Art Questions for Stan

[rowdydog4444]

Stan, I just saw your interview from AnimePlay Vol 6: the making of Usagi Yojimbo, and may I might say you are just a master of your craft. I’m really wanting to do more traditional work than the computer stuff and/or integrate it. Ok, here are the questions I have. What type of pen do you use to do your inking (I know the one you use in the video you said that the certain pen isn’t made anymore but I was wondering the type…like is there a similar one)? Also the type of ink you use. Now I know you use a different pen and ink for your black fill space, what type of pen and ink do you use for those? What do you use for the (color)watercolor pens and the ink (I think it’s ink??)? And finally what is the cel-vinyl stuff? Like how do you do it and what do you use for that? Your works on cel-vinyl are goreous ! Sorry that this is kind of long Stan, but I’m really want to find out more of what you do as an artist. Many thanks!

-Trent

[Stan Sakai]

Hi Trent,

The pen I use is a Koh-i-noor Art Pen. It was discontinued about 15 years ago. Do not confuse this with the Rotring Art Pen (which I use for lettering). I have about 5 Koh-i-noors left, so I'll have to go looking for a replacement in a few years. It is a nice flexible nib fountain pen. Sergio also used it, but had to switch to a Pelikan drawing pen (I don't know the model). I used to use a brush, but found the pen more convinient and you don't have to wash it out.

I use Badger Black Opaque ink. It is a nice free-flowing, waterproof ink really made for the airbrush. I used to use FW ink, but they changed their formula a dozen years ago to an acrylic base. I called to complain to the company, and was told the Badger Black is FW's old formula--the one I like. It may be hard to find among the Higgins and Koh-i-noor inks though. I usually buy it online, 30 bottles at a time. Other artists, like Ken Steacy, prefer Higgins Black Magic which is easily available.

I use Pentel Brush Pens to fill in my blacks. They are nylon tipped brushes with an ink reservoir in the handle. I dump out the dye it come with, and replace it with Badger Black. To do this, squeeze out the dye from the handle, wash it out. Then, holding it upright, squeeze the handle to let the air out, and, using a dropper, slowly drop in the ink while releasing pressure on the brush handle. Suction will draw the ink into the brush pen reservoir. When you're done with it, just cap it. No need to wash it out as you would a regular brush.

The ink I used in the DVD is Rotring Artist Color, a pigmented dye. They have two types--transparent and opaque. I use the transparent ones. It works like liquid watercolor, and, because it has pigment, it will not fade as readily as dyes or markers.

Cel Vinyl is an opaque water based, vinyl acrylic color system. It was used a lot in the animation industry to color the animation cels--hence the name. It is sold in plastic bottles. It works very nicely. You can thin it down with water to make a wash, or use it directly from the bottle if you want an opaque look. Do not fill the Pentel Brush Pen with this or it will clog immediately. Use regular brushes. Scott Morse is a master with this medium. He was also interviewed for AnimePlay, in which he did a painting. It's really worth looking for.

[rowdydog4444]

WOW Thanks Stan for the big reply! I'm doing an usagi art piece kinda how you do yours. For your Rotring Artist Color, where do you buy them at? What brushs did you use for this? What colors do you have? Also what starting color do you use for Usagi's kimono? Sorry for all the questions again but I'm really wanting to try this out. Thanks again Stan.

-Trent

[Stan Sakai]

I buy Artist Colors at the art store. In my case, Swain's Graphics in Glendale. They should be pretty easily available, if not in stores then on-line through D ick Blick or other sites. They come in bottles, and are available as opaque or transparent. I use transparent.

I use the same Pentel Art Brushes with the Artist Colors, but I do not fill the reservoirs. I just dip them. Again, the advantage is that you just cap them, and don't have to wash them out.

I use the turquoise as the base for Usagi's kimono. I may layer it with a darker blue, or even purple to act as shading to shape the figure.

[Stan Sakai]

The paper that I use for my regular pages are 2 ply Strathmore 500 series regular (kid) finish bristol board.

When using water colors, Artist Colors, or Cel Vinyl I use a 5 ply. I used to use illustration board, but they're heavy and take up a lot of space. The 5 ply bristol is thick enough to withstand buckling, but thin enough to store easily.

The paper that I used in that AnimePlay DVD was just regular 2 ply 400 series bristol from a pad. That works pretty good for quick drawings and washes.

I use canvas board for oil paintings, such as covers for UY Book 4, 5, and 6.

[rowdydog4444]

Awesome Stan! Right now I'm doing a Usagi piece (like I said before) and I'm starting to fill the black areas and the paper is buckling . So what I'm going to do is finish the rest today and tommorrow light box the page with some 5-ply, which I'm about to go and get with the Artist colors, and redo the inking on it then start on the colors. I'll try and have the lineart hopefully up by tommorrow or the next day to show everyone. This really is my first traditional paint I'm going to do myself, unlike for high school or something. It really is comforting in a way that if I make a mistake or something I don't like there is nothing I can do about it. Unlike on the computer you have the undo feature. Thank you Stan for all the help! I'll keep you and everyone (if they are reading this) updated.

Domo
-Trent

[rowdydog4444]

Stan I found this at my art store but I don't know if it's the Artist colors you use "FW Acrylic Inks:FW ink is an acrylic based, water resistent ink". My art store is Pearl. If this is not it could you suggest or send me a link to an online store that has a artist color that you recommend? Thank you.

-Trent

[Stan Sakai]

I went looking online for the Rotring Artist Color, and discovered that it's been discontinued according to this website:


http://www.laeom.com/artrotringartistcolorset.htm

I'll have to look for something new to color with. I heard the FW colored inks are just as good as the Rotring. The colors are vibrant, and they have a good permanance rating.

[rowdydog4444]

When I was looking for Rotring Artist Color I when to the same site as well as many others that said that it was discontinued, but I thought your store have like a surplus of it. I don't really know if the FW inks are opaques or transparent or if they have both. On the peral's website it didn't really say. But if you give the thumbs up I'll give it a try! Oh did you buy your Pentel Brush Pen online or did you get it from your store? Thank you very much as always Stan !

-Trent

[Stan Sakai]

When I was looking for Rotring Artist Color I when to the same site as well as many others that said that it was discontinued, but I thought your store have like a surplus of it. I don't really know if the FW inks are opaques or transparent or if they have both. On the peral's website it didn't really say. But if you give the thumbs up I'll give it a try! Oh did you buy your Pentel Brush Pen online or did you get it from your store? Thank you very much as always Stan !

-Trent

I think the FW inks come in both opaque and transparent. I would use the transparent inks myself.

I got the Pentel Brush Pens many years ago from a local art supply store. I tend to stock up on supplies that I like just in case they do discontinue it, so I haven't bought any in many years. For all I know, they could also be discontinued.

[rowdydog4444]

I've spotted some Pentel Brush pens online so I'm going to nab them up. As for the inks I'm going to the art sotre this afternoon to go and actually check the bottles out. Again many thanks Stan!

-Trent