First Digital Inking

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So I've really gotten into the art of inking as of late. I have been one who has done a lot of art in past years digitally, but it has been great getting my hands dirty with a traditional medium again. I first started inking comic book art a couple weeks ago and I'm in love. I've seen people online who ink digitally, and it can look great and kudos to them, but I want to learn the old school craft.

So I've done some pieces traditionally, with another work in progress sitting on my table at home, but I was at my fiancé's tonight without my inks, and so I thought I'd give digital inking a whirl. Two months ago I would have been in love with it, but now that I've gotten my hands dirty with the real thing I realize the real thing is much more to my liking. There's an analog warmth to it, a sweet character that you don't quite get with digital. There's a personality that just doesn't come through digitally. Maybe I'm not being fair, because I haven't even finished one full piece yet digitally, but I'm not feeling the connection to it that I do with paper and ink.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking digital inking. I love digital art. I've made some digital pieces of art that I'm very proud of, and I've seen some mind-blowing digital work done by others. But as I was sitting at my Cintiq inking this amazing piece by David Finch, I think I came to realize digital inking is not for me. At least it isn't my preference. I've seen instances where digital inking was how the project was instructed to be done. I'm sure if I got faster at it, I'd maybe use it in certain deadline or project situations. But as much as I love my Cintiq, I don't think it's ever going to be my preference over brushes and nibs, paper and ink, smears and drops, and ink-stained hands.

But to you out there who ink digitally, keep at it. Keep improving at it as you would with any other medium. I'll probably try to bring myself to improve my digital inking along side my traditional inking. It all comes down to telling the story and keeping true to the penciler. They all become lines in a comic book in the end.

Rock on,
James