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Yes, thats the Manuscript stuff. Though they seem to have changed the formula recently- not as good as it was but 'ok' if thats all you can find. Some Higgins stuff is fine with a nib too.

This is better-

http://www.daler-rowney.com/en/content/fw-artists-inks

The Black ( India) is the one you want. Note- NOT the Pearlescent!

A dash of water with it (not too much) and it's good to go -  best to use a dropper and 'mix' what you want to use as you use it in a separate bottle - not a good idea to dilute/work from your main bottle as it dries when working from it and by diluting you are messing with your source if you get my drift.


If by any chance you have tons of time and can afford to let stuff dry slowly (literally overnight) the Daler Calli (black indian ink)is a joy to ink with. Sadly, I just can't use it as time is always an issue....

As i say- these inks are for nib and not brush - a thicker ink required there.
Hope that helps.

I believe Paperpeople do a CS10 copy.
Not sure about duotone- let me know if you find some please!
:-)

Hey all,

I recently decided to experiment with calligraphy/dip pens and I'm having trouble. The ink will flow from the nibs just fine, but only if I use very slow strokes. Whenever I try faster more decisive strokes, the ink stops flowing. Is this something to do with the oil that new nibs are coated in? I've read that before using new nibs it's a good idea to remove the oil coating. Some people suggest washing the nib with a light detergent. Others say burn the oil off with a light flame (though I've not tried this, I heard it risks damaging the nib). Others say drop the nib in boiling water.

Any advice on how to get those fast strokes of the pen to work would be great:)

Always give the nib a wash first - I use hot water, soap and a tooth brush - taking care not to damage the nib point.

Your 'fast line' problem is almost certainly more to do with your choice of ink than the nibs. Assuming that the nib you are using is not damaged. Daler Rowney Acrylic or Manuscript Acrylic is pretty good for pen work- a little water to dilute helps if you want to go really fast - don't dilute too much or the ink stops flowing - it's a tricky balance! Some calligraphy inks are great but the downside is often that they take longer to dry. I use different ink for brush and pen work as I want fast flowing stuff for pen and good covering thicker stuff for brush.

Dinkybox do screen tone ( do a search - I don't have the link to hand, sorry). It's japanese manga stuff but exactly the same as the old letraset sheets.

Maaaan- I'd forgotten how great Colin Wilson's early black and white art was. Simply stunning! I may need to go rummage through all those dusty progs....

I was think Alex Nino ??

That wouldn't actually surprise me. I'm not familiar enough with his work to attempt an attribution, but there are enough pieces knocking about on the internet for me to see some definite similarities.

Cheers

Jim

I'm a big Nino fan. I could be wrong but I think it's someone doing a good job of a 'Nino style' but not the man himself. I'd love to know for certain....

[properly]

If you find yourself telling someone they haven't really been raped properly, you should probably take a good look at your motivations and your conscience.

Indeed.
And if your 'doctor' tells you that 'the female body has ways of shutting down to avoid pregnancy if raped' you need to stop visiting Witch Doctors and find a science based alternative. They are all the rage these days I hear. Y'know; clever folks who really know about stuff.....

[Dredd]

Dredd was fairly enjoyable but I didn't think it was very clear from the first panel that the warehouse was actually a flying vehicle (I think this is mainly to do with the logo placement). I also wasn't totally sure at first, why the pilot was making an enquiry about available space - it hadn't been established that the judges were in an unmarked vehicle and were just trying to get close enough to drop a squad for an assualt.

I agree; If in doubt blame the lettering droid! 

I think you make a fair point, I should have established the 'unmarked' Judge-packed vehicle more clearly in panel 1. My mistake.

I'm really impressed with all the stuff on this thread! Real classic stuff from all the masters to present day.

I can see why you get hooked on these, they're true works of art where you actually can see the depth, lines and details - pieces of eternal enjoyment!

I picked up this Ron Smith page way back for about £30, it's the only original art I own as I've realised it's a good way to spend money fast! 
(Wish I'd bought some more back then though)

Ron Smith is one of my fave-artists on Dredd, seeing the art up close makes you understand what a master he is. It's a fun page to watch too I think, a little short story on its own 

Ron is one of those artists who's work does seem to shine on the original art board. Most art does, but some stuff just seems to reveal a greater ratio of goodness than others when seen in the flesh as opposed to print. Great page.

Love both the Bolland and McMahon pages. Lovely stuff.

Gotta be the best period for 2000 art. Can't see it being beaten....

I was an arrogant bloody pain, to be quite honest.

Yeh. Me too. I'm working on it!

What sort of ages of art education did people find frustrating? And how so?

Foundation level. Seemed all anyone wanted to teach me was how to be a pretentious. I just wanted to learn how to draw better. I stropped off in a huff and missed out on allot of good stuff I've had to go back and learn later.

I'll be honest -- mostly, I wanted to learn to draw, and our art department spent most of its time whiffling on about how stuff made us feel.

Kinda similar!


For anyone interested there is a cracking good Ted talk by Ken Robinson on How Schools Kill Creativity.

Why is he using such thin paper now?

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Looks like very flimsy paper. Unless he's inking with markers...?

It's very flimsy paper. It's layout paper, 45gms and yes I do use felt tip pens and markers to ink.

I've used all sorts of different kinds of paper in the past, from paper costing £5 a page to tracing paper. This is just my latest phase of papery-ness.

The main reason I use this paper is that I like the feel of the paper when I'm drawing on it. No, that doesn't mean anything kinky. What I mean is, I pencil and ink each page on the pad (ie I don't remove a sheet of paper to draw on a more solid surface.), So It gives a slight cushioning effect when drawing. I like it's softness of touch.
The other reason I like using this paper is the fact that if a page goes completely wonky, then I can just pull it out of the page and tear it up without thinking "Crivvens I'm tearing up a fiver!", kinda thing. Because each sheet of paper is so cheap, then I am freed from being "precious" about every single bit of paper. It's been quite liberating for me artistically. I hope it's finally starting to show in the artwork.

Anyhoo, hope that's helped explain the oddity of the paper.

Cheers

Colin

Yeh, I like the fact that layout pad is transparent enough to trace over roughs, great for markers and is dirt cheap. Have often thought it would be good to develop a marker style so I could work that way. Not crazy about working with markers though!

How you manage to 'pencil' on layout pad I don't know!? You must have a very light touch Colin! Damn stuff tears if you breath too heavily over it.....! 

Why is he using such thin paper now?

You took the words right out of my mouth!

Looks like very flimsy paper. Unless he's inking with markers...?

Coming up: Amanda Holden Block, Elisha Cuthbert Block, Natalie Mendoza Block and Gina Gershon Block (all in one sector, very close to each other).

And - for my wife - Ben Affleck Block.

-- Mike

Could I request a Carey Mulligan block, please, thank you?
-pj

Either I'm going terribly wrong with my interpretation of Mega City architecture.....
....or you guys need to get out more! 

Or both!? 

Yeah, that's the same size for my Gibson Robo-Hunter (the actual artwork, panel-border to panel border, comes in at 51.5 x 42cm).

I had a quick look for other outsized artwork I have:

Bad Company (first run): 43.5 x 36cm (on a 52 x 44cm page)
Colin Wilson Dredd (his first story): 49 x 36cm (56.5 x 40cm page; his Rogue stuff is along the same lines)

Cheers Ming.
I shall 'dabble' with some oversized art next time I have the chance...