Draw! #25 Summer 2013 (magazine review).
We’re now back 8 years with Draw! # 25 and editor Mike Manley discussing comicbook craft with artist Lee Weeks and seeing how he designs his pictures. Interestingly, their discussion on how paper quality and its rag content, that is how it takes pencils and inks and absorbency, has dropped in recent years in the USA. In many respects, like with student and pro-quality paints, you would think there would be a similar thing with paper quality.
Inker Joe Rubinstein applies his lesson from Dick Giordano in respecting the work of the penciller when inking it and shows examples using a combination of pen and brush.
Turkish artist Vildiray Çinar isn’t someone I’ve come across before but I like his pencil texture technique although it’s not shown so much with the portfolio with his interview. He worked in Europe and DC Comics at the time and looking up his current work, has extended to Marvel since.
This is also Bob McLeod’s last regular ‘Rough Critique’. This time he points out the difference of size of characters on the page and the influence of the right colours to direct the eye, not to mention the importance of shadows giving shape to figures.
Mike Manley continues the colour theme with his ‘Art Bootcamp’ showing that you don’t need intricate colours to make strong covers and apart from some examples of his own, also shows how some of the older covers worked better by keeping it simpler and focused on the action. Added to that the difference between cool and warm colours re-enforces the image you want to create. A useful lesson.
Finally, Jamar Nicholas pans an expensive Sensu Portable Artist Brush as not being sensitive enough. I wasn’t aware there were brushes for digital touchscreens and looking at current products, it does look like sensitivity is still problematic today as well. Even so, it’s made me curious to investigate.
As always, there is something to learn from early issues of ‘Draw!’, so don’t forget to give them a look.
GF Willmetts
March 2021
(pub: TwoMorrows Publishing. 82 page illustrated magazine. Price: $ 8.95 (US). ISSN: 1932-6882. Direct from them, you can get it for $ 8.95 (US))
check out websites: www.TwoMorrows.com, www.draw-magazine.blogspot.com and www.penciltopencil.com and https://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_59&products_id=1090
