So, some of you may notice some changes! From page 49 I started using actual ink pens instead of inking digitally in Paint Tool SAI.

So why did I switch? Well, while there are definite things I like about this style (a bit bolder, higher resolution, more varied line weight), I made the switch because inking with real media is faster. One reason it’s faster is because there is no “zoom” tool. When you can zoom in and fix every little flaw in the line art… you do. I was spending way too much time zooming in and adding/fixing details that no one would notice in the digital file or a print. Drawing on a letter-sized sheet of cardstock eliminates that problem. Also, it’s more portable… don’t have to lug a laptop around to do most of the work on the comic.

There is this sense among artists and art lovers that you should always use the tool that will give the results closest to your aesthetic desires. Unfortunately, at this point in my art career, that’s a luxury. Reducing the time it takes to complete a page by an hour or more just by going with a simpler style is really valuable. It’s a matter of balance, of course. If I really wanted to reduce the time it takes to work on a comic, I could just stop doing it, but I have no desire to do that!

When I started this comic, I gave myself permission to experiment. So, let’s see how this experiment goes!