Friday, April 3, 2009

Illustration Friday: Talisman

Okay,******
so Rowena's college instructor was right. Ball point pen DOES blob. But I used the cheapest of the cheap--a Bic pen. I don't recall this happening with Monday's picture. Still, though, the blobbing is far less serious than the big splotches with the dip pen. Also, it smears when you erase the pencil underneath it.

I do love regular old pen and ink--dip pens, dark dark black black ink--clean clean edges.

So I'm not going on any big ball point pen campaign. It's just more convenient for doing at school (my student teaching is still teaching all day, and what else should I be doing?).

As far as the talisman goes, it's not actually IN the picture, but it's what gives her the courage to face down the bear.

25 comments:

  1. Love your interpretation. I like a ball point pen also but found out that watercolor and BPpen don't like each other.

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  2. I really love the use of the ball point pen...it really is a great tool!
    I also really like your composition as well as interpretation of the subject!

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  3. My daughter Rebecca draws in ball point pen, this started as doodles in the back of her school books.

    Great Illo!

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  4. We've probably all been there...that sure brings back memories for me. I should have saved all my old school notes just for the drawings in them. I guess I just never considered using ballpoint pen SERIOUSLY. (Maybe I still don't).

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  5. Well done - great line work & drama

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  6. I love the savagery of the bear, and the line work you used in this is amazing! Great work!

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  7. ohhh very nice pen and ink work. have you done pointillism/stippling?

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  8. Holy macro that is one scary looking bear. Well done! I used pilot balloint pens for my Moleskine journal drawings. Use the fine point, they don't blob or smear when used with more expensive erasers. This is absolutely stunning.

    Oh yes, I wanted to tell you - you are right about the exercises beiing so zen.

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  9. Beautiful illustration and very courageous kids! :) You should try a MICRON..... They are fantastic, in many sized (from 005 to 08) ;o)

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  10. yes, the real talisman is inside your/her/my head... :-)

    if you give the ballpointpen enough drying time it's won't smear... and the blobbing used to be much worse, especially when they were almost empty..

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  11. Fabulous bear. I actually got kind of scared. Great drawing! Thank you for your kind comments on my entry.

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  12. I've just spent a wonderful 10 minutes scrolling through your blog. What a wonderful artist you are - how pleased I am to have 'discovered' you! I shall come back for a more leisurely browse later today.

    Your bear in Bic is magnificent - bravo! I think the blobbing adds mightly to the entire spectacle of dauntless bravery. (Love the unseen talisman - I suppose we all have one. We just need to find it.)

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  13. I tried out ball point pens, too, and enjoyed using them with watercolor washes. All the different ones that I used "blobbed," which is annoying. Also, the ink is not archival, so it will fade with time if exposed to light. By the way, gouache is a very versatile medium--you can use it in washes like transparent watercolors, or opaquely. And it reproduces very well.

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  14. You picture is wonderful. She herself is the talisman. She herself has the stamina and bravery of all the mothers that are in little girls.

    xoxo

    Renee

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  15. I like yours drawings, you great line and the composition.
    Thanks you for visit my blog.

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  16. Powerful image - you can almost feel the Talisman at work! Wonderful line work, as ever!

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  17. I made that up. I figured a talisman is for strength... a bear claw can be worn as a talisman... what would a bear wear? Chuck Norris!
    Nice bear by the way.

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  18. Well, I don't see any blobbing. I think it's a great illo, very well done!

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  19. Brilliant! As well your older works here!

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  20. Thanks for the comment! I love the emotion in this picture! The thick line motion shows so much excitement.

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  21. So Brave... that was my first thought about the child facing down the bear. Your use of texture is incredible, it makes the image dynamic. I think so often adults forget how brave and courageous children really are. Excellent concept and drawing!

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  22. I love what Renee said...so I'll second that!
    This is a wonderful drawing :)

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  23. a thrilling scene fantastically ilustrated!

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