Tools used: Ballpoint pen, Photoshop, scanned paper textures

Allison Strom is a talented illustrator whose latest work can be seen in Vera Greentea’s independent comic Recipes for the Dead: Issue 2. Read on to learn how she incorporates Copics into her process and find out where you may be able to meet her in person:

Tell us about yourself!
I was born in New Orleans. I was probably drawing at the time, and then just sort of kept at it for going on 25 years. I think when I was growing up I wanted to do covers for fantasy novels like the ones my older sister and my dad read – Like the ones with big elaborate dragons and explosions and battleships and stuff. That was basically my entire impression of illustration until I started going to school at MCAD.

Do you have any formal art training?
I’m currently pursuing a degree in Illustration at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, but I’ve also been working as a freelance illustrator since before I enrolled back in 2007. It’s slow going! But both are excellent teachers, and although learning to find a balance between them is rough, it’s been worth the stress so far. Being at MCAD has been like learning how to speak after years of thinking I already knew how, and I love seeing how my experiences at school translate into my work outside of class.

When did you first become interested in creating comics?


To be totally honest, I thought I’d finally scared myself away from it. I always liked the idea of drawing comics, but it wasn’t until I took Jim Keefe’s Intro Comics class that I really started to find my footing with creating them. From there, it sat in the back of my mind until I got the script from Vera for Recipes for the Dead. Then it basically took over my brain.

Tools used: Pencil, Copic Multiliner, Copic Sketch markers, Photoshop

What’s the most challenging thing about working on a comic series?


I like to be able to spend eons lovingly tailoring a piece of work. But with comics, that’s got to be the entire book, not any individual panel. It’s so hard for me to let a drawing go and just move on to the next!

The comic you’re collaborating with Vera Greentea on, Recipes for the Dead, raised over $9,000 on Kickstarter – more than quadruple the fundraising goal. How did it feel to have such a positive response to the project?


It would almost be scary, except it’s completely wonderful. It makes me hate the fact that I’m not more experienced, because I want this to be the best thing I’ve ever made.

Do you prefer traditional or digital media?
I spent a lot of time as a primarily digital artist working in Photoshop, but I was starting to feel like I spent all my life in front of a monitor. Nowadays, I like using digital media to enhance a foundation drawing or coloring made with traditional media. I love to work out of my sketchpad for as much of a piece as I can get away with. I use pencil mostly, but also pens, ink, watercolor, charcoal, pastels, colored pencils; it’s always switching around. I think that’s what I like the best about making art: You can always find another way to do something, or undo something, in a worst-case scenario.

Describe how you incorporate Copics into your work:
I use Copics to add tone and texture to my inks before they go to color. Sometimes I use warm grays to set the temperature of the light throughout the scene, that way the shaded picture doesn’t come out looking “shiny”. I’ll go through after that with cool grays to work up shadows and depth, and maybe to describe form here and there. Finally, I use Photoshop to add color and maybe a few more textures, if I feel like there’s a space that needs a little roughing up. I try not to let this part overpower the drawing underneath, and to keep it so that the finished piece still keeps all of the expression and liveliness of the scanned original. It is always tempting to just fix a picture to death!

Tools used: Pencil, Copic Multiliner, Copic Sketch markers, Photoshop

What are you working on right now? Any personal projects?
I love making storyboard animatics. I feel like it’s a medium stuck between comic and animation, and it’s extremely expressive. I’m currently poking at an idea for a short project about a ghost who lives in an abandoned lighthouse. It’s not getting finished any time soon with my current workloads, but it’s something I enjoy coming back to whenever I can find time. It’s not really for anything special either. I just think its important to have something like that, where there’s no pressure and you can just enjoy it no matter how long it takes to pan out.

Aside from that, I’m always working on new artwork to sell at Anime Conventions I attend. It’s fun designing buttons and posters of my characters from various stories I’ve got no idea how I’ll ever write. I love them anyway.

Tools used: Pencil, ballpoint pen, Photoshop

Any exhibitions or shows coming up?
I’m going to be at Anime Detour and Animinneapolis this year, both in Minneapolis MN. I’m also trying to get into A-kon in Dallas TX, and Mecha Con in New Orleans LA, but we’ll see what happens!

Find Allison on the web:
Portfolio: http://shirotsuki.deviantart.com/
Tumblr: http://alliebirdseed.tumblr.com/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/clearblueNEL

Tess Fowler is a California-based comic book illustrator. Her work includes a handful of books for Zenescope, including issues of the Charmed series, and a number of sketch card jobs for properties such as Marvel, Lord of the Rings, and Indiana Jones. In addition she publishes a web comic at www.borisandcharlie.com, and creates portrait and pin up commissions in Copic marker and ink.

Tell us about yourself!
I was born and raised in Northern California’s Silicon Valley. I have no formal art training. They tried to put me in art classes in junior high and high school but I either flunked out of them for disobeying directions, or begged until they switched me to drama classes.

Are you self taught?
The comic book community is small and close knit. There is always someone to offer tips or tricks for improvement. I’ve been tutored by some very lovely pros along the way.

When did you first become interested in creating comics?
From the time I was very small I made my own comics. I folded up stacks of paper and bound them with the traditional three staples. I had my own system for this where I tore apart a cardboard box and laid out my books flat, then opened the stapler and placed it over the fold line, followed by slamming my hand down to make the staple puncture the entire stack. Then I folded all the staples down with a butter knife. While other kids were outside enjoying the sunshine, or playing video games with their friends, I was sitting alone with a pile of markers making picture stories. I took my art very seriously even as a kid because I always felt like I had to be ready for the day I’d make real comics.

What’s the most challenging thing about working on a comic series?
Definitely deadlines. I like to add a lot of detail into my work and that’s just not feasible when a book needs to hit the shelves by a certain date. That’s why I started my own web comic, so I could have an outlet for my love of detail. It’s made me ten times faster.

And the best thing about working on comics?
The best part of working on comics will always be the work itself, for me. The act of creating a visual story onto a once blank sheet of paper is a magical experience that is hard to describe. But aside from that I have to say I really adore the fans. I’ve met such unbelievably wonderful people in this line of work.

Do you prefer traditional or digital media?
I do everything traditionally, except for scanning of course. All of my commissions and pin ups are done in Copic markers and Multiliners. For me there is nothing that can replace the feeling of paper beneath my fingers as I create my art.

What are you working on right now? Any personal projects?
I’m currently working on Charmed for Zenescope Entertainment, which is my fifth project for the company.  And I’m inking the entire book in Copic multiliners. I also have my own web comic called Boris and Charlie which is also inked with multiliners. It’s about a little eight year old girl who lives with a giant closet monster and a talking cat.

How long have you been using Copic products? How did you first learn about them?
I first discovered Copic products back in 2006 when I was working a comic book convention and saw them on another artist’s table. After experimenting with them myself that following winter I never turned back. They replaced every other product for me because of their versatility.

What’s your favorite Copic product and why?
I can’t live without my Copic sketch markers. The brush tip and square tip in the same marker give me a greater ability to play with effects, especially in portraiture. Blending and layering is made easy because the color flow is so smooth.

What advice would you give to girls interested in pursuing a career in the comic book industry?
Follow your heart, listen to your gut…and carry a really big stick.

Find Tess on the web:
www.tessfowler.com
Check out Tess’s web comic at www.borisandcharlie.com
Become a fan on Facebook!

Many thanks to CopicBrasil for kindly sharing this interview with talented DC Comics artist Mahmud Asrar- enjoy!

Hi Mahmud, how are you? Tell us a bit about yourself. Who is Mahmud Asrar?

Mahmud Asrar- Thanks! I’m doing great lately. I’m a half Austrian, half Pakistani artist based in Turkey. I am a professional comic book artist and I’m currently drawing Supergirl for DC Comics. I’ve always wanted to draw comics ever since I was small and started out with creating fanzines along with some friends. In time I started getting some paying work and got to do work for almost all of the bigger comic companies. Some of the work I’m more recognized for are Dynamo 5 with Jay Faerber for Image Comics, a bunch of Marvel Comics work including Shadowland: Power Man, and Star Wars Jedi – The Dark Side for Dark Horse Comics, among others.

What does your studio look like? How is it organized?

MA – My studio is currently a room in the house. Usually my studio is pretty organized. I’m not one of those messy artists. I like to find my pens where I put them so I try to be tidy. Right now it’s a little out of order as we’re on the verge of moving. I’ve got the drawing table, the computer and everything else I need with my work all set up in my room. Of course I have a TV in there for background noise when I’m not listening to music. Then there’s the light box, scanner, printer, reference books, art materials, framed artwork and of course some toys and figures.

How is your day divided? Tell us about your daily routine…

MA- I’ve enjoyed drawing ever since I could hold something that would leave a mark. People around me encouraged me in that too which helped as well. I was never told to do “something serious” instead of drawing so I was lucky in that sense. For a while in my youth I didn’t know what direction to take in my life but ended up deciding to get a university education on arts. I’ve studied graphic arts for two years then moved on to animation as I thought it’d be closer to what I want to do. At this point I was pretty certain I wanted to be a comic book artist. Didn’t know it would happen of course but I dedicated myself to it and in time it became a reality..

Where do you draw inspiration from? Do you have any favorite source? What are your favorite artists for the moment?

When have you decided to work entirely on markers? Why did you choose Copics? What are the advantages and disadvantages of working with markers instead of 100% digital?

What are your plans for the future? What sort of things would you be interested in doing?

Check out David’s blog post to learn more about his technique, and pick up a copy of Dark Horse Presents #2 at your local comic store.

I received a twitter message last week from German illustrator Marika Herzog (aka demoniacalchild) letting me know she had some new work up on her deviantART page. She’s been using Copic Markers a while and has a lot of skill and control.  She is currently working on the second part of her Grimoire manga series. Check out her other pictures. She has some cool shots of her workspace (and cat!) so you can see manga-in-process. You can also follow her on twitter. Cool Stuff.

Thanks Marika!