Pens and papers

I start another week or so of Photoshop work on Monday.

Visited a couple of art supply shops, checking out the Cartiera Magnani watercolor papers. Checking out the prices on the new (to me) Portofino hot-press blocks. I’ve got a Pescia cold-press block, but hot-press lends itself better to my anal cross-hatching pen technique. It’s also harder to find.

No, wait. According to this page, the Portofino line contains both hot- and cold-press papers. WTF? I’ve got no idea how Cartiera Magnani’s product line is divided up, and their website is no help.

Anyway, while I was at NY Central, I picked up a Japanese manga pen. (And holy crap, I got ripped off! $10 I paid! $4 online! At least I’ll know not to pay $5 for refills.) It’s got about the same line thickness as the .005 Pigma Micron I use so much, but seems to flow a bit better. On the down side, it’s water-soluble, unlike the waterproof Micron.

No new comics to buy this week either. Grumph. I picked up a Scary Godmother TPB, but it’s just not keeping my interest. I read the TPB of Chynna Clugston-Major’s Scooter Girl yesterday, and didn’t like it as much as I like her other comic, Blue Monday. I did try using something like her style for Melorne’s eyes, and I like the results.

I’ve also finally started reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. Good so far, and reassures me that I don’t just hate everything.