The Have-to-Haves of the OEL Manga-ka

[KaYoKitten]

We all know some of the basic needs and requirements of a manga-ka, or at least a few of them--the pencils, the inks, the programs, etc. But what about you as a person? Sometimes there's just something that we need in addition to our tools--an atmosphere or a feeling (or maybe Ms. Lil with her Whip of Doom! XD). This is for anyone, writer, artist, TP OEL creators already or hopefuls like me.

I guess I should give some examples so I'm not confused...^^;

With me, I have to burn incense or candles. At church, it always smelled like candles burning even when there weren't any around, and I got so used to the scent that I NEED them in order to work seriously. ^^; The fun stuff at school or work is okay, but I work best when I've got a pretty smell lingering in the air with a hint of fire behind it. I also need to have what I call "organized chaos" around me--meaning my room has to be an organized mess, but a clean mess. ^^; That makes no sense, but it's what I need, lol. Sometimes I need music to listen to, but not always. I like my silent moments, too, especially when my story isn't exactly supposed to match the tone of "Thank You for the Venom". XD

[Klawzie]

For writing, I need quiet. I have to wait until my mom goes to bed and the TV is off. I can do with or without music, as long as it's on headphones, though. That's why I'm usually up late. :3

For art... I don't really "need" anything. Except reference, if I'm doing something specific (ie: costuming, or someone else's character if I don't know them by heart yet).

[rivkah]

After a while, I learned to look past seeking out a certain frame of mind and just working, no matter what the situation or circumstance. Rituals only create unnecessary superstition that make it harder to work, not easier. So the only thing I need is breakfast to start the day and a pen in my hand. ^_~

[KaYoKitten]

Well, the other thing about burning incense...^^; I live in a house with five dogs and three cats, two brothers, my folks, birds, snake, rat, chickens outside, and a rabbit. There are certain distractions about the scents and sounds caused by this combination...^^; Especially considering my mother is in a wheelchair (she has no legs) and constantly needs my assistance to get up the one stair from the living room to the dining room...when her husband and twice-as-strong-as-me son are not four feet away playing video games, of course. -_-()

[Ayokillyou]

Rituals only create unnecessary superstition that make it harder to work, not easier.

That's very true.

In the beginning, I think that rituals help ground you as you get into the pattern of working...but eventually if you don't make the work ITSELF your ritual, then even the smallest roadbumps can throw you off course.

[J. Stoncius]

Red Bull and adequate lighting. I have not one desklamp, but two. Inadequate lighting drives me crazy.

[Tavisha]

Red Bull and adequate lighting. I have not one desklamp, but two. Inadequate lighting drives me crazy.

XD Couldn't agree more. Caffeine and lighting are top of my list as well. Since I ink traditionally I try to situate my art table by a large window for a natural light source along with 2 unnatural light sources. Left side has my halogen (because I'm left handed ~its situated this side so that my hand won't cast a shadow over my inking while I work), above more center/right is my florescent light (which is a Hello Kitty lamp;shut up, stop laughing;it rocks my world) If I have to use my light-box I try to do so during the day for the natural light source to come in from the window (on my rightside), otherwise all the unnatural lights glaring onto the light-box that glares back at me the stark white paper with black lines~ tends to burn out my eyes faster and cause me several blinks before my brain can get rid of their xeroxed effects. @_____<***
As for other needs, I do need my spooky/cabaret/Britpop/alternative, etc. music to work by. Oh yeah, ~ and my foreman Rikki (http://www.wiredpsyche.com/megan/squidhead.gif) & our studio mascot, Pippi (http://www.wiredpsyche.com/megan/pippi.jpg).

[BettinaMarie]

man....gotta second and third the adequate lighting and caffeine!@,@...am a zombie without it!>,< As for lighting, yea, it's EXTREMELY important that I have good lighting where I'm working, as I'm only seeing with one eye(the other is blind with a cataract since birth, so yea, ZERO vision there^^; ) my eye gets tired rather quickly with poor lighting, so I usually end up bringing a lamp over to the table I set up to work on (...and Tavi...I is JEALOUS that you have a Hello Kitty lamp!! XD ) Definitely have to have some sort of noise in the background, either music or a dvd playing (for the past 2-3 weeks I've been listening to/playing the Forrest Gump dvd over and over and over and over and over.....etc...) Definitely a comfy chair, am sitting in it for hours on end, need that comfort!>,<

[Rem Akimichi]

Well, everyones said it: Adequate light is a MUST. I work a lot of my art in watercolors, and when the lights are dim, the colors don't look the same and things can end up very wrong. I have this desk lamp with like a mirror in the cup thing: It focuses the light and also keeps it from glaring in anyones eyes, which is especially helpful if I'm drawing at night and moms trying to sleep (we all live in a one bedroom, so all work is done in the living room/ dining room area).

Other than that, music is a MUST. I'm easily distracted by...well...anything really. TV, conversations, or even just the thoughts that buzz through my head constantly -especially when it's quiet-, and I HAVE to have something rythmic and predictable playing or else I can't focus. I have almost my whole collection of MP3's on a player that admittedly isn't mine (bought it for my sisters 14th birthday), and so if I need certain music for a certain mood I'm trying to get, I can usually find it in there or n my CD collection.

Also, sharp pencils. I don't understand how some people can draw with dull pencils, but they do, I've seen it. It's extreamly frustrating.

[crispy]

Also, sharp pencils. I don't understand how some people can draw with dull pencils, but they do, I've seen it. It's extreamly frustrating.

I actually like starting out with a dull pencil, and once everything is roughed out, I dig into the paper with a sharpened one. That's just me, though.

Anyway, when I work, I have to have silence and no distractions when penciling. It's kind of hard, because my work area is RIGHT NEXT to my computer. So, if I am penciling, I can get easily distracted by talking to someone over AIM.

I wouldn't say that I need 'adequate lighting' though. I need light, sure, but I don't need a specific kind. As long as it's bright enough so that I can see what I'm doing, it's really no big problem.

When inking, I love to have music I can sing along to in a rather retardedly. Inking can be so monotonous -- it's tracing with a bit of artistic flare -- so to break the monotony I make an ass out of myself through my unbearable lack of pitch and tone. It works for me, though.

[KaYoKitten]

I actually like starting out with a dull pencil, and once everything is roughed out, I dig into the paper with a sharpened one. That's just me, though.

Anyway, when I work, I have to have silence and no distractions when penciling. It's kind of hard, because my work area is RIGHT NEXT to my computer. So, if I am penciling, I can get easily distracted by talking to someone over AIM.

I wouldn't say that I need 'adequate lighting' though. I need light, sure, but I don't need a specific kind. As long as it's bright enough so that I can see what I'm doing, it's really no big problem.

When inking, I love to have music I can sing along to in a rather retardedly. Inking can be so monotonous -- it's tracing with a bit of artistic flare -- so to break the monotony I make an ass out of myself through my unbearable lack of pitch and tone. It works for me, though.

I have to use 0.5 lead pencils, preferrably the decent kind with a side clicker. I can't use the top clickie ones very often because I think I'm inking and then I draw too hard for some odd reason. XD I burn candles for additional lighting because my desk is too small for a lamp. Only while I'm penciling though, the inking stage, I go to another room aside from my own. Usually to the kitchen counter--there's a lamp there with a 100 watt bulb in it, plus the sunlight from the window, plus an overhead light.

^_^ Beautiful right there, especially with my hand-painted strawberries on the wall! (My mother loves strawberries, so when she asked if I would paint some in acryllics on her kitchen walls, I couldn't refuse. ^^; ) I have my music too, and usually everyone evacuates before my "Sonic-Boom Boombox"
damages their hearing any more. XDDD

[beanclam]

I need drink.

It can be tea, coffee, milk, juice, mudslide... whatev. I just need to be constantly drinking something. ^^;

So I can draw wherever... as long I gots drink. And close access to a bathroom.

[crispy]

I need drink.

It can be tea, coffee, milk, juice, mudslide... whatev. I just need to be constantly drinking something. ^^;

So I can draw wherever... as long I gots drink. And close access to a bathroom.

HAHA Oh god I thought I was the only one!

However, I don't just drink when I'm drawing -- I have to have a drink whenever I'm sitting at a desk. It's like I'm some dehydrated diabetic or something. And no, not just any drink, either. It has to be either Lemon-flavored Propel water or Diet Pepsi that is near freezing cold.

Thank goodness my bedroom is right next to my bathroom. Sometimes I don't even think that I'll be able to make it.

[Samekh Mem]

Thank goodness my bedroom is right next to my bathroom. Sometimes I don't even think that I'll be able to make it.

God. This must be some Secret Artist Secret - the bathroom breaks are the only reprieve we get!

Water or tea for me, sometimes coffee, but damn. (Luckily, the computer is far away and my time on it stops after 11 PM. Otherwise I'd never get anything done!)

[KaYoKitten]

God. This must be some Secret Artist Secret - the bathroom breaks are the only reprieve we get!

Water or tea for me, sometimes coffee, but damn. (Luckily, the computer is far away and my time on it stops after 11 PM. Otherwise I'd never get anything done!)

No kidding! I've gotta have my drinks, too, but usually something with sugar is enough for me. I can't stand coffee or tea, though, unless it's green tea with three tablespoons of honey per cup. Usually I have Sprite or Welch's White Grape juice--I love that stuff! ^_^ I won't say no to some Jones soda, though!

[beanclam]

Oh snap! And here I thought I was a freak for wanting to drink things... like, all the damn time. ^^;

I don't feel like such a freak anymore. ;_;

[Klawzie]

I have a glass or bottle of water within grabbing distance of me 24/7. It didn't even occur to me that this was unusual. XD

[crispy]

Oh snap! And here I thought I was a freak for wanting to drink things... like, all the damn time. ^^;

I don't feel like such a freak anymore. ;_;

If I come to AnimeExpo next year, I'll be sure to bring a big canteen for the both of us to share. :D Maybe all the artists will end up partaking. XD

[beanclam]

If I come to AnimeExpo next year, I'll be sure to bring a big canteen for the both of us to share. :D Maybe all the artists will end up partaking. XD

We can have an artists' watering hole! XD ... We could have like, one of those water bottle things for hamsters... but on a gigantic scale! (Holy crap... that's an odd mental picture...)

... I need to draw that... XD

[Erisu-Chan]

I have my dreams of being a manga-ka of TP with my OEL manga
'Wolf Emerald' but for me the quiet is a must have -if i can't get it i'll listen to music on my ipod. I fold an A4 piece of paper in half creating 2 A5 pieces and each one is a page of my manga. I use a 2B pencil to pencil it out, ink to outline it (with brushes and/or pens) then use programs to tone it (too bad the computor is getting fixed meaning i have to use my laptop -but that means i'm unable to tone for awhile because Photoshop isn't on my laptop :(
but anyway :p )

It takes time to work on a manga (hey look at me i'm only 14 but DO NOT underestimate me i am dam good at my work and have been at an art school for a LOOOOONG time now and yes i can draw hands and feet with eaz (and i have gotten the body structure perfect now :D )

I have my manga 'Wolf Emerald' on it's way does anyone else write/create a manga at all? :confused:




-Erisu-Chan

[Rem Akimichi]

HAHA Oh god I thought I was the only one!

However, I don't just drink when I'm drawing -- I have to have a drink whenever I'm sitting at a desk. It's like I'm some dehydrated diabetic or something. And no, not just any drink, either. It has to be either Lemon-flavored Propel water or Diet Pepsi that is near freezing cold.

Thank goodness my bedroom is right next to my bathroom. Sometimes I don't even think that I'll be able to make it.

OMG I thought I was the only one too! I go through like... a liter of Diet Pepsi a day, not to mention ice tea or water or whatever else is in the fridge, as long as it doesn't have any sugar in it, because I have issues with sugar and it makes me sick in certain quantities (Which is why, though I love those lemon propels -omgsogood!- I can't drink them like I do diet soda or tea).

It's gotta be an artist thing. No one else in my house does it ^_^;;

If I come to AnimeExpo next year, I'll be sure to bring a big canteen for the both of us to share. :D Maybe all the artists will end up partaking. XD

Oh! You guys are going to AX?! I'm going too ^_^ I won't have a table or anything, but my badge'll probably have my psudonym on it (Rem, or Rem Akimichi, and then my real name under it). I hope I see you there!

[YamPuff]

I need lighting mostly and have to be in the proper mood, preferably miserable (I have plenty of depressing music for that). Noise doesn't bother me, but I have to be alone. I can't draw with people watching >o<

Also, the kind of paper, its shape, texture and everything needs to be perfect--not so the picture will come out better, but it just has to be just so. The same goes with me for notebooks. Sometimes I leave entire artbooks empty because I drew one lousy picture and it feels so...tainted. Whenever I get a new one I draw more and better. Same goes for getting new materials.

=^-^=
I almost never have something to drink because then I drink too much. I usualy force myself just to get up and walk to the fridge...0-0

[sonia]

TEA! and sometimes, beer. And coke, and coffee.

Whilst I was working on my RSOM piece, I also really needed heavy industrial/techno music at a very loud volume at 5am (cheesy OST stuff from Devil may cry!!)

Actually, I find industrial really helpful when I'm just sleepy.... because sleep is for the WEAK!! XD

[Zorilita]

I don't know if I count in this thread since I've just done smaller press work... ^^;; but I have to have some background noise like a tv or some sort of japanese or techno/industrial music.

I also have a glass of something to drink and a blanket because it gets freezing in my house. That's about it.

[Joanna]

Aside from the standard technical work necessities like good light and high-quality materials.... I listen to a lot of Audiobooks I get from the library. I'm really into listening to horror/suspense books while I work, because they keep me from getting bored while I'm working all those long hours.

Plus, I'm sure everyone would agree, there's nothing like a good story. :)

[J. Stoncius]

Water is nice. I guess I have an iPod I listen to, too (Saiyuki OST and various image songs, Electric Light Orchestra, Def Leppard, and Dir en Grey probably get the most playtime). But I can work without those, I guess. Technically.

[Pedes]

I have a glass or bottle of water within grabbing distance of me 24/7. It didn't even occur to me that this was unusual. XD

O.O OMG< I thought I was freack with drinking so much! I always carry by myslef BIG (1,5 l) bottle of water :D While ago on a fantasy convent I drank over 5 liters in less than 3 days XD

Most importand artist tool: water, LOL! XD

I agree with the lightning of course :D Also I have a special set of drawing tools I mean only I use them (though they're not different e.g. from all other shart pencils around the house) but that is so I am sure that they're all clean.

I know it's strange, but I prefer to draw holding a pad on my knees and sitting with my feet on a couch (I made myself special drawing pads for that). For inking I ofther have to use the table anyway because I need my hands stable. :|

Definitely have to have some sort of noise in the background, either music or a dvd playing (for the past 2-3 weeks I've been listening to/playing the Forrest Gump dvd over and over and over and over and over.....etc...)

OOOhh, I sooo totally agreee XD Noise like music or a movie :D

Aside from the standard technical work necessities like good light and high-quality materials.... I listen to a lot of Audiobooks I get from the library. I'm really into listening to horror/suspense books while I work, because they keep me from getting bored while I'm working all those long hours.

Plus, I'm sure everyone would agree, there's nothing like a good story. :)
OMG<Audiobooks! You're a genious!

Oh, and OMG, cocoa, I don't like coffe, so my body has set itself to coffeine from cocoa. I need cocoa/chocolate not all the time, but on a regular daily basis.

Actually I could work without most of those things, apart from water of course. And cocoa. Yes, I AM addicted.

[LynxGriffin]

*jumps into thread with amazing jumping abilities!*

Definitely got weird habits when I draw, at least when I'm at home. I have to have on some kind of background noise, and I usually put on some soundtrack series or music that I know will last for several hours, because then it gets me into the mood of working for several hours. I have a bunch of oldskool Disneyland ride podcasts that I like to listen to if I'm on the computer, so it's like, uh...being at Disneyland while I'm working? XD Or else if I'm in the living room I like to spread everything out all over the floor and have on either MST3K or some really horribly cheesy sci-fi movies (that could just as well be MSTed) from the 50's on.

And something to snack on or drink is a must. I like soda, but I can't have too much of it in one day without getting sick of it. But Snapple's peach iced tea is love!

[Comic_Burn]

Caffiene - Nicotine - un-named substance - inspiration - music - nobody else around to break focus

[LCibos]

Aside from the standard technical work necessities like good light and high-quality materials.... I listen to a lot of Audiobooks I get from the library. I'm really into listening to horror/suspense books while I work, because they keep me from getting bored while I'm working all those long hours.

Plus, I'm sure everyone would agree, there's nothing like a good story. :)

Totally with you on the audiobooks! Also worth trying is putting a DVD movie or commentary on in the background to listen to. Very useful for keeping my mind occupied, especially if I'm doing something like screentoning or coloring, which for me, once I have a "plan of attack", it is a fairly monotonous process. Drawing, the other hand, requires more concentration, so I try to stick with music that'll keep me in "the zone".

Other must-haves: COFFEE. 'nuff said. ^_^;

[KaYoKitten]

O_o The one thing everybody's sayin' they need that I don't is lighting. XD For some reason, I've got this odd ability to focus well in the dark. Something to do with my fovea...Anyways, I drew an entire penciled and inked comic last year during the Great Ice Storm here in Kansas. By candlelight. ^^;

[Pedes]

O_o The one thing everybody's sayin' they need that I don't is lighting. XD For some reason, I've got this odd ability to focus well in the dark. Something to do with my fovea...Anyways, I drew an entire penciled and inked comic last year during the Great Ice Storm here in Kansas. By candlelight. ^^;
If I don't have good lighting my eyes die. And take the brain with them.
Besides I don't want to wear glasses stronger then I do already... ><

[lazesummerstone]

I need drink.

It can be tea, coffee, milk, juice, mudslide... whatev. I just need to be constantly drinking something. ^^;

So I can draw wherever... as long I gots drink. And close access to a bathroom.

Wow there's a lot of artists where this is a MUST-HAVE! I'm totally the same way too, and that drink has turned into coffee... from a starbucks that's a few blocks away from my house. So I use it usually as an excuse to take a break.
"I need coffee!!"