Labor'd Men

Late call on this week's Spectator cover, so gave me a good excuse to keep it simple.  The story I've illustrated is from Neil Brown and in light of recent gender topics discusses mens' desertion of the ALP.

Here's a quick process: I've neglected to include the two quick thumbnails.  The other idea was a guy hanging himself from his blue tie (a Gillard quote that every cartoonist has picked up on).  I moved on to a sketch - I considered using the pencils as part of the finished art, but it wasn't quite the look that I had in mind; I wanted a looser, inkier style so I drew this with brush and ink.  (Aaaactually, I used a Pentel Pocket Brush Pen, which is really just like a real brush.  I feel guilty not using my beloved Winsor & Newton Series 7 Sable, but it's a lot less mess and gives a pretty good result.)

Colouring and touchups I did in Photoshop.  I wanted a natural type of look, so I tried to emulate the watercolour style where you don't paint to the edges.