Thanks for sharing.
    Rod

  7. Reno on August 14th, 2007 9:31 am

    What eraser do you use when inking with the uni pen? I’ve tried different kinds of erasers but they all erase a big chunk of the uni pen’s ink on the paper. That’s why sometimes I scan and print out pencils in blue and do my inks on that, so I won’t have to erase the pencils afterwards.

  8. Gerry Alanguilan on August 14th, 2007 10:47 am

    Thanks John! I’ll let you know when I think of something.

    Hello Melody! Uh… can you remind me? I’m Mr. Absent Minded and forgetful lately.

    Garro…depende sa pencils nya e. Pag walang thick or thin sa pencils, most likely yun gusto nya.

    Rod, I have a couple of those. Clutch pencils tawag namin. Pang tasa ay yung little barrel things. I used it for a couple of years, pero mas type ko talaga Mongol. Part of the experience yung sharpening e. :D

    Reno, I use kneaded erasers. I usually buy 5 at a time and mold them into one big ball. I apply pressure gently and repeatedly so no ink would come away. Sometimes it depends on the paper also. The paper I’m using seems to be absorbent (but doesn’t blot the ink), so the ink pretty much attaches firmly.

  9. Ed on August 14th, 2007 11:07 am

    John!

    I’ll email you, coz there are pens that I really like to use that aren’t available here. I bought a set in England when I was there.

    Cheers!

    Gerry, do you still have those quills I gave you way back 2005? May nakalagay bang number dun, I remember it’s not 102.

    -ed

  10. chummy on August 14th, 2007 7:22 pm

    good day mr. alanguilan

    an artist friend recommended me to use artline calligraphy pen to ink my drawings…im in the process of learning to get the hang of it (i draw as a hobby and usually ink them via hunt 102 and staedler tech pens)…also, he said that he uses parchment paper to draw on, easier to handle than the standard bristol boards…any comment on this?

  11. Gerry Alanguilan on August 14th, 2007 8:06 pm

    Hey Chummy…

    I haven’t tried using parchment paper myself, but I have heard from other people that, depending on the kind of parchment paper you get, it yellows rather quickly.

    I’m always on the lookout for good paper to draw on, and it’s hard for me to recommend paper to anyone because paper, although having the same name, isn’t the same in different places, and if they were the same, it behaves differently depending on local weather conditions.

  12. John Beatty on August 14th, 2007 8:24 pm

    I’ll bring over some assorted stuff and make sure all can have at least one of each to try! :)

    I’ll bring over some brush markers and fine line markers, etc…real ink is WAY to messy to travle with!

    -JBeatty

  13. Ferres on August 15th, 2007 12:55 pm

    The yellowing issue with parchment makes it an extra problem during scans and clean up stages of traditional comics.

    Also since it has a resistant surface, ink work will tend to look thicker and dry slower. But I guess, less elaborate inking(anime) styles would be ok with it.

  14. Melody MArigondon on August 20th, 2007 5:46 pm

    Mr. Absent-minded… It’s okay, I’ll always remind you if needed–I am the student who considers your opinion great. ^_^

    I like the way you see things..
    More Power!

  15. Patrick on October 28th, 2007 7:52 pm

    Gerry! San makakabili ng hunts #102 quill? Meron ako yung speedball na fine point pero it’s not giving me line variety. Meron rin ba tayong Winsor and Newton brushes dito?

    Thanks!!!

    Patrick