Tools for sketch cover comics, what is safe to use?, Thinking about taking a shot at side income. Options

[Greg G.]

Hey guys and gals,

I was thinking of trying my hand at some sketch cover shenanigans to get a little extra folding money.

In your experience what are the safest tools to use on these covers? What sticks, what smears, etc.

Thanks for the input.

[Mat Nastos]

Hey guys and gals,

I was thinking of trying my hand at some sketch cover shenanigans to get a little extra folding money.

In your experience what are the safest tools to use on these covers? What sticks, what smears, etc.

Thanks for the input.

One issue with sketch covers is that there isn't a consistent cover stock, even within a company, and the quality/texture/etc varies widely. If you're doing color, one of the biggest ways to keep smearing to a minimum is to go from pencil to color and then black ink on top.

I do most of my work with brush and ink, which has worked on every cover stock I've come across. In terms of pens/markers, you really just have to test on a cover by cover basis and, once you find a stock you like, try to get as many copies of that comic as you can.

-Mat N

[Greg G.]

One issue with sketch covers is that there isn't a consistent cover stock, even within a company, and the quality/texture/etc varies widely.

-Mat N

That really stinks!

I was thinking of keeping it simple with Micron/Copics, but if the paper is random then this could end horribly.

[Mat Nastos]

That really stinks!

I was thinking of keeping it simple with Micron/Copics, but if the paper is random then this could end horribly.

Most of them should work with Microns (although, some have a waxy material that doesn't agree with Microns/Pitt pens/etc). In terms of Micros in conjunction with Copics/Prismacolors, you have to test. Best bet is to go pencil to color to ink if you don't have a test cover or if you find there is bleeding.

Just keep in mind that the sketch covers aren't art-specific paper and will never be consistent.

They are fun to play with, tho, so give it a shot!

-M

[Greg G.]

Thanks Mat.

I picked up the Wolverine and Spiderman sketch covers. I may just stick to B&W illustrations, I'm no good with colors and can always fall back on my partial color blindness as an actual excuse.

Though if I could hash it out Tsukasa Jun does some amazing stuff with colored pencils and markers. Don't go googling his art at work, cheesecake with a definite learning towards outright nudes.

[Mat Nastos]

Thanks Mat.

I picked up the Wolverine and Spiderman sketch covers. I may just stick to B&W illustrations, I'm no good with colors and can always fall back on my partial color blindness as an actual excuse.

Though if I could hash it out Tsukasa Jun does some amazing stuff with colored pencils and markers. Don't go googling his art at work, cheesecake with a definite learning towards outright nudes.

How did your sketch covers come out? I'd love to see what you did. I've been having great luck with brush/pen and ink, but still haven't taken a chance with markers for color yet. I'm a coward.

[Greg G.]

How did your sketch covers come out? I'd love to see what you did. I've been having great luck with brush/pen and ink, but still haven't taken a chance with markers for color yet. I'm a coward.

No, I have you beat in the coward department.

I haven't even started yet. I've just been buying the bloody things and not doing anything with them yet. I got some big ideas for a few of them, but thinking about it ain't executing it.

Powerful combination of procrastination and just being horribly burnt out after the day job. It's easier to just turn on and drop out with a video game than it is to coax those creative juices forward. Best I do lately is some anatomical studies.

[Greg G.]

Well, so far a pencil works.



I'm going to be erasing Dazzler here, even after I carefully referenced a bunch of Olivia Newton John photos. Her pose sucks and she's breaking the fourth wall by looking directly at the viewer. Stop being an attention whore Dazzler!

[Greg G.]

Okay, here's the first sketch cover.



Tools used:

Copic Markers
Copic Multiliners
Sakura Micron Pens
White out

Findings: The copics tend to pick up the pencil on the page and mix it rather than color over. In the future I will need to lightly erase before inking. Perhaps even lay down my tones first then ink.

Inks lift off with erasing. So you must erase gingerly to avoid lifting your lines.

The markers and paper react a little badly to body oils and humidity if you rest your hand on the page, I was working with cotton gloves on and it was an issue. I used a sheet of paper as a hand rest to avoid further fudging of the tones.

All in all a fun experiment.

[Greg G.]

I went to the comic shop on Friday and they received a new order of sketch covers from Marvel.

I made like a weirdo and stood around rubbing the covers to feel the differences in the paper stock. The Wolverine and the X-Men cover definitely had something funky going on. There was almost a waxy feel to the paper.

If you can do a side by side comparison, check it out.

[Greg G.]

Doing some late night Googling on the subject and the consensus on Marvel's covers at least is that the paper stock doesn't play well with mixed media. Inks don't settle, so they will smear.

Leinil Yu:

markers on bad sketch cover paper. I can only do watercolor style with this paper stock. blots and smudges are unavoidable. All ink lineart are done after the marker renderings. Paper doesn’t allow the inks to set in so it’s like drawing on a whiteboard.

Granted it's still an ass kicker of a cover.

Here's a kick ass Brian Stelfreeze Cap bust in watercolor.

Perhaps colored pencils is the way to go?

Experimentation!

[Greg G.]

Last week DC published Batman #0 with sketch cover.

Anybody else snag copies? The paper feels more akin to bristol board than some of the Marvel covers.

I'll post impressions once I have a go at it.

[Greg G.]

Heads up guys, DC released another awesome sketch cover this week! Awesome for me since I love the characters and universe Green Lanter #13!

I snagged several of these and will post impressions once I get around to drawing on them.I'm impressed though, DC just stapled the blank stock over the regular cover so it's completely blank on the inside and just has the trade dress and logo on the outside.

Paper stock feels better than the Marvel sketch covers like the Batman #0 issue.

[HopeH]

Okay, I have got to out myself as an idiot here.

What the heck is a sketch cover and where do you get them to draw upon, because this sounds fun?

[ART BOWSHIER]

If you have a local comics shop,you can order or buy comics with blank covers so you can make a custom made cover of your own design.

[HopeH]

If you have a local comics shop,you can order or buy comics with blank covers so you can make a custom made cover of your own design.

Is this a popular thing among artists? What do you do with them when you've done the covers?

[ART BOWSHIER]

sel them...... mosty for cmmisions, on ebay or at cons...

[HopeH]

Oh thank you, Art! I didn't understand. Now I do. You are terrific!

[ART BOWSHIER]

IF/you/don't/have/a/local/comics/shop,/Superfly/Comics/aand/games/will/dropsip/practically/anything.They/are/online/and/can/call/if/you/don't/trust/the/internet/with/your/info.....

[ART BOWSHIER]

IF/you/don't/have/a/local/comics/shop,/Superfly/Comics/aand/games/will/dropsip/practically/anything.They/are/online/and/can/call/if/you/don't/trust/the/internet/with/your/info.....