merf

[balaa]

Does anyone know where to buy mechanical pencils with smaller lead than .5mm?? I can't seem to find any place around here that does and .5 is still too big for my sketches. I need something way tiny for fur detail. Any ideas?

Also, forgive my naivette, but what are acrylic inks? I see that Dark Natasha uses them and achieves quite stunning amounts of fur detail in her work but I haven't the slightest clue what they are or how to use them.

In another note

GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! Ok that helped.



Meh so I've been trying to sketch the last few days, still seem to be on my "I can't draw anything worth a pair of beans" tirade...so I give you crappy ickle doodles. Yes..these be my accomplishments for the last week or so.


the idea behind this is (and I once again planned my piece of paper out grandly) the otter pup being surprised by a passing crab family. But I draw him too low on the paper x.x...I always do that!

his head scares me O_O

I actually like this one, I think I wanna build on the concept.

someone said I should draw ocelots on dev...well you can't quite tell that its an ocelot here but thats the idea XD. The concept I have for this is an ocelot bar with some rowdy members and a giraffe bartender O_O don't ask..So I may try roughing out the rest of the sketch.

EDIT:

Some folks asked for a cloeup of the eyes on some of my pics. The Jaguarundi hybrids really not the best example since it was quick but here is a closeup just the same. I need to get my butt in gear and do a tutorial on eyes and fur, though Im trying to work out some new techniques for fur rendering myself..thus the main reason for dawdling so with tutorials.


Thank you again to all those that so kindly sent money towards my friend's cause. I sent them the money today :D!

Comments

[wolftale.livejournal.com]

Love your art =3 (again)
I don't buy pencil so I don't know... But hope you find it out

[lazalanti.livejournal.com]

I believe they have small lead at Kinokuniya. I'm going there tomorrow and if I see some I'll pick some up. If it wasn't there I'll ask some friends because I KNOW somebody has tiny lead. x_x

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of that place but at least thats one advantage of living in or around bigger cities, you have things somewhat nearby..but you don't have to do that hun. I'm sorry we couldnt get together, I really needed it but at the same time with the weather as it has been..I feel safer we all hold off. The roads have been off and on nasty around these parts. But still, mentally I needed some artistically intensive time x.x

[lazalanti.livejournal.com]

Well, I looked yesterday while I was at Kinokuniya and I found the 0.3 lead (as well as 0.4) but I couldn't find the pencil that it goes to. Next time I'm up there I'm sure I"ll have more time to look a little more.

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

O_o thats weird, you would think if they have one they would have the other. I may just order it online save the trouble of store hunting. Merf. I'll be round tomorrow night ifn you wanna gab on yim *random* I miss talking to ya and sarah both x.x

[lazalanti.livejournal.com]

Well, if you order the pen and some lead on the net then at least we know where to get the lead. They had all sorts of grades of the .3 lead. ^^

I should be online later on! I get off at 10pm but who knows when I'll be getting home. x_x

[(Anonymous)]

http://www.dickblick.com/zz206/00/

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

thank you much :)

[xcourtkneex.livejournal.com]

yestutorialnowpls. <3

OKAY OTTERS ARE WAAAAY TOO FREAKIN CUTE. you need to tone it down, missie.

i really like the 0.9 leads because um...i like really thick lines? if they make them that thick, they should certainly make them superthin too.

[bloodhoundomega.livejournal.com]

I gave up on my nice neat .3 mechanical pencil, because there was absolutely no store close by, that would sell them. :/

All I can advice is checking online art supply shops, art supply catalogues or chosen art stores in bigger cities.

http://www.discountart.com/store/FWacrylicartistink.html

Hmm... seems to be acrylics in more liquid form. Interesting. O.o

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

Yuh I found a little info on them but not much really...Id like to know how its used O_o

[sandboa.livejournal.com]

Good day to you friend balaa!

How are you today friend? I see your work is beautiful as always. I really like the pic of the baby being held by the parent it is so cute! It speaks of love and family.

I will check at are Michaels here in town today after work to see if they have pencils that have small lead if they do I will get ya one and some extra lead!

Your welcome for the help for your friends, I enjoy helping out where and when I can!

You and yours take care friend and God bless you both always!

***Gives the cute cub a friendly hug!***

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

*snugs the big friendly dragon* You are entirely too kind to me friend, but your words always make me smile! I will have to check the local college bookstore, I never even thought to do that!

[moonykins.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've ever seen any smaller mechanical pencils than .5 mm, but I'm sure they exist.

I adore the mother (I'm assuming) and baby otter. You should do a digital painting or something out of it :D

Love the ocelot and the idea, too. The eyes look a tad wonky, though XD Love the paws. I'm weird like that, I always notice the paws XD I can't help it, I love paws :3

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

yeaaap I want to rough out the mommy and baby otter pic better and turn it into a painting, debating on digital or real media or a stab at both :).

as far as the ocelot..yeah the one eye IS wonky..I tried to make him look like one eye was sorta squinting but it didn't work too well XD

[growing-rose.livejournal.com]

Man. I love how your eyes always look like there's energy and life in them.

[joosephine.livejournal.com]

I am afraid that I cannot help you with the leads, as I live in another continent :3
I do however know that quite a few online stores sell them, all the way down to .1 if I remember things correctly o.O;; It is something like that ;-;
Unfortunately, I do not know of any online stores which ship worldwide. I am sorry x3;;

The otters are amazingly cute and fascinating though, on a completely other note.
The otter with the 'scary' head, does look a tad bit mischevious to me. It is a very adorable expression n_n
I really love the 'otter-family' you sketched up there! It is such a touching concept n_n;;

You should have a great day!

[peterp2006.livejournal.com]

Ahh... I don't know. Do they even MAKE lead smaller then .5mm? If they do, could you let me know, because I'm interested in them too. Bigger isn't always better. Pssh.

D: I can't see your lovely sketches, cause I'm at school. So I will see them when I get home, and leave you another lovely comment. Yea.. my school is gay and blocks certain sites. I'm surprised they haven't blocked this one.

[saitenyo.livejournal.com]

Some art stores (and it's gotta be real art stores, Aaron Brothers doesn't carry them) carry .3 lead and pencils. I got mine at a store near me called Continental Art Supply, which I'm afraid only exists here as far as I know. Try checking any non-chain, supply-filled art sotres near you.

[goldenrod.livejournal.com]

You call those crappy doodles? Those otters are adorable!

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

aah but I think they are naturally cute XD...thank's just the same..they are TINY sketches..I really should learn how to use space better

[dapplet.livejournal.com]

OMGAH THAT OCELOT IS LIEK... A PIRATE. <3 I heart it.

What you can do if you cant find the smaller lead is go and buy the really cheap, dollar store lead. I find atleast, that for some reason the lines come out much smaller and it's really light, too. Of course, it being cheap, tends to break... but it does produce smaller lines for some reason. Or so I find. X3

I need to talk to j00 more! D:

[latinvixen02.livejournal.com]

Gawd those are beautiful!.

[cathicks.livejournal.com]

Most fine arts stores carry .3 pencils and lead. If all else fails you can give me money and I'll send you some from the Ringling store.

[leelakin.livejournal.com]

Wooooow. @_@ so beautiful. CRAB FAMILY <333333 XDDD
Hmmmm. o-o Normally they do have 0.3 pencils where they have 0.5 ones....are there any of those big (or maybe small and specialized) paper/pen shops near you?

[nimirpard.livejournal.com]

If there is a college bookstore or something similar near you, you may also get lucky. You may be able to find a drafting pencil set (and lead) cheaply there.

Examples of sets on the web: http://www.tritechusa.com/evidence/W-PENCIL3.htm , http://www.draftingsteals.com/catalog-pencils--leadholders----lead-mechanical-pencils-draft-matic-mechanical-pencils.html (has link to .3, .5 and .7 lead too)

2mm "leadholders" and lead here, if 3mm isn't small enough: http://www.draftingsteals.com/catalog-pencils--leadholders----lead-leadholders.html

More here: http://www.dataprint.com/images/54.pdf

[sandboa.livejournal.com]

You are correct friend! I talked with my father about this very thing. I had gone to several different stores here in town after work to see I if could find something that might work for Balaa and found nothing, gbut my father told me you could get them at our community college bookstore.

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

WOW thank you for all the tips! *goes to check em out :D!

[nimirpard.livejournal.com]

Did you ever get them? I saw some today at the Staples near home in their "Art Supplies" section. Just the 2mm ones and not 3mm though.

They also had a set of 2.5, 3.5, 7 and 9 mm ink pens as well.

If you're still looking, they were cheap and I'm pretty sure I saw your mailing address in a post when I was catching up on my friends list after I got back.

[jannali.livejournal.com]

oh those sketches remind me of my beloved Redwall books <3 The otters and the hares were always my favorites. Have you read any of those books? I'd die to see some Balaa interpretations of Redwall characters :DD

[sandboa.livejournal.com]

Me too! I have read most of the series myself and those chracters could look so cool if done by the right artist! They would actualy be very good for inspiration in fact.

[xxbalaaxx.livejournal.com]

no O_O Ive never heard of it, but I recall the term 'Redwall' floating around. I need to look into it, I'm always looking for new sources of inspiration.

[jannali.livejournal.com]

ahhh you totally should check them out :D I own every book in the series XD I reccomend Taggerung, the Legend of Luke, or the Outcast of Redwall. Those are my favorites <3 They are written by Brian Jacques. I think you'd really love them. ;D

[anuvia.livejournal.com]

Omg, I love those Otters <333

and this bar idea sounds so awesome, I wanna see it done *nodnod*

[http://users.livejournal.com/_stellaluna_/]

Aw, your doodles aren't crappy. They're really cute. I like them alot.

I especially like the two otters hugging and the ocelot at the pub. Those both you should totally color.

Wow. I always wondered what Balaa's eye style looked like close-up. Now I know, and I like. :)

I'm not sure about the pencils. The only mechanical pencils I have are .7mm, I think, and they're not very good for sketching because the lead seems to be more smudgeable. ...If that's even a word. XP

[fyregryphoness.livejournal.com]

So adorable! My cousin LOVES otters. :) Ever since she saw them at Sea World (San Antonio) she's fallen for their adorableness. I especially love the one with the mother and child. I think it's very sweet looking. ^_^

As for the pencils...I have no idea really. I've never found any with a smaller size now that you mention it. My best guess would be at stores like Hobby Lobby and what not. Sorry I'm not much help on this. ^^"