Illustration Tutorials and Tips for the Traditional and Digital Artist - Monster Cutie » Traditional http://monstercutie.com/blog Illustration Tutorials and Tips for the Traditional and Digital Artist - Monster Cutie Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:34:37 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Inking With Variable Line Widths http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/03/17/inking-with-variable-line-widths/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/03/17/inking-with-variable-line-widths/#comments Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:27:26 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=869 This week on Monster Cutie, we take a look a number of methods for inking lines with variable widths.  The video is a little rough since I held the camera with my left hand and drew with my right, but it should serve to get the idea across.

While Microns and felt-tipped brush pens like Faber-Castell’s Pitt Pens are relatively easy to find, you might have a little trouble tracking down the brush pens and the G-nib used in this video.  For those, I turn to JetPens:

  • I find that the Pentel Pocket Brush is one of the most versatile brush pens I use.  And it’s great to take on the road.  It’s a little steep at $12.00, but it’s refillable.
  • The standard Pentel brush pens are also quite good.  They come in a variety of widths and are also refillable.  Less expensive than the Pocket Brush at $7.50.
  • The G-Pen nibs are much more flexible than the standard ones you’ll find in a pack of the generic Speedball calligraphy sets.  You can get a pack of ten for $12.00 and they’ll last for a fairly long time.
]]> http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/03/17/inking-with-variable-line-widths/feed/ 2 Snacking Cutie – Part 10, FIN http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/01/13/snacking-cutie-part-10-fin/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/01/13/snacking-cutie-part-10-fin/#comments Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:56:02 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=819 And I’m spent! Remember how I started out saying that I usually stay away from effects and filters? This time we’re doing nothing but messing around with effects and filter. Ha!

There are a few things I want to fix up. There’s still some things that are bothering me about the bushes in the foreground and the sock needs some more sock details so that it doesn’t look like an oversized tongue, but for all intents and purposes, I’m done!

Other videos in this series:

  • Part 1 – Grayscale Sketching
  • Part 2 – Background Grayscale Detailing
  • Part 3 – Cutie Grayscale Detailing
  • Part 4 – Initial Color Blocking
  • Part 5 – Custom Brushes and Cutie Colors
  • Part 6 – Squid Hat Detailing
  • Part 7 – Devil in the Details
  • Part 8 – Bloody Sock
  • Part 9 – Doing the Butt
]]> http://monstercutie.com/blog/2010/01/13/snacking-cutie-part-10-fin/feed/ 3 Inking With the Cutie http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/12/05/inking-with-the-cutie/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/12/05/inking-with-the-cutie/#comments Sun, 06 Dec 2009 03:08:49 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=700 Now that we’ve made our comfy brush holder, it’s time to use our new device to ink something!  This week, we ink a comic strip.

]]> http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/12/05/inking-with-the-cutie/feed/ 2 Sculpting With Monster Cutie http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/27/sculpting-with-monster-cutie/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/27/sculpting-with-monster-cutie/#comments Tue, 27 Oct 2009 12:36:19 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=675 This week we depart from traditional illustration to talk a little about customizing urban vinyl designer toys and making your own with some sculpting materials.

We take a brief look at Super Sculpey, Paperclay, Milliput, and Magic Sculpt and how you can use them in your customizing projects.

]]> http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/27/sculpting-with-monster-cutie/feed/ 2 Behind the Scenes With Naoki Urasawa http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/23/behind-the-scenes-with-naoki-urasawa/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/23/behind-the-scenes-with-naoki-urasawa/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 14:33:44 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=655 Creator of such modern manga classics like Monster, 20th Century Boys, and Pluto, Naoki Urasawa is considered by many to be a modern master of Japanese Comics and the only person worthy to step in footsteps of the legendary Tezuka Osamu.  In this five-part documentary, we get to see how Urasawa brings his creations to life.

I’m absolutely amazed that it takes only seven days to complete a 24-page chapter.  Of course, he has a room full of assistants which is something that I’ve rarely seen.  But still, that kind of fast-paced schedule is insane, especially considering it takes an entire month for American comic artists to produce 22 pages.  His attention to the slightest detail is fascinating.  Truly inspired work.

Sing!  Sing like Bob Dylan!

The woman interviewing Urasawa has the best expressions!  OMG!  I never seen a pen draw different weight lines!

Wow, even his grade school manga looks professional.

With such prolific output, I’m not surprised his body developed major pain.  He’s sacrificing even his body to manga.

Ah, the eternal struggle between fan desires and creator’s vision.

I’m glad he ultimately chose to stick with his vision.  In the end, that’s really what the fans want.

]]> http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/23/behind-the-scenes-with-naoki-urasawa/feed/ 1 Learn How to Cast Your Own Toys With Tesselate http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/20/learn-how-to-cast-your-own-toys-with-tesselate/ http://monstercutie.com/blog/2009/10/20/learn-how-to-cast-your-own-toys-with-tesselate/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 22:06:50 +0000 Jamie http://monstercutie.com/blog/?p=642 To coincide with the upcoming release of his latest toy, Oakor, indy resin toy maker Tesselate put together a guide for making a two-part silicone mold to cast resin figures.

You can also check out a slide show of the making of Oakor all the way from initial 2D design, sculpting, and casting.

Tesselate also has an excellent guide for one-part molds and a fairly extensive and helpful list of resources if you’re interested in making  your own toys.  You can also purchase Tesselate’s homemade toys through his site, Tesstoys.

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