Drawing:
-For most of my drawing I use Starthmore 300 Smooth Bristol board at 9x12. no real reason why that brand its just the only kind I've used and I like it so I don't see and reason to try something new.
-For pencils I use a 0.7 mechanical pencil, with 2H lead. Most comic artist use a lead holder, I have one but I really don't like it it weighs to much, and sharpening it is a pain, with a mechanical all I have to do is push a button. I like 2H lead because its that perfect (for lack of a better word) blend of hardness. Its soft enough that I don't have to tear into my paper and kill my hand by applying so much pressure, and also hard enough so that it doesn't smear much. I used to use 4H lead but one my hand and wrist would start to hurt after a few hours, and the harder the lead the harder it is to erase. I wrap my pencils, even some of my brushes in gauze tape to keep my hand from cramping.
-For eraser I only use two, a keened and a small click erase. They both do the job just fine
Inking:
-Finding the right ink took awhile and a few bucks but I did finally the perfect ink (for me) it's Dr. Ph. Martian's Black Star Matte. I LOVE this ink! its BLACK, the only time you have to double coat it to avoid browning out is big areas. But other then that its great! I've tried just about every ink I could find, some were to thick, others were't black enough and some were so glossy it scanned funny. Highly recommend this ink.
-Brushes, again a pain to find your perfect match but once you do you'll never go back. My favorite brush is Winsor & Newton Series 7 #1. I use it for most if not all my brush inking. I do use a small 18/0 liner for extra tight line work, but I could get the same line weight with the W&N #1. For filling in large areas I mainly use just some random flat brush I have from when I painted, I believe its a size 2 maybe 3. I do also use a W&N Series 7 #3 but not very often. BE CAREFUL! These brushes aren't cheap so take care of them!! When I'm done with one of my nice brushes I clean it! I use "The Master's Brush Cleaner" ever time! If its a cheap $5 brush I don't care, dip it in some water get as much ink as I can then put it back. But for a $20 (the #3 was $47 >:( ) brush I take care of it, I don't have the money to go get a new brush every week or so. I know a few inkers who have been using the same brush for at the most 2 years, because they take care of it.
I do also use a crow quill Hunt 102. I like them a lot just most of the work I've been doing lately requires lots of line weights and a brush is easier.
Coloring:
-I have a Wacom intous4 Large. I love my tablet! the only draw back is you have to look at your screen not your hand to draw, which makes drawing on it pretty difficult.
-Only program I use to color is Photoshop CS5. Again it works perfect for what I need so I don't see the point in getting another program.
-I use my MacBook, it is hooked up to this awesome 21' monitor a friend gave me. Because my laptop cant handle a lot of Psd. files I always have my 2 TB hard drive hooked up to it with all my files saved into it.
-Two quick tips about coloring:
1) ALWAYS KEEP YOUR FINISHED FILES! That way if your editor says "This needs to be a different color" you can change it in a flash
2) Because I live in Missouri and the humidity is crazy high my hand tends to stick to the tablet. You can buy a Wacom smudge guard but thats around $20, so what I did was make my own. It was very easy. You just take a thin felt glove and cut out all the finger but your pinky and ring finger, be sure to leave the wrist part attached otherwise it won't work. Yes you kinda look stupid but who gives a shit?! It helps!! I even use it when I'm drawing or inking for the same reason so your hand doesn't stick and smear all over your hand.
Well thats pretty much all the tools I use. Hope this helped! If you have any further questions just shoot me an email Larson.j.art@gmail.com or message me on Facebook or DeviantART, I did just make a Tumblr so you have one be sure to follow me
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