AboutBrad J. Guigar Expertise I can answer questions about developing a comic strip -- and self-publishing it both on the Web and tthrough print outlets. I can also offer advice on humor writing and cartoon illustration.
Experience I wrote "The Everything Cartooning Book" and co-wrote "How To Make Webcomics." I have been producing a daily comic strip, Evil Inc, since Feb. 2000. In 2007, I was nominated for an Eisner Award for my weekly comic, Phables. Both comics update regularly on their Web sites and appear in the Philadelphia Daily News and other newspapers. You can hear me discuss webcomics in my weekly podcast, Webcomics Weekly, along with my co-hosts Dave Kellett, Kris Straub and Scott Kurtz.
Organizations Halfpixel.com
Publications Philadelphia Daily News
Stanford Daily
Maine Campus
Expert: Brad J. Guigar Date: 7/2/2008 Subject: Inking with a brush
Question Hello, Brad-
I'm fairly confident cartooning with markers, but recently tried using a small brush and India ink. I have a lot of trouble getting a solid black. If I use more ink the brush gets too full, the line is thicker than I want and sometimes misshapen. Any suggestions on how I can learn to control this better? I love the varying line weights that many cartoonists get with the brush. (and thank you very much...your answers to many of the other questions I've read have been very helpful.
Answer I'm afraid there's only one answer to that one, and it's: Practice.
You'll eventually learn to find the right balance.
The only other suggestion I can offer is from an old cartooning book that mentions filling in blacks using a cotton swab. But I hate to even mention that because learning to ink with a brush is such a valuable skill that -- even though it might give you a short-term boost -- relying on such a crutch is only going to delay your eventual mastery of it.
