Making Comics While Abroad – Advice on Working with Limited Art Supplies?
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Hi everyone,
I’m currently working on a series of short Bible comics, and I’m planning to spend the next year in Israel. Since I won’t have access to my usual heavy art supplies—like alcohol markers and large-format paper—I’m trying to figure out how to adjust my workflow.
I usually prefer working traditionally, but I understand that using an iPad (I have Procreate) is more efficient and portable. That said, I’d still like to incorporate some traditional work, especially for penciling or inking.
Right now, I have an A4 sketchbook, but I know many comic artists use 11x17 comic boards with pre-marked areas for bleeds, trims, and safe zones. I’m not sure how easy it will be to get those in Israel—Amazon might not be as accessible, and local art stores may not stock them or might charge a lot for custom orders.
I’ll also be juggling seminary and an internship, which will limit the time I have to work on comics, especially if I’m relying on a less mobile, traditional setup.
So here are my main questions:
• Can I get away with using a regular A4 sketchbook to make comics?
• If not, what are some ways I can adapt my workflow?
• How can I combine traditional tools with a digital process in a simple, efficient way?While I’ve used Procreate before and it works well, I find digital art lacks the tactile quality of paper. It’s too easy to erase and undo, which makes it feel a bit too “perfect.” With traditional tools, I’m more focused and deliberate—mistakes leave traces, which I actually find helps me improve.
Any tips on making comics with minimal tools or making the most of a hybrid traditional/digital approach would be really appreciated!
Thanks so much!
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I do my roughs and inks on paper, snap a quick phone pic, then polish in Procreate: tidy up lines, fill in blacks, slap on lettering. I travel with one brush pen, a fine liner, and my iPad, gets me that real-paper feel but I’m never stuck if I need to resize or erase.
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I used to work on a project during my lunch breaks at work. I didn’t have much space, usually just drawing in the driver’s seat of my truck or at a restaurant. I used an A4-sized sketchbook, penciling first and then inking with a brush pen. I actually prefer using nibs and brushes, but anyway. I was drawing one panel per page. It felt like overkill, and it made the Photoshop process a lot more work, but I made it work.
Now, I just keep an iPad and Apple Pencil in my truck to work on in my free time. It took some time to get used to, but honestly, getting anything done is better than nothing.
