How to use digital tools to become better at inking.

One and a half years ago, I set to re-inking Joseph Clement Coll illustrations, because the only ones I could find were poorly-printed, poorly scanned copies.

What I discovered, was that I learned a lot from it!

As I tried to get the same results he got, I found I was learning about the decisions he made along the process, and it made me a much, much better inker.

Start with an ink artist you admire, select one of their works, and re-ink it in a digital drawing application.

You don’t have to strictly follow the original. It is meant to be a learning exercise, but you remain in control.

Do not share the results unless it is copyright-free material in the public domain - like this Joseph Clement Colls illustration I used - or you have permission from the original artist. Otherwise, you might be infringing on their copyrights.

But it is an amazing exercise to help you get better at inking. Try it!