Inktober day 1 Organic Piano
Oct. 1st, 2019 07:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ellerSo this is day 1, using my own prompt list.
That was fun! Actually, my first idea for the prompt was something NSFW but I decided against drawing it (too many RL contacts, including family members, read this...) so I'm really gladaliax_alexandre did that instead! :D I went for slightly more conventional fantasy stuff: a tree with leaves that are ominously arranged like piano keys... I wonder what that sounds like?
Also, here's the material I used:
The Cappuccino Book (and its twin, the Grey Book) and I are old friends - I really like the slightly toned paper that's not quite as dark (or as yellowish) as Kraft paper but allows the use of white highlights. With 120 gsm (55 lbs), it's a bit thin for large-area ink washes, but it's the only toned paper I know with a surface sizing optimized for fountain pens, so I just have to live with that. (I'd LOVE a paper with identical surface but three times as thick. Unfortunately, no one manufactures that kind of thing.)
For drawing, I again used the Duke Confucius fountain pen with Fude nib, which I've discussed here at length.
The pen is filled with Noodler's "bulletproof" black, an ink I don't like much for writing (I prefer non-waterproof inks for that, they're easier to remove in case a pen dries out), but which works extremely well for artistic purposes. It's a light, warm black that dries with a matte finish, which makes it easier to scan or to take photos of. It's also archival, so it doesn't smudge once dry, and I don't have to worry about fading. Useful stuff.
For shading, I picked up a Faber Castell watercolor marker with pigment ink in Warm Grey III. These pens are a fairly new launch so this is the first time I have one. I found the shade a pleasant tone for shading in the book, cooler than the paper itself (which is appropriate for shadows, anyway) but not too contrasting. I have not used the watercoloring option of that pen yet, so I'm probably wasting good material here, but whatever. (EDIT: I have now, later, tried this: the watercolor effect works just fine, but as expected, only on watercolor paper. In the Cappuccino Book, watercoloring it gets a bit blotchy.)
The white ink was an emergency buy because I discovered my old bottle had dried out... This is a brand I haven't used before, Kuretake White Ink 30, which so far does what it's supposed to do, and (nice!) is waterproof after drying. A good product, and one that (unless it does something horrible in the meantime) I'll probably buy again. I'm using the ink with a waterbrush (Pentel).
The white highlighter pen, Neopiko Line White, is a bit too transparent for my taste. Whatever. It works. And to be fair, I haven't found a white pen that's actually, really, opaque anywhere yet, so at least it's not worse than all the rest. ^^ It's not perfect but the best one I've found so far.
Not in the picture are a mechanical pencil (Pentel Energize in 0.7; my favorite sketching tool, very old and very worn, broken clip and everything) and an eraser (perfectly generic; I don't remember the brand) for preliminary sketching.
That was fun! Actually, my first idea for the prompt was something NSFW but I decided against drawing it (too many RL contacts, including family members, read this...) so I'm really glad
aliax_alexandre did that instead! :D I went for slightly more conventional fantasy stuff: a tree with leaves that are ominously arranged like piano keys... I wonder what that sounds like?Also, here's the material I used:
The Cappuccino Book (and its twin, the Grey Book) and I are old friends - I really like the slightly toned paper that's not quite as dark (or as yellowish) as Kraft paper but allows the use of white highlights. With 120 gsm (55 lbs), it's a bit thin for large-area ink washes, but it's the only toned paper I know with a surface sizing optimized for fountain pens, so I just have to live with that. (I'd LOVE a paper with identical surface but three times as thick. Unfortunately, no one manufactures that kind of thing.)
For drawing, I again used the Duke Confucius fountain pen with Fude nib, which I've discussed here at length.
The pen is filled with Noodler's "bulletproof" black, an ink I don't like much for writing (I prefer non-waterproof inks for that, they're easier to remove in case a pen dries out), but which works extremely well for artistic purposes. It's a light, warm black that dries with a matte finish, which makes it easier to scan or to take photos of. It's also archival, so it doesn't smudge once dry, and I don't have to worry about fading. Useful stuff.
For shading, I picked up a Faber Castell watercolor marker with pigment ink in Warm Grey III. These pens are a fairly new launch so this is the first time I have one. I found the shade a pleasant tone for shading in the book, cooler than the paper itself (which is appropriate for shadows, anyway) but not too contrasting. I have not used the watercoloring option of that pen yet, so I'm probably wasting good material here, but whatever. (EDIT: I have now, later, tried this: the watercolor effect works just fine, but as expected, only on watercolor paper. In the Cappuccino Book, watercoloring it gets a bit blotchy.)
The white ink was an emergency buy because I discovered my old bottle had dried out... This is a brand I haven't used before, Kuretake White Ink 30, which so far does what it's supposed to do, and (nice!) is waterproof after drying. A good product, and one that (unless it does something horrible in the meantime) I'll probably buy again. I'm using the ink with a waterbrush (Pentel).
The white highlighter pen, Neopiko Line White, is a bit too transparent for my taste. Whatever. It works. And to be fair, I haven't found a white pen that's actually, really, opaque anywhere yet, so at least it's not worse than all the rest. ^^ It's not perfect but the best one I've found so far.
Not in the picture are a mechanical pencil (Pentel Energize in 0.7; my favorite sketching tool, very old and very worn, broken clip and everything) and an eraser (perfectly generic; I don't remember the brand) for preliminary sketching.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 06:38 pm (UTC)Her young apprentice snorted. "Like, what? Some fairy is gonna play it, I'm gonna be bewitched by its music, and they'll capture me?"
"Oh, no," the old woman replied softly, sadly. "They won't keep you. You will be back in the morning. And you will spend the rest of your life hopelessly wishing they'd captured you indeed."
The young apprentice swallowed nervously, through a throat grown suddenly tight. A shiver ran up their spine...
***
In short: wow, I love it *_* !! It's so pretty; I love the way the leaves flow into each other. And the fairy is oddly adorable :D All in all, it's definitely a very Eller-y take on that prompt, for sure :D
I can't comment on the material, because I'm an ignoramus in that domain, though I must say I've never thought of drawing on non-white paper! I must try that.
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Date: 2019-10-01 06:47 pm (UTC)All in all, it's definitely a very Eller-y take on that prompt, for sure :D
An Eller will always be an Eller-y Eller... :D
I've never thought of drawing on non-white paper! I must try that.
Do try! :D It's fun.
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Date: 2019-10-01 06:59 pm (UTC)An Eller will always be an Eller-y Eller... :D
Except when she turns into a Ruis ;) (and nearly gives me a heart attack in the process :P )
I will definitely try a coloured paper. Must keep that in mind for future prompts, especially those that might not inspire me at first.
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Date: 2019-10-01 07:05 pm (UTC)...I suppose that's just the way a writer thinks? :D I wish I had the skill to express myself like that.
I will definitely try a coloured paper. Must keep that in mind for future prompts, especially those that might not inspire me at first.
If you don't have toned drawing paper lying around, you can always use the back sides of drawing pads - or even just cereal boxes. That paper is, unfortunately, not acid-free (which means it will apart after a few years, and it's not suitable for "proper" artwork) but works very nicely for sketches.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 07:31 pm (UTC)I wouldn't know :P I've always written, since I learned how to. I already wrote mini-novels for class assignments in junior high :D
I wish I had the skill to express myself like that.
Meanwhile, I'm horribly jealous of artists who can just put out a clean, confident sketch like it's no big deal :P Or use watercolours O.o I've tried those, and it's like trying to learn ice skating somehow D: How the hell do you control those things!?
Grass, grass, pretty green grass on the other side of the fence...
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Date: 2019-10-01 07:36 pm (UTC)I've also always written stories and poems, but I'm lacking, uh, yeah, talent. XD So I just have a lot of experience at bad writing! Oh well. XD
Meanwhile, I'm horribly jealous of artists who can just put out a clean, confident sketch like it's no big deal :P
Yeah, me too. I would love to have that kind of skill. My sketches are a mess...
Or use watercolours O.o I've tried those, and it's like trying to learn ice skating somehow D: How the hell do you control those things!?
Watercolors are easy. If they flow all over the place, just use more color and less water. ;) Also, be prepared to spend a lot of time on a single picture - there simply is no fast and clean way of watercoloring.
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Date: 2019-10-01 07:49 pm (UTC)I read at least one of your fics (the one with the knight fucking his king as part of caring for him after battle), and it was good, sorry to say :P
I think my problem with watercolours is that they are the exact opposite of what I'm used to, what I've always done: black-and-white pencil drawing :P Too many colours! Not enough precision! I wanna do them so badly because they are so damn pretty, but every time I try to use them, it's like I'm working with a wild horse, and either I break it (they don't look "alive", for lack of a better term) or it breaks me :P
Mind you, getting proper lessons in how to use them would probably help...
(Meanwhile, my son has been using oil paints thanks to his grandma. He's not terribly interested, but he did produce a few nice things.)
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 07:54 pm (UTC)Whoops. Must have been an accident, then.
I think my problem with watercolours is that they are the exact opposite of what I'm used to, what I've always done: black-and-white pencil drawing :P
Heh. Maybe that's an explanation why I keep having difficulties with black-and-white...
Too many colours! Not enough precision!
It's actually possible to be very precise with watercolors. It just takes a loooong time. ;)
Mind you, getting proper lessons in how to use them would probably help...
A while ago, I posted a tutorial thingy. https://eller.dreamwidth.org/1515.html Maybe that helps?
(Meanwhile, my son has been using oil paints thanks to his grandma. He's not terribly interested, but he did produce a few nice things.)
Nice. ^^ I'd love to work with oils but they.... stink. XD
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Date: 2019-10-01 08:08 pm (UTC)(Riiiight. But anyway!) Keep writing, and you should keep having accidents?
It's actually possible to be very precise with watercolors. It just takes a loooong time. ;)
The exact opposite of tracing a precise line with a pencil, which is literally the most basic thing a pencil can do :P
A while ago, I posted a tutorial thingy. https://eller.dreamwidth.org/1515.html Maybe that helps?
OHO! I thought I'd back-read most of your posts, but it seems I missed that one at least. I'll take a closer look at it, but the step-by-step already looks like it will be mucho useful in understanding better what I'm supposed to be doing. Thanks!
I'd love to work with oils but they.... stink. XD
They do? Well, if they do, then that's a perfectly valid reason to avoid them!
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Date: 2019-10-01 08:14 pm (UTC)And anyway, I'm having too much fun to stop. XD I actually like writing stories.
The exact opposite of tracing a precise line with a pencil, which is literally the most basic thing a pencil can do :P
...and which I never managed to do. My pencil lines are as wobbly as my handwriting!
I'll take a closer look at it, but the step-by-step already looks like it will be mucho useful in understanding better what I'm supposed to be doing. Thanks!
And another step-by-step is here: https://eller.dreamwidth.org/978.html#cutid1 (Also, the lady is dressed. XD)
They do? Well, if they do, then that's a perfectly valid reason to avoid them!
I reeeally hate the smell of oil paints. Which is a shame, because I sure like oil paintings. Just not painting them.
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Date: 2019-10-01 08:24 pm (UTC)Heh heh, same as I like drawing, even if I don't remember how to :P Having fun is a terrible, terrible motivation, isn't it :D ?
My pencil lines are as wobbly as my handwriting!
I said "precise", I didn't say "straight" or "where I meant them to be" ;) Wobbly lines are still precise :P
And another step-by-step is here: https://eller.dreamwidth.org/978.html#cutid1 (Also, the lady is dressed. XD)
So... sparkly... *is half-blinded by the pretty golden sparkling* :P
Aww, it's a shame indeed that you can't use oils if you like them so much :/ With everything they do now, don't they have less smelly oil paints?
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 08:28 pm (UTC)It's the BESTEST motivation!
I said "precise", I didn't say "straight" or "where I meant them to be" ;) Wobbly lines are still precise :P
True. :D
So... sparkly... *is half-blinded by the pretty golden sparkling* :P
Hey, it was for an artbook, so I had to make it extra sparkly, right? ....right. XD
Aww, it's a shame indeed that you can't use oils if you like them so much :/ With everything they do now, don't they have less smelly oil paints?
Unfortunately, it's the oil itself that smells. :/ They invented acrylics at some point, of course, and I also use those. I still prefer watercolors.
no subject
Date: 2019-10-01 08:37 pm (UTC)Well then, only one solution, I'm afraid! You're gonna have to use a breathing tank and mask while painting with oils :P
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Date: 2019-10-01 08:50 pm (UTC)Not as absurd as you seem to think. Wearing a mask is necessary when using hazardous stuff like airbrush, anyway. (And yes, my boyfriend's apartment does have an airbrush room.) Still, it's something I prefer to avoid. Watercolors are just so practical and convenient!
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Date: 2019-10-01 09:07 pm (UTC)I had no idea O.o ! Then again, my knowledge of airbrushing comes from a few Youtube videos where they would have a bigger incentive not to wear a mask.
And yes, my boyfriend's apartment does have an airbrush room.
A room just for airbrushing O.o !? Is he an artist too, by the way?
Watercolors are just so practical and convenient!
And pretty! Don't forget pretty! ... Especially when you make them sparkle :D
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Date: 2019-10-01 09:19 pm (UTC)Ugh. Let's just say tiny droplets of liquid acrylic are not the thing I want in my lungs?!? I'd always wear a mask for things like airbrush, or even just fixative, spray varnish, all that stuff.
A room just for airbrushing O.o !? Is he an artist too, by the way?
Yeah, every apartment needs one of those. XD I think the architects intended it as storage space, but... Creative people will be creative. (And yeah... He's also a scientist but he does art https://www.deviantart.com/kamikaye and I'm occasionally very, very envious. Also, his pictures sparkle even more than mine!)
And pretty! Don't forget pretty! ... Especially when you make them sparkle :D
Yep, pretty and sparkly! :3
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Date: 2019-10-06 09:57 am (UTC)I love the idea of working on a non-white paper. Your art really pops on it.
I'm wondering if you have any recommendations for a cheap fountain pen for drawing/sketching (I'm UK based if that influences your advice at all)?
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Date: 2019-10-06 10:15 am (UTC)Of course, it depends on what you are looking for in a drawing pen.
If you want extremely fine lines, I'm quite impressed with the Platinum Preppy with EF (extra-fine) nib. It's cheap, it's well-made and it's the thinnest nib I own.
For "normal" fountain pen lines... Well, I'd say, anything that feels good in your hand. I mean, the selection is extremely broad. Still - there's this Chinese company called Jinhao, they make very nice, very affordable pens. The downside is they apparently don't do much of a quality control, so any pen you like, you should order three of, take the one that writes well and toss the rest. They're so cheap that even then, you don't pay much - and the good ones are really really good.
For broad and expressive, I can recommend the pen I'm using for Inktober, the Duke Confucius fude nib. I mean, it's completely useless for writing, but as an artists' tool, it's awesome.
Unfortunately I can't help you with italic nibs at all; I'm left-handed and the only italic nib I own that I really can use is a hand-modified one on a Parker Sonnet. And that's a gold nib that's neither cheap nor easily available.
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Date: 2019-10-07 12:57 pm (UTC)We definitely have some Jinhao's hanging around. I think I would like to experiment with a fude nib a bit, so maybe I will check that out.
Ah, I'm right handed for art and writing, but my Parker Vector seems pretty good for right now. I'm not sure I'd trust myself with a gold nib not to lose the pen at some point. But I know Sonnets are really nice.
Thanks for the recommendations, I'll have a poke around and see what's readily available for me. :)
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Date: 2019-10-07 01:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-10-10 12:32 am (UTC)Me, it's my first time. I just grabbed a nearby fine-line black pen (a Pigma Micron 01) and the current sketchbook. Then added a Prismacolor black marker for broad lines.
I love what you're doing with black and white on toned paper.
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Date: 2019-10-10 11:14 am (UTC)Your approach is great, of course. I think you're much closer to what Inktober is supposed to be like. :D
I've tried to do Inktober before. Due to different circumstances (lack of inspiration, unexpected business travels, ...) I've never actually managed to finish. Usually, by the middle of the month I was so far behind I didn't see a chance of catching up again, and just gave up.
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Date: 2019-10-10 05:12 pm (UTC)I so rarely work in ink on paper these days. I used to do more. But so much of my work has shifted to digital. Yes, I know that digital inking qualifies for Inktober also. But the opportunity to get back to traditional ink was too good to pass up.
As you'll see later today, I'm also dusting off the colored markers. I mean that "dusting" literally.