Yoai - Anime Art Class: A Complete Course in Drawing Manga Cuties

Before inking and coloring a character, you should sketch it in pencil first, so you can erase any mistakes and refine your lines. I like using a wood HB pencil (any brand), with a lead that is not too dark or too light. You can also use a mechanical pencil with a thicker lead, at least 0.7mm or larger, though HB pencils are far better for shading in terms of output and control.

There are two types of erasers you want to have on hand when you are using a pencil to make a sketch of your character: a white plastic eraser, such as a Pentel Hi-Polymer eraser, and a gray, kneadable eraser, such as a Prismacolor Kneaded Rubber eraser. The plastic eraser will erase and obliterate everything in its path, while the soft, kneadable eraser is better for selective erasing, such as removing soft shading. Opposite, I have made a couple sketch patches with a cross in the middle. The white plastic eraser erased everything, while the gray eraser erased the shaded background but not the cross. You may also want to have a stick eraseryou can put it in a pencil sharpener at an angle and rotate it gently in order to sharpen the tip into an eraser pen for precision erasing. Replace gray, kneadable erasers often, and keep them in a clean, closed container or plastic zip-top bag to prevent dust and debris from embedding into them.

Fineliner pens are an artists staple and perfect for outlining your art. They come in a variety of colors and nib sizes for different line weights and are easy to use. Be warned, however, that if you want to outline or color your character with a fineliner, use one that is waterproof, or your lines will become smudged when you add color with an alcohol-based marker. Keep in mind that when a pen is described as being smudge-proof or water-resistant, that doesnt necessarily mean it is waterproof, so make sure to test it out on a separate sheet of paper before you apply it to your drawing. Also, avoid using ballpoint pens as a liner. I like to use the Sakura Pigma Micron 01 (0.1mm) fineliner in black, sepia, and purple.