A man and his dog – How to ink and color digital cartoons – tutorial video
By illustrator, cartoonist and designer Ian David Marsden
Rough sketching and final digital watercolor in Adobe Creative Cloud Photoshop and line art inking in Manga Studio EX4.
All drawings are created on a Wacom Cintiq 27QHD pen display.
Drawing tutorial with illustrator, cartoonist and designer Ian David Marsden.
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Feel free to ask questions in the comment section on my YouTube channel, I will try and answer them as quickly and as well as I can.
Follow my YouTube channel and share my videos! 🙂
Feel free to ask questions in the comment section under the video, I will try and answer them as quickly and as well as I can.
If you’re a fan of Google, you might have noticed that the search engine sometimes features creative and playful variations of its logo on special occasions, such as holidays, birthdays, or events. These variations are called Google Doodles, and they have become a beloved and iconic part of Google’s brand and culture. But did you know who created the first Google doodle, and how it happened?
Mentalplex Technology Google Doodles by Ian David Marsden
According to a fascinating article in The Wall Street Journal, the story of the first Google doodle involves a lucky coincidence, a talented illustrator, and a creative marketer. It all started in 1998, when two Stanford University students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, founded Google as a search engine for the internet. They initially used a simple logo featuring the word “Google” in colorful letters, but they soon realized they could use the logo as a canvas for fun and quirky designs that would celebrate and educate users about various topics.
Enter Susan Wojcicki, a young marketing manager who worked for Google in its early days (and who is now CEO of YouTube by the way). As the story goes, Wojcicki was looking for ways to promote Google and attract more users. She had the idea of commissioning an illustrator to create special logos for events. Wojcicki asked her colleagues if they knew any good illustrators, and one of them recommended Ian David Marsden, a cartoonist and illustrator, 32 at the time and father of two infant daughters, who had worked for Coca Cola and other clients and was making a name for himself with fun web graphics and animations during the amazing days of the first web bubble.
Wojcicki contacted Marsden to create some animated GIFs for an april fools joke about “Mentalplex Technology” – a new Google feature where you could just think about what you wanted to look for. Marsden was delighted and sent his designs to Wojcicki, who loved them. She showed it to Page and Brin, who also loved it. The logo was published on april fools day 2000, and became the first Google doodle.
Marsden’s design was a hit, and soon Wojcicki asked him to create more doodles for other occasions, such as Halloween and Thanksgiving. Marsden, who lived in Santa Monica, CA, drew the doodles on paper and scanned them into his dual-processor G3 Mac where he were digitally colorized them and emailed them to Wojcicki, who approved them and uploaded them to the Google site. Marsden worked closely with Wojcicki to refine each Doodle. He became known as the “doodler-in-chief” and drew all the Google doodles for over a year, until the company hired more illustrators and established a doodle team.
Most noticeable was probably the series of Google Doodles for the summer olympics in Sydney featuring a fun kangaroo character (the kangaroodle).
Marsden was studying animation at AET Academy of Entertainment and Technology, Santa Monica College at the time. He was hesitant to leave Santa Monica for Silicon Valley because he was also interested in breaking into the magazine cartoon world, animation for TV, and the budding web animation markets.
It’s hard to believe that back then, nobody could have known that Google would become the all-encompassing global mega-success that it is now. It didn’t seem like something to bet your entire future on. (Remember “Ask Jeeves”?) Yet the first Google doodles, created by Marsden, marked the beginning of a new era in the search engine giant’s evolution.
Today, Google doodles have become a beloved part of Google’s brand identity and have celebrated everything from holidays to historic events and individuals. It’s hard to imagine Google without them.
But it all started with a chance encounter between a marketing manager and a talented illustrator. Who knows where the next wave of innovation will come from? One thing is for sure: it’s always worth keeping an eye out for creative talent in unexpected places.
Today, Google doodles are created by a team of artists and engineers, and they continue to amaze and delight millions of people around the world. But the story of Ian David Marsden and his serendipitous encounter with Susan Wojcicki remains a testament to the power of creativity, collaboration, and innovation that fueled Google’s early days.
Interview avec illustrateur et dessinateur Ian David Marsden sur le blog Stampaprint
Stampaprint.fr, vedette du secteur de l’impression en ligne, vous introduit aujourd’hui dans le monde de l’art graphique et de la satire. Ce sont les pierres angulaires de la carrière de Ian David Marsden, dessinateur américain désormais installé en France. Une carrière qui l’a amené dans la Silicon Valley, chez Google, avant que celle-ci ne devienne aussi célèbre, où, étonnament, il n’est pas resté. On lui a demandé pourquoi – son amour pour la France pourrait être une explication possible? Découvrez-le, en lisant son interview.
Parmi ses projets actuels, une BD, des dessins animés pour le web et pour la télé, l’illustration de livres pour enfants… En ce mois de février, une collection de tasses à cappuccino, avec ses dessins, va sortir chez Ritzenhoff. Si vous voulez personnaliser vos tasses aussi mais que vous n’avez malheureusement pas le même talent pour le dessin que Ian David Marsden (on est nombreux, pas de panique!), Stampaprint.fr vient à votre secours avec sa gamme de produits.
Voici ce qu’il a répondu à nos questions.
Exciting News and Updates from Illustrator Ian David Marsden
I am a freelance illustrator, designer, cartoonist and I also produce and animate whiteboard and explainer videos.
You can sign up for my newsletter in the box on the right. I send a newsletter roughly four times a year.
My artist portfolio, biography, client list and referrals/testimonials can be found on my homepage at: https://marsdenillustration.com
I hope you enjoy these latest updates including some exiting news about my graphic novel project, new clients, new YouTube drawing video tutorial and more.
Dear visitor to my blog,
2016 started off in a very active, busy and fun way for me.
Publishing
Some very exciting news for me personally, is that a graphic novel project I have been developing has been accepted and is now being represented by a New York literary agency. I look forward to telling you more about this very soon. Below is a little teaser sample:
Object Design / Licensing
RITZENHOFF
will be unveiling two new cappuccino cups with saucers, which I designed, at the Ambiente trade show in Frankfurt (12th to16th February 2016).
Ambiente is the world’s most important consumer goods trade fair, which boasts a globally unrivalled range of products in the Dining, Giving and Living areas.
The cups will be available in retail stores world-wide and also in the Ritzenhoff online shop here: LINK
New Projects
I regularly consult as an artist and designer on projects where I am bound to contractual discretion. This means that I am not at liberty to display or reference my work in my portfolio, blog or newsletter even for self-promotional purposes. Nevertheless, without divulging any further information or details, I am thrilled to have worked on projects for the following new clients.
Logos
Mensa
, the international High IQ Society has awarded their 2017 International Board of Director’s meeting (IBD) to the town of Nice, France. Out of a selection of proposed graphic solutions, I am delighted that my design was chosen as the official logo and CI for the event. (Logo horizontal landscape version below)
Design for the new logo for WO magnetic water purification devices.
Character Design
One of the departments of the University of Bern in Switzerland commissioned me a while ago, to design a series of likeable bear characters that should also be appealing to children. I added some new bears to the ever-growing family in January.
Another fun character design project I have been involved in for a few years is this one for the company Si. I was originally tasked to take their existing “Pfiffikus” mascot and give him a more dynamic and modern appearance, all the while retaining his work clothes and color scheme.
Over the years, several poses and applications of the character have been created. All versions are created as fully-scalable 100% vector artwork in Adobe Illustrator.
Labels / Packaging
I am currently designing a series of labels for exclusive, high quality oils and vinegars.
Leisure Projects
In-between projects or just to take a break (yes, I take breaks 😀), I like to relax doodling in my sketchbooks or on loose scraps of paper around my studio (or tablecloths or whatever I can get my hands on). Some of these scribbles end up on my Facebook and other social media. (Another favorite source of distraction) Links at the bottom of this e-mail. in case you feel like joining me.
Here is another personal, non-commissioned art project. A modern interpretation of a moon symbol. (digital print on canvas 80 cm x 60 cm)
Printed media
I recently received a package with my copies of the printed Digades Dfreeeze app brochure featuring a multi-page comic I drew. I am very pleased with the result. You can read the whole booklet here: LINK
I designed and implemented several catalogs and price lists for my very good customer Sanafort, a producer of high quality vital mushrooms, teas and health supplements. http://www.sanafort.ch
Video / YouTube
My latest video on my YouTube channel is of me drawing the little bird for the header of this newsletter. I hope you enjoy it. LINK
Well, that’s all for now. I hope one or the other item might have been of interest.
Can you believe that it’s November again? It seems like the months have just flown by since I last sat down to write you a few lines from my illustration studio.
I’ve been having a lot of fun doing freehand sketches between projects. Here are some glimpses into my sketchbooks and Moleskines.
I’ve been posting some of my doodles to my Facebook page and sometimes I also upload short videos of my sketching to my YouTube channel.
This year we created a 12 page comic which continues the adventures of the main protagonists, Michael, Anne, Stefan and Julia and their Dfreeeze car heater remote control application.
Regular client Sanafort AG (a renowned Swiss producer of natural Reishi mushroom and other tonic herbs and food supplements) needed website and newsletter graphics for Christmas and the New Year and to advertise upcoming product launches and promotions.
As always they allowed me a lot of creative freedom and I think the results are quite elegant.
My very good personal friend Helmi Sigg, Swiss actor, comedian, writer and renaissance man has partnered with STEINER Meats to create their own delicious Swiss-made twist on New York Style pastrami.
He entrusted me to create the logo for this culinary delight which is aptly named ‘Pastrelmi’ after it’s creator.
The last few weeks have been very exciting on a personal level, as we have been preparing for my first exhibition of original drawings in quite a while.
Over 60 pieces of artwork are on display in the exhibition, organized by the Association Artistique Monet at the Espace George Brassens in St Gely du Fesc (Montpellier).
I am exhibiting together with famous French cartoonist Ptiluc and two German artists, Heike Negenborn and Carmen Stahlschmidt.
It would be my pleasure to talk to you about any new projects you might have.
Please call me at +33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at ian@marsdenillustration.com for a free consultation.
Can you believe that it’ November again? It seems like the months have just flown by since I last sat down to write you a few lines from my illustration studio.
I’ve been having a lot of fun doing freehand sketches between projects. Here are some glimpses into my sketchbooks and Moleskines.
I’ve been posting some of my doodles to my Facebook page and sometimes I also upload short videos of my sketching to my YouTube channel.
This year we created a 12 page comic which continues the adventures of the main protagonists, Michael, Anne, Stefan and Julia and their Dfreeeze car heater remote control application.
Regular client Sanafort AG (a renowned Swiss producer of natural Reishi mushroom and other tonic herbs and food supplements) needed website and newsletter graphics for Christmas and the New Year and to advertise upcoming product launches and promotions.
As always they allowed me a lot of creative freedom and I think the results are quite elegant.
My very good personal friend Helmi Sigg, Swiss actor, comedian, writer and renaissance man has partnered with STEINER Meats to create their own delicious Swiss-made twist on New York Style pastrami.
He entrusted me to create the logo for this culinary delight which is aptly named ‘Pastrelmi’ after it’s creator.
The last few weeks have been very exciting on a personal level, as we have been preparing for my first exhibition of original drawings in quite a while.
Over 60 pieces of artwork are on display in the exhibition, organized by the Association Artistique Monet at the Espace George Brassens in St Gely du Fesc (Montpellier).
I am exhibiting together with famous French cartoonist Ptiluc and two German artists, Heike Negenborn and Carmen Stahlschmidt.
It would be my pleasure to talk to you about any new projects you might have. Please call me at +33 6 42 49 82 11 or e-mail me at ian@marsdenillustration.com for a free consultation.
