Today we introduced you to Tradd Moore, the artist of the fantastic upcoming Image title The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, and as a bit of bonus content, we’ve got a look at the studio where he brings this incredible title to life on the page. Thanks a ton to Tradd for working with us on this, and in case you have not got the point from today’s content, here it is again: you need to buy The Strange Talent of Luther Strode come October.
Check out the studio look after the jumo.
Tradd Moore: Alright, so here’s the studio! I’ve been moving around some lately, so it doesn’t look too fancy, but fancy things are for old people anyway. I thought about doing the number/label thing that some artists do when showing off their studio, but I don’t think mine is quite complex enough for that to be necessary. The main objects of importance in here are the drawing table, of course, and the laptop. I like having the laptop close so that I can google things for reference or inspiration on the fly as well as pick what music I want to listen to while working. I draw left handed, but am a righty for everything else, so I keep all my art supplies on the left in that little black thing connected to my drawing table and the computer on the right. That way I have quick access to both things with very little effort. Those pieces of paper on my table with the ink all over them are my scratch pages. I always take a few swipes at them after dipping my brush to make sure to get my brush the way I want it before I put lines on any artwork.
Not Included in the photo (it’s on the floor behind my chair) is my scanner. It’s a Mustek 1200. It’s very affordable and gets the job done just fine. I suggest it to any aspiring artist or anyone not ready to drop a grand or more on an 11×17 scanner just yet.
TM: Here are my main tools. The first is a .5 mm lead mechanical pencil. A Pentel Twist-Erase pencil, to be exact, I love this thing. I’ve used this type of pencil since middle school and have only been through 4 or 5 since then. I use them until they literally break in half. The second one is a Windsor and Newton series 7 size 2 brush. I haven’t tried out many different brushes before, but I really like this one, so I’ve stuck with it for the past couple years. 3 and 4 are an eraser and a micron. Pretty self explanatory. I love those big white erasers though, they’re crazy. Last but not least, a black Prismacolor marker. I just use this for filling in really large spot black areas.
TM: The inks! I like using Speedball SUPERBLACK because, as the name implies, it really is super black. It’s also one of the cheaper inks. Also, sometimes it comes a tad thick, but adding a little water to from time to time fixes that up. I don’t remember what type of white ink this is because part of the label got inked over, but just know that I do indeed use white ink. White ink is awesome for splatters and adding little details to spot blacked areas.
TM: My Girlfriend thought it would be funny to set up an old Silver Surfer action figure on top of my Wolverine claws. She was correct. Special guests in the photo: Weapon X Wolverine and a stack of old Wizard magazines. Oh, and a bill.
Continued below
TM: This isn’t really part of my studio, just a fun fact about myself in regards to being an artist that usually humors people. I hold my writing/drawing tools like a freak. So yeah, here’s a picture of how I grasp the brush when I pencil/ink/write/whatever. Also featured on my left hand are a big red birth mark and a big ole’ callus/writer’s bump thing from how I grip the pencil.
TM: So, word to the wise, don’t hold your pencil like me. Or do, if you like giant pinky bumps.
And that’s it for the tour, hope you guys enjoyed it!
