Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives

The Long Lost Friend Studio YouTube channel started as a fun way to bone up on traditional brush-and-pen inking (and an excuse to draw and discuss famous monsters in pop culture).

We’ve since expanded the channel into an opportunity to learn all kinds of art techniques (watercolor, sculpting, diorama building, etc), but this week we went back to basics and inked a couple of classic Looney Tunes monsters, Mister Hyde and Witch Hazel.

One of my favorite Looney Tunes monsters has always been the Mister Hyde character from Hyde and Hare (1955). He’s creepy, malevolent, and gives Bugs Bunny a run for his money. And just look at this guy. I wouldn’t want him chasing me with an axe.

In the video, we discuss how there may actually be two Jekyll-and-Hyde monsters in the Looniverse, whether or not I’m too cheap to heat the studio, and, of course, our inking tools and process.

Since we’re just doing a back-to-basics, old school monster inking video, Hyde is a very simple ink job. Some brushed lines, fine liners for detail, a wash, and some gel pen whites for highlights.

We also brought back our fan-favorite art game, Ink It or Stink It! I call it a game, but more often than not it’s just Michelle — who does not draw or ink — put to the nerve-racking task of inking a character, and letting a trio of outside judges deem the finished illustration “Ink” or “Stink.” This time she too is inking a Looney Tunes monster: Witch Hazel.

If you want to see how Mister Hyde turns out, and whether Michelle earned an Ink or a Stink with Witch Hazel, the link to the video is down below.