This entry is about two months overdue, and it really is about damn time I got around to writing it. Because on March 29, a professional inker named Ken Wheaton was generous enough to take time out of his day to give me my first inking lesson. Ken’s inking credits include an issue of The Phantom for Moonstone Comics, and an issue of Bart Simpson’s Treehouse of Horror for Bongo Comics. Ken is also a fine illustrator and the co-creator of an original comic called Burger Bomb (his co-conspirator was writer Mike Churchill).

Inking is not my strongest suit. For those of you unfamiliar with how comic-books have historically been produced, the artwork is generally drawn in pencil and then India ink is applied over the pencilled artwork in order to make it printable. The ink is usually applied using dip pens and brushes, both of which are a bitch to control. There’s no substitute for practice, but learning from a professional can help shorten the learning curve a bit.

As an aside, Ken informed me that many comics are now being drawn in pencil and then inked digitally. Ken predicted that hand-inking will soon go the way of hand-lettering, which is almost non-existent in comics these days, at least at the bigger publishers. But I have wanted to master the art of inking with a pen and brush since I was old enough to understand that someone had to draw the comic-books I was reading. The technology may exist to eliminate the need for inking by hand, but it hasn’t eliminated my desire to prove to myself that I can master that dying art.

Our “classroom” was Ken’s attic/loft where he makes his studio. In addition to being home to his drafting table and art supplies, it’s also where he keeps his comic-book collection, original artwork he’s purchased, and toys. Lots and lots of toys. 

I have an embarrassingly large collection of action figures, part of which I have displayed in my cubicle at work, and the rest of which I have on display at home. But that collection looks like a dust mote compared to what Ken has amassed! I’m talking about enough cartoon-related toys and memorabilia to fill a small store. Ken is particularly fond of Popeye, and it shows: Popeye and friends make up a significant portion of his menagerie.

In addition, Ken has a voice-activated Artoo-Deetoo. If you call out names from the Star Wars movies, Artoo will react happily or unhappily, depending on which names you say. Unfortunately, Artoo’s batteries were low and he was, as Ken put it, “pouting.” So here we were, two 35-year-old men, calling out to this Artoo-Deetoo toy like it was really a robot with artificial intelligence! Our girlfriends would have been ashamed to see such a sight.

I bought us Pizza as a small repayment for Ken’s willingness to share his knowledge. Ken took it upon himself to call in our order to Pizza Hut. They were having one of those “Buy One Large Get One Medium with One Topping Free” deals or some such. And Ken actually said to the clerk on the phone, “Does cheese count as a topping? Oh, OK, then we’ll get the medium pizza with just cheese.”

Ken. Cheese is not a “topping,” man. It comes standard on pizza! You let Pizza Hut swindle you! Who the hell gets swindled by Pizza Hut?

Anyway, after dinner we proceeded to get down to work. It was a productive evening. Ken gave me a sheet listing the supplies I should have, as well as bullet points about what inking is supposed to accomplish, and the most common techniques for accomplishing those things. He also taught me how to thicken India ink (which is generally too thin when you buy it).
Most important, he let me practice while he was watching so he could give me pointers. He had me practicing on a copy of some pencils he had inked, and I, uhm, wasn’t quite as adept as Ken. Inking with a brush involves rotating the artwork so you’re pulling the brush towards you as you’re inking a line. You also have to hold the brush differently than you’d hold a ball-point pen or a pencil. Most important, you have to move the brush decisively, without hesitation, or else you get a fuzzy line. Ken makes all of that look easy. I make it look very, very hard.

Ken tried to pack as much instruction into the evening as he could. But as time wore on, I got very, very punchy. At one point I yelled, “KeeeEEENNN, I got INK in the FERRULE!” (which is a bad thing to do to a brush) and we both burst out laughing. The next day, I thought, “That really wasn’t that funny.”

Anyway, Ken has given me some homework that I still haven’t gotten around to. I know it’s well past time to start working on my assignments. The sooner I get practicing, the sooner I’ll be able to ink my Victory Streak pages with confidence.

It’s going to be a tough, hard slog, learning to ink. But it sure as hell doesn’t hurt to have a talented friend like Ken Wheaton who’s willing to show me the ropes. Thanks, Ken!