For Olga

Hi all - I recently got a great questsion and I thought it'd be cool to cover as an entry. The question was regarding my drawn line technique and how I get it to look the way I do. Firstly, let's cover what I use. For my rough drawing, I use anything I can get ahold of: #2 pencil, #6 pencil, ball-point pen, whatever. This deserves no further discussion. The drawing pencils I use are actually the pencils used by animators: Colerase pencils. You can find them in art and graphics stores. I like the blue, indigo blue and scarlet red particularly. None of them are magic and suddenly transform you into the next Glen Keane, it's just a matter of choice. I like the colors of these and the feel of their grain. For all of those curious, those colors seem really smooth like a 6b pencil. Gravy-like. My eraser of choice is the pencil-type Sanford Pink Pearl. These are a God-send. If you're use to a pnecil in your hand, these things will seem like a entirely new art tool altogether. Here's a picture of the Colerase pencil and Pink Pearl eraser.
The other thing I strongly suggest is another animator's tool. It's called the eraser shield and looks like this.

This is used when you need to erase a very specific little area surrounded by art you'd rather not erase. Simply use a hole in the eraser shield that will correctly mask off the area around your boo-boo and erase. I know what you're thinking "That's great if my mistake looks just like one of those shapes!" But trust me, with a little practice, you can block out anything with this little bugger. It's paper thin metal ('probly aluminum) and costs about a buck! Get one get one get one.

Okay - now, we get on to my technique. I first start with a rough drawing, thinking about nothing but the composition and attitude. The structure comes later. Remain vigilant in your focus. The next entry will begin our tutorial.