The Inkblot is your cartooning information resource. From art supplies to drawing lessons to tips from the pros, you'll learn what it takes to be a cartoonist!

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Contents:

• 1. Issue Recap

• 2. The Marker that Doesn't Bleed

• 3. To Smear or Not To Smear

• 4. Tips & Tricks

Issue Recap

If this is the first issue of The Inkblot you’ve read, here’s a quick summary of some of the things we’ve discussed in past issues:

• We talked all about how to think up ideas and jokes for Cartoons

• We discussed the different art supplies used for cartooning, and which are my favorites

• We spoke with professional cartoonist Brian Crane who draws the internationally syndicated comic strip, “Pickles”, as well as cartoonist Frank Roberson, who draws the strip, “Been There”, and asked them about experiences and methods for cartooning

If you’ve missed any of these wonderful issues, they’re available on The Inkblot Back Issues page for absolutely no charge. Just go to https://www.coolcartooning.com/back_issues.html.

The Marker that Doesn't Bleed

As a cartoonist, I’m always on the lookout for a pen that will give smooth, clear lines, won’t bleed through the paper, and is inexpensive. After all, I’m still a poor boy, and can’t afford expensive equipment. Like I’ve mentioned in the past, over the 30-some years I’ve been drawing cartoons, I’ve tried just about every drawing instrument imaginable. But I’ve recently rediscovered the amazing Flair Pen!

The Flair is a felt-tip marker-like pen made by Papermate. Most of you have probably heard about this pen, because it’s been around for, like, EVER. It’s everything I love in a cartooning pen, because its inexpensive—it can be found in any grocery or drug store for almost nothing—it gives a strong, uniform dark line, and best of all, IT DOESN’T BLEED!

A pen bleeding through the paper is VERY annoying. The ink gets everywhere; since we’re generally drawing with waterproof ink, it also forever STAINS anything it touches! I still have stains on my drawing table that are more than 20 years old, from me learning this lesson the hard way. So many finished or almost-finished cartoons have been ruined through ink stains, bleeding from one page to another. Of course, nowadays, you can just scan your cartoon into Photoshop or something and erase any errors, but we didn’t have that trick in the old days! Computer or no computer, it’s still easier and takes less time if your pen does what you want it to do the first time!

To Smear or Not To Smear

Granted, some magic markers do smear, especially as you’re erasing your pencil lines, which is one major reason they have long been discouraged as a pen for cartooning. However, the Flair pen is different.

Flair pens may look like magic markers, but they don’t smear, even when you drag an eraser across them. They dry quickly, and don’t bleed through paper…not even through typing paper. I’ve even used the Flair for filling in large black areas in a drawing, and even that doesn’t bleed through. The only time I’ve gotten a Flair pen to bleed through typing paper is when I’ve left the point sitting on the paper, but didn’t move it. If you leave the point sitting in one place long enough, it’s eventually going to bleed a bit. But it never does for normal drawing and inking.

So, the Flair pen is my new favorite pen for cartooning. You can get them anywhere, and you can use them anywhere. They work on a variety of different surfaces, without bleeding through or smearing (the only exception to this might be drawing surfaces that are extremely glossy or cold-pressed. I haven’t used Flair on cold-pressed Bristol, for example, so I can’t say whether or not it will smear. I also haven’t tried it on tracing paper).

Go to your local grocery store or corner drug store, and pick up a few Flair pens! You’ll be pleased at the great-looking lines, and how easy the pen is to use. I guarantee you won’t be sorry!

Tips & Tricks

The tip for this issue is about making straight lines and borders. If you’re drawing a comic strip, comic book page, or panel cartoon, straight lines are very important. Straight lines make the entire cartoon look professional, and don’t detract or distract from the artwork they contain. Straight lines also allow you to keep the lettering for your cartoon straight.

As important as they are, I’ve always had problems making straight lines. I’ve spent many long hours with my ruler, t-square, triangles, and other guides, trying my best to make straight lines for my cartoon borders. For some reason, no matter how hard I try, my lines are just a little bit off. I’ll think I have a straight line, but when I complete the cartoon’s border, I’ll step back, and notice that my border looks frustratingly more like a trapezoid than a square!

So nowadays, when I have to make a border or a straight line, I use my computer! I scan the cartoon into my computer, and use either Photoshop or the Paint program that comes with Windows (MAC users have a similar program, I believe, but I’m not sure what it’s called since I don’t have a MAC handy). The computer is beautiful because it makes perfect lines and borders every time. You can instantly slap a border on, adjust its thickness, size, and color. Your lines are always straight, and your borders are always perfectly square and in proper proportion.

So, if you have a computer, use it for your straight lines and borders! It’ll save you a ton of headache.

If you don’t have a computer, then get with the times, man! This is the 21st Century, for crying out loud! Get a cheap one from a thrift store if you have to, but get one! If not, you’ll be doing it the old fashioned way. This is fine, if you are one of those lucky ducks that have a knack for making straight lines without thinking about it. (If you are, don’t tell me; I’ll be jealous!) For the rest of us, though, the computer is the only way to go!

That’s all the time we have for this issue. There is a lot more information about cartooning in the literally hundreds of cartoon books out there. Check out my new CoolShops page and buy a few!

Until next issue,

Happy Drawing!

Michael Richards