I figured something out in recent years… i really do not like coloring in photoshop or on the computer. It just feels unnatural to me, as if coloring using a tablet is too mechanical for my rather unschooled and non-technical way of working. Months and months ago, Sarah got me a set of Copic Markers, 72 markers set A. I’ve done a little dabbling with Copics, but never really sat down and tried to color something. Mainly because i suck at inking, and Copic markers smear pencil lines. Last night i had an epiphany - what if i were to print right onto the marker paper with the laser printer? I was sure that the copics wouldn’t dissolve the toner.
Sure enough, i was right (and would have realized this sooner if i had done some, like, research 
Anyways, the end result was that i experimented a lot last night and really do find that there is a lot of potential here - coloring with copics is much closer to the way i naturally create than using photoshop is. Sure, i’m limited by colors, no undo button, etc. But i think there is some potential here as i dive in and work with it. The biggest plus - i actually enjoyed doing it, and i feel comfortable with the darn things.
Thats probably the most important thing when it comes to art, being comfortable with your tools. For this drawing, i went a step further and actually did ink it, and colored several versions which i printed on laser printer. It’s not too bad - lots of room for improvement (and for tweaking colors that i scan in) but if it gets me working with color, thats a good thing.
pirotunes: Bouken Desho Desho? from “Bouken Desho Desho?” by Hirano Aya
I think thats absulutoly the best coloring I seen in a long time…I also like your old school coloring you did a while back as well.
I really like the texure and the style of coloring you did here. I so enjoyed this piece and i hope you do continue to color like you did here. ^_^
The texture and natural variation of the colour, works a lot better with your style than computer based methods ever did. There’s this sort of organic, natural feel to it. I like it.
Fred, your drawings always rock. You are one of my artist heroes and I am determined to catch one of your MegaTokyo conventions.
On your latest artwork, your colouring is fantastic. I hate using colour - I am completely greyscale - but you have inspired me to try it. This artwork is really very good, and I’m sure you are proud of it too. =] kawaii.
sorry, my url is fixed now. ^_^ gomen.
That’s how it is with music for me. I use different tools depending on what I’m doing. The tools I choose are ones that I feel the most comfortable with and I usually fall back on those tools no matter what.
That’s how it is with music for me. I use different tools depending on what I’m doing. The tools I choose are ones that I feel the most comfortable with and I usually fall back on those tools no matter what.
what happened to saeko’s hair color?
i liked it better before
(http://www.fredart.com/fredart/artpage.php3?src=&ft=co&fn=30)
Wow I really like it. The colors are calming, and I didn’t know that about copics! I’ll have to try that with the few I have. Yay, go Fred!
When FA loaded up, I looked at it for a second and thought “somethings different” and with a little focus I noticed it was a new color picture so I clicked on it immediately. The colors are great; very vibrant. Copics apparently rule and you rock using them Fred.
(I make my comments too elaborate..^^;;)
Anyway, my main reason for wishing to comment is to mention something I’ve noticed at work. I work in a thriftstore and wear a vest as a ‘uniform’. I’ve so far only put the Dom, Ed, Asmodeus and Kitty (does he have a name?) pins on there, but even they draw attention.
I get comments like “Wow, I like your pins.” “Those are cute what are they from?” And whenever there’s some interest, I tell them “Oh it’s from this online comic called Megatokyo. You can also buy it in book form.” Or some approximation of that. All ages from kids to middle age sorts and various ‘types’ are all asking about my pins. Wait till they see Miho and the rest! I definitely need to rebuy the original set (most of which fell off my flapdoozy bag)!
I recently bought a pack of copic markers, and i’m loving them to death. So much, in fact, that i used up all of my paper and have yet to run out to buy some more. ><; i’m not a big fan of inking, either, so i’ll be sure to try the whole “printing on marker-paper” thing. =)
I think one of the good things about you and copic markers is that the people are not as pale as an ibook. Plus it kind of forces you to shade with a darker tone so it’s noticable.
Hey Fred,
Glad to see a follow-up to your earlier entry about copics. Reading your solution to the pencil smearing issue (which always bugged me about alchohol markers) was ‘Doh!!’ What a great solution! I’m going to try that myself. Hey, to any of you other folks out there who don’t color in Photoshop–do you almost feel like nowadays if you don’t color in photoshop or other digital format-it’s almost ‘wrong’? I know that sounds nuts, but that’s the vibe I get from people sometimes…digital or nothing. Oh well…long live watercolor I say!
The copic pics look great!! I’d love to see a full comic in that low-key simple color style!
I love the picture Fred!!!
Like Wolfen, I also think there is an amazing, organic, grainy feel to the picture that the past few have lacked. I like looking at the color drawings that you have done to see what Miho or Largo would look like if you bumped into them in a hallway. But I believe one thing is missing……WALPAPERS!!!! if you or a fan created one or two, it would make me and no doubt a few fans most appreciative. Now I need to go out and find myself some of your copic markers!
I think this works much better with your pencil styled drawing than digital coloring does. Just wanted to say that.
@Bones
Look in Doms site Oop-Ack! Just use the link in his picture on mt.
Yay, new art!! ^_^
Re: pirotunes,
–Or even the rain, which seems to be all we’re getting in Pennsylvania these days…
I fscking love “Bouken Desho Desho?” (the opening theme from the “Melancholly of Suzumiya Haruhi” anime). It just grew on me in a way that its counterpart “Hare Hare Yukai” didn’t, as sacreligious as that sounds. Just something about the arrangement makes me want to run out into the sunshine.
Keep up the good work as always,
q-pa
Dang, I like the coloring. I have to wonder, since coloring with copics is easier with the laser printer, do you think you might start doing someo of MT in color now? You know, do a few special colored pictures, or just the opening few frames like OMG or something like that…