Pen & Ink Exercises
For our next project, we'll be using pen and ink. You may use any ink tools that you like, including felt tip pens, technical pens, dip pens, and brushes. Anything that produces water-proof ink marks.
Before we dive into our next project, today we will practice with the tools that comic and manga artists (hint hint) typically use in their work.
First, let's get to know our tools.
Ink and Ink well
Richly saturated and water-proof. A little goes a long way.
Never dip your pens or brushes directly into the ink bottle. (Nor should you pour used ink back in.) This introduces bacteria into the ink and it will spoil.
Quill pen and Nib
To capture fine lines and details.
Different nibs offer different line qualities. Today we will be working with a crow quill and # 102 speedball nib–which has a super fine, flexible tip suitable for all pen-and-ink techniques.
(NOTE: There is a correct and incorrect way to hold/use this tool.)
Always be gentle with these nibs, they bend and break easily. A light hand will ensure your tools will last for a long time.
Brushes
To fill in large areas of ink, dry textural strokes, or washes of ink.
Cleaning
One other note before we get started.
When you're done, clean your nibs–really well! Dried ink will interfere with your nib when you use it next time.
When cleaning, double-check to make sure that you've gotten all of the ink out of the areas in which ink needs to flow.
~Demo~
Let's try this out.
Nib
Nib Holder/Quill
Two cups
Large and Small Brush
Napkin
Your drawing pad
Step 1: Check your Nib–it should be clean and the tines should be straight and aligned.
Step 2: Assemble your quill–you don't have to push hard.
Step 3: Add ink to one of your cups–a little goes a long way.
Step 4: Dip your nib into your ink–you may have to tilt your cup.
Step 5: Check that you're holding your nib right-side-up
Step 6: Draw!
Remember:
Keep a light touch.
Don't push the nib away from you–you will ruin the nib and ink will splatter.
Yes, you will have to dip frequently.
First, let's try making some consistent marks.
How can we use these basic strokes to create texture and form?
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Like many other media–the more material you put down, the more you build up your values.
Creating structure and the illusion of depth with pen and ink requires you to think about the directions of your lines.
You can also alter your line weights.
There are endless ways to create texture with these tools.
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And you can use them in combination with each other to signify different parts of objects you're drawing.
Try one of these two examples.
