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 06:47 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.
no subject
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.
no subject
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...
no subject
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.
no subject
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
no subject
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!
no subject
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.
no subject
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
no subject
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!
no subject
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
no subject
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