The Copic Wonders of Rich Hennemann [NSFW]

Over the last few years I’ve been seeing more and more artists using Copic markers mixed with other types of media to create some incredibly detailed and impressive looking pieces of artwork. A few artists come to mind and they are very good at pin-up art but then I discovered an artist that simply made my jaw drop with his use of mixed media and the impressive palette that he wielded with the precision of a Legend in the making. Rich Hennemann is truly a very talented individual. He can be contacted here for any commission inquiries: http://inkwashart.blogspot.com/

First professional work (piece / year) and maybe a quick story behind it.

Honestly, I don’t exactly remember. For years, just about all of my work was in private commissions/illustrations, so I don’t really have a specific date and time of what my first professional piece was. Sad……

I’ve since branched out, and have done spot illustrations, a novel cover, some character design, and am just recently getting into the comics world, with some indie covers, some work on trading card sets (base cards and original sketch cards) for FemForce and Luxura…and I’ve got a couple things in the works that hopefully I can talk about soon.

Self-taught or formally educated? (or mixture of both, mentors etc…)

Completely self taught. I’ve always been a big fan of art, of all kinds, and I’ve done my best to study and learn as much as I could from the artists I admire most…which I try to continue to do to this day.

I also do my best to continuously try new things, new mediums, styles, methods. I love trying to figure out something that’s new to me, and usually I end up incorporating what I like into what I do. I strive to be constantly changing, and improving.


Tools of the trade: Taking a quick glance over at your pens, brushes etc…what tools have you mainly been using over the last few years?

I enjoy working in several different mediums. For most of what I do, I work primarily with ink and watercolor. My brushes are Windsor Newton Series 7 (size 2 & 4). For inking, I use a brush with Pelikan ink, or the Pentel Brush Pen, and various sizes of the Faber Castell PITT pens. I then paint with watercolor (and often incorporate some acrylic paint and/or colored pencils.)

If working in gray tones, which seems to be the most popular request for commissions, I will sometimes use wash, but most often go with a mix of warm and cool gray Copic Markers. I use a white paint pen for highlights, and when the mood strikes, a mix of paint, ink, or whatever I can find to finish a piece off.

You have a very unique style to your artwork. Can you give us an in-depth look at how you create an image?

Not a whole lot of mystery here. Once I have an assignment, or character decided on for a commission, I start with some brainstorming and doodling. From that, I’ll get an idea of what I want to do with the piece (this sometimes takes seconds, sometimes days).

Once I have an idea, I’ll usually do a very rough thumbnail sketch, mostly to work out the design of the piece, and where I want everything to go. Then, I’ll dive right in to the pencil drawing. Since I’m always inking and finishing (be it paint or Copics) a piece myself, the pencils are left pretty loose. Once I’m comfortable that I’ve got enough of a drawing on the page, I do the line work and tighten up the drawing with the PITT Pens.

Next, I go in with the Copics for color (well, not really color, as I only work in gray, warm and cool….so let’s say “tones”) and shading. From there, I finish it up with some highlights….and if I feel like getting messy, some paint and ink splatter.

Favorite brand of ink, Copic markers, watercolor, etc.

My ink of choice is Pelikan. I use the refillable original Copics Markers, in warm and cool tones. For water color I use mostly Pelikan, but I’ll mix in some Windsor Newton, and various types of acrylic paint. For white highlights, I love the Sakura Gelly Roll white pens, as well as concentrated white watercolor, and a standard white out pen.

Type of paper:

For Copic drawings, I use Strathmore Medium Drawing paper. Not as thick as the Strathmore and Canson paper or board I use for watercolors, but I love the natural tint to the paper, and it holds and blends the Copics beautifully.

Which artists or creators do you return to for a quick boost of inspiration?

I’m always returning to the works of my favorites for inspiration. My favorite artist, and the biggest artistic influence on me (even though you can’t see it at all in my work) is Tim Sale. He excites me, and inspires me, and just does things that I can’t do, which is what really draws me to his work. He has a style that is completely his own, and I do my best to learn from his masterful storytelling, design and technique. He’s also a wonderful man, who I am proud to be able to call a good friend.

And when we’re talking Copic Markers, my biggest inspiration (and the biggest inspiration for all current artists who use copic markers, whether they admit it or not) is the Master, Adam Hughes. Adam is an unimaginable talent, who can draw anything. And when he’s working with copics, he is the king.

I also have a great love for the work of Darwyn Cooke, John Romita Sr., Robert McGinnis, Norman Rockwell, Fritz Willis, Drew Struzan, Scott Morse, Bill Presing, Stephane Roux, Juanjo Guarnido…I could probably go on forever.

When you’re commissioned to do a piece for someone do you have a different approach to when you create for your own pleasure?

Hmmm…I guess that depends. As with any paying job, having someone else “make the rules” certainly changes things a bit, at least in that I’m trying harder to stick to someone else’s expectations and am less likely to do something crazy, or try something completely new.

But otherwise, no, not really. My favorite commissions are those I’m turned loose on….and in my opinion are the ones that always come out best. Of course, when someone commissions me, my first priority is to give them exactly what they want, but when their only request is “Spider-Man…and have fun with it!”, and not “Spider-Man…..swinging through the city, tilted to exactly a 64 degree angle, with exactly 41 cars below him, at least 24 unique buildings, and exactly 207 windows on each building, etc……”, the results are probably going to be better.

(That’s an exaggeration of course….but you’d be surprised how specific some folks can be…)

What’s currently sitting in your mp3 / CD player / turntable?

For no apparent reason, I’ve recently been trying to decide on my top 10 favorite albums of all time. So I’ve got several full albums loaded up that I’ve been listening to constantly – Pros and Cons of Hitchhiking by Roger Waters, Ten – Pearl Jam, American Idiot – Green Day, Blood on the Tracks – Bob Dylan, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness – Smashing Pumpkins, Downward Spiral – NIN, OK Computer – Radiohead, The Chronic – Dr. Dre.

What’s hanging on your walls and what is your favorite piece of art that you own (not created by you)?

I’ve got several drawings and original pages by Tim Sale hanging up, as well as a few paintings/drawings that were done for my son by some friends and masters from the animation world….Scott Morse, Nate Wragg, Mike Lee, Robert Kondo.

My favorite piece is a wash drawing by Tim Sale, of Superman proposing to Lois, which was done to help me propose to my (now) wife. Not only is it a beautiful drawing, but for obvious reasons, it means more to me than any other piece of art possibly could.

Last novel you read and last movie that you saw (that you’d recommend)?

I’m not much of a novel reader anymore, unless graphic novels count. If so…I recently finished “Revolver” by Matt Kindt (creator of the phenomenal “Super Spy”). I’m a huge fan of Matt’s style and storytelling, and highly recommend everything he’s done.

I also just re-read the three volume collection of “Blacksad” by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido. The recent English collection printed by Dark Horse is beautiful, and if anyone out there hasn’t read it, there is nothing I would recommend more highly.

My wife and I just recently welcomed our second child, so I don’t get out to the movies much anymore either. I think the last movie I made it out to was “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows”, which I’d definitely recommend. Easily the best in the series since “Azkaban”.

Current and upcoming projects.

Right now I’m finishing up some sketch card work on the upcoming “Luxura: Sword of the Apocalypse” trading card set, and a cover for an indie comic called “Void”…..as well as a few things that are in the works that I can’t really talk about yet.

I’m also hard at work on my first children’s book, which is nearly finished, and should be out sometime later this year.

In addition, I’m always accepting commissions. I use commissions as a way to take a break from whatever else I might be working on….they keep me sane. So regardless of my schedule, I always mix in some time each day to work on commissions.

What would you tell an aspiring artist who is working his ass off but still needs and wants to break through to the next level.

Draw. Paint. Skribble. Scratch. Doodle. Whatever! If you love to create art, you must do it. Practice, study, explore…..and practice. If you wonder what will happen if you try something new….try it. If you wonder what it would be like to be a professional artist…..find out. It’s never easy, but if you love art, and work hard, you will get there….and nothing will make you happier.

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