Artist Michael Fudge and Illustration Board for Wet Media
Testimonial from Michael R. Fudge, Jr.
"I've been working as a freelance illustrator for many years. Throughout the years, Strathmore is the brand I trust for quality and dependability.
I currently work as a comic book artist for a graphic novel at Heroes Fallen Studio. Strathmore's sequential art boards in 200, 400 and 500 series have held their own over the many pages of my work. However, recently I discovered Strathmore 500 Series Illustration Board for Wet Media while working on my independent commissions and my illustration novel. This 500 Series board is hands down the best I've ever used. The ink goes on smooth, black as night. Acrylics (watered down or thick) go across easily, displaying magnificent colors. Watercolor never looks so real.
Pigma Micron Pens don't buckle the surface, even after millions of fine strokes. But what tops it off is the color I achieve when using Copic Markers -- smooth vivid tones that look as if I used watercolor and airbrush. It is everything that I've been looking for in one surface. The Illustration Board for Wet Media is the only board I now use for my illustrated novel, commission projects and personal art. I doubt there is any other board out there that can do what this board can do. Just another reason why I will always use Strathmore..."
About Michael R. Fudge, Jr.:
Michael R Fudge, Jr. currently lives in the lost terrain of Kansas. After spending 14 years in the Marines and Army including multiple tours to Iraq, Michael now works as a freelance illustrator for Distorted Black Studio. His media ranges from pen & ink, watercolor, acrylic, marker, pencil and colored pencil. He is currently writing and illustrating a children's book which is to be released next year.
Thanks, Michael! Those of us at Strathmore Artist Papers appreciate your loyalty and kind words about our products!
Meet Rusty Gilligan
Meet Rusty Gilligan, comic book artist/inker/author since 1978… and loyal Strathmore Bristol user.
“I always use Strathmore 300 Series Bristol Smooth,” says Rusty. “It's perfect for the commercial inks and paints that I use while maintaining a white gloss for professional scanning.”
“When I get artwork to ink for publication, I bring the image in Photoshop, clean it up, and convert the image to blue-line (turning the art blue),” explains Rusty. “I then trim a 9” x 12" 300 Series Strathmore Bristol Smooth sheet and print it out. I ink/paint directly on the sheet, scan it, and send it off the publisher.” Thanks for being a loyal Strathmore customer, Rusty!
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| Art by Rusty Gilligan. MAIN Publishing Press Preview, MAIN Publishing 2005. “The Super,” ©2005, 2011 Rusty Gilligan |
"The Symbol" by Rusty Gilligan ©2001, 2011 Rusty Gilligan |
Art inked by Rusty Gilligan. JGM Universe Index, JGM Comics and Arcana Comics, 2011. All Characters are created and Copyright Joe Martino with the exception of Ripperman which is copyright Arcana Comics. |
Sequential Artist Katie Cook
Katie Cook created original artwork for the covers of the 200 Series Sequential Art Bristols.
Katie Cook is a professional illustrator, cartoonist and comic artist working out of the Ann Arbor, Michigan area. She graduated from the College for Creative Studies in 2004 with a BFA in illustration, her love of cartooning and comics has led her to where she is today.
Katie has done licensed and comic work for DC, Marvel, Star Wars, HEROES, Lord of the Rings, and more. She loves being a nerd and being able to draw nerdy things for a living is like a dream come true.
"I use Strathmore® smooth bristol for every project that comes my way. The smooth surface takes ink beautifully and my underlying pencils erase away without smudging or tearing any of the paper. The bristol is also a really bright white, which gives everything great contrast and an automatic vibrancy. The board can take all kinds of artistic abuse, like marker, watercolor, gouache and colored pencil and still stay intact, which is rare for illustration paper that's not mounted to a board. It's pretty hefty stuff! I really love this bristol and can go through an entire pad of the 9" x 12" board in one sitting just sketching out ideas!"