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Online Art Board Supplies

Comic art for the major companies such as Marvel or DC is drawn on special art board that includes 'blue line' indicators so the artists draw to the correct size proprotional to the final US comic book art size. Artists contracted to the companies are provided with this board, although I am not sure if this is still supplied gratis, as it was in Paul Neary's day as Editorial Director at Marvel UK, or if they have to pay for it.

Page measurements apparently vary slightly from company to company, so using ordinary Bristol board and a ruler may be a better option for the aspiring artist than seeking down this specialised board.

2000AD is now published pro to US comic book size.

BlueLine
There is a type of Bristol board called BlueLine which features these the official comic page measurments printed on it. It's solicited through Previews and, therefore, most comic shops should be able to order it. Some artists don't like it.

Bristol Board
• Most art supply shops in Belfast sell Bristol board in A3 20 sheet blocks.

Art Supplies

• Blink Twice
28/10/05: The Blink Twice Art Product range sells everything a professional comic artist/aspiring new comer needs to do the job! (Well maybe not everything, but the Blink Twice boys are bigger than me).
The initial range includes: the Blink Twice Comic Book Board is £10 for a pack of 12 sheets; the Blink Twice Sketch Books are £3 and come in either Pink or Blue; the Blink Twice Layup Book is £5
All products can be ordered directly through the site at: www.kennel17.co.uk/
malcolm/orderform.htm

• Great Art Supplies: www.greatart.co.uk
Gerstaecker UK Limited / Great Art, Normandy House, 1 Nether Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1EA
Telephone Order line 0845 601 5772 (Local call rate)
Described as Europe's largest and brightest catalogue for art materials, this company says "Whatever your angle - whether you're an art student, leisure painter, art teacher or professional artist - we're sure that you'll find that we are full of all the supplies you need." They publish a variety of catalogues for each country -- one artist I know orders material from their French rather than UK edition.

• London Graphics Company: www.londongraphics.co.uk
16-18 Shelton Street, Covent Garden London WC2H 9JL
Tel: 020 7759 4500 Fax: 020 7759 4585
London Graphic Centre was established in 1973 as a specialist graphic materials supplier to the London Design and Advertising market. The last 30 years have seen dramatic changes in working methods. We have maintained our unrivalled reputation for outstanding service by adapting to industry changes and expanding into new products and markets.

Dip Pens

• Hans Presto: hans.presto.tripod.com
This Swedish (with English translation) site apparently stocks and sells just about every dip pen ever made. It also has sections on Lettering, Comics and Handwriting. (thanks to artist Kev Hopgood for this one)

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Paul Neary
Art for Sale: TheArtofComics.com
Editor in Chief at Marvel UK during its most succssful period in the 1990s, inker, superb (but modest) writer, Paul Neary is one of the most inventive men in comics. He taught me a hell of a lot about comics, I just wish I remembered half of it when it came to writing the things...

Jose Carlos Neve
link: www.josecn.hpg.ig.com.br
In addition to his own art - colour and black and white, Brazillian creator Jose offers a detailed number of pages on writer Alan Moore.

Douglas Noble
Link: www.strip-for-me.com
Douglas Noble was born in Edinburgh and grew up in the Scottish Borders, but this has not prevented his jet-setting global adventures. The site features some of the best strips from Douglas Noble's internationally acclaimed small press comic, Strip For Me, plus special never before seen strips exclusive to the website.

Mike Noble
TV21 and Look-In artist Mike Noble - whose credits include Captain Scarlet, Fireball XL5 (pictured), Zero X, Robin of Sherwood and so many more memorable strips - is profiled here by Lew Stringer. The superb Gerry Anderson comics-deciated Technodelic web site features an interview with him and documents his work.
Mike Noble is mostly retired now although he did return to the world of Gerry Anderson in the 1990s drawing covers and colour pin ups for Fleetway's Thunderbirds comic (and their companion comics Captain Scarlet and Stingray). "The pages were as vigorous as ever." Lew recalls. "In November 2004 he was one of the guests at the Bristol Comic Expo, (incredibly his first comic convention) and in his interview he came across as a true professional. Afterwards it was an honour to meet and shake the hand of someone that I (and I'm sure many others) consider to be one of the most talented and versatile comic strip artists of any generation."

Jack Noel
Link: jacknoel.co.uk
Blog: jackdraws.blogspot.com
MySpace: myspace.com/jackpatricknoel
Jack Noel is a freelance illustrator, cartoonist and graphic designer based in South London and East Brighton. He didn't go to art school for the same reason a fish doesn't go to swimming school: he can't afford to. He is currently actively seeking commissions, collaborations and comfort.

Gary Northfield
Blog: www.stupidmonsters.blogspot.com
ComicSpace: www.comicspace.com/gary_northfield

Writer and artist on the beano's Derek the Sheep, Derek has been involved in the British small press since 1999, including the titles Great!, A Little Box Of Comic, Stupidmonsters, Bad Dog and Cecil the Nice Wasp. He's currently working as in-house illustrator for Eaglemoss Publications on the Horrible Histories Collection and various other magazines in development.

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