Illustration Unlocked

Brushes

Brush and ink has been the heavy favorite for comics and manga for decades.

brush and ink

Brushes provide a lot of latitude and versatility for illustrators to achieve different effects and indicate shapes with a variety of weight and shading.

There are many types of brushes to choose from, depending upon the type of use they are intended for. Sable hair is among the most high-quality, while synthetic hair ranks among the lowest in terms of durability.

Before selecting which brush to use, it helps to research how different qualities of brushes interact with ink as opposed to paints, which remains the main manufacturing concern of brush companies. Also, a word of caution: ink notoriously ruins brushes after several uses, regardless of the material. So cheaper brushes may be the best investment for the illustrator.

Techniques

Some common brush techniques:

Brushes provide a great range of versatility to indicate and render shapes. Their chief advantage is variable line weight. A brush can create very fine lines when held upright at 90 degrees from the page. It can also produce a thick line to indicate mass or foreground placement of a subject.

For shading and rendering, a brush can be feathered—a process by which small, quick strokes can create a feeling of light degradation, similar to contour hatching with a pen but with a more fluid, weighty feeling.

By flattening a brush against the page, large shapes and dark outlines can be applied very quickly. Brushes are also useful for stippling, or splattering small droplets of ink on the page to create various texture effects.


example of technique
Flexible line weight
example of technique
Feathering
example of technique
Blocking shapes
example of technique
Stippling

Did You Know?

Brushwork can often be combined with pen for finer details.

Natural brushes are made from soft animal hair, including sable, badger, or hog bristle.

Smaller brushes provide more control for small areas.

It helps to have a small sheet of paper under the wrist as you work with brush so that your hand doesn't smudge the freshly-applied lines.

Common Use of Brush and Ink

Did You Know?

Brushwork can often be combined with pen for finer details.

Natural brushes are made from soft animal hair, including sable, badger, or hog bristle.

Smaller brushes provide more control for small areas.

It helps to have a small sheet of paper under the wrist as you work with brush so that your hand doesn't smudge the freshly-applied lines.

Common Use of Brush and Ink