keeping your ink bottle stable

Today is #Hourlycomicday, and I decided to join in (not hourly) to oil my rather rusty art skills. It’s good to shake things up, and as a writer of comics it also forces me to consider different ways to construct stories, and how to write scripts for an artist’s viewpoint.

Mostly, I used the experience to play around and try various approaches without over-thinking. The point is to push through and the keep doing something new.

While doing so I tweeted this picture.

The kitchen table where I draw. Handy trick to put bottle of ink in a well in a sponge, stops spills. #HourlyComicDay pic.twitter.com/bVhkcLJfiM

— ☠️𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡☠️ (@splinister) February 1, 2015

The idea of using a sponge to anchor an ink bottle and prevent spills was popular on Twitter. I can’t claim ownership of the idea. I saw it mentioned during a YouTube video by a dip pen illustrator. She praised its efficacy, especially as she had cats, and they tend to knock things over…

Since I had bought a large car sponge to create a well for one bottle of ink, I decided to repeat the process and offer a step-by-step account of this rather simple idea:

How I made my sponge ink well. Get a thick sponge. This is one for a car. Cut in two w craft knife. #HourlyComicDay pic.twitter.com/6Vx88Czj3y

— ☠️𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡☠️ (@splinister) February 1, 2015

Trace the bottom of your ink bottle, and cut out section as deep as you want. #HourlyComicDay pic.twitter.com/i2BWIXse1F

— ☠️𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡☠️ (@splinister) February 1, 2015

Voila! Bit fiddly to cut out piece. Keep that wee chunk of sponge. Great for dusting off eraser bits. #HourlyComicDay pic.twitter.com/oT8M8GdmKb

— ☠️𝐌𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚 𝐌𝐜𝐇𝐮𝐠𝐡☠️ (@splinister) February 1, 2015

I love this as it’s a cost effective solution using simple materials to solve a common problem. You can also use the sponge to wipe excess ink off your nib after you’ve dipped it, if you wish.

Thus ends the craft segment of the blog!