pen and ink drawings
Aside from pencil, pen and ink drawings are probably the most portable, convenient, and low-cost form of artmaking. All you need is a pen and a piece of paper, and you're ready to make art!
Nearly everyone has doodled with a pen in the margins of their paper. Drawing with pens can be as fun and easy as that!
There are many types of pens available for drawing, such as:
and even ball point pens.
Any of these types of pens can be used to create fine art!
pens
Each type of pen will result in a different quality of line. The kind of pen you prefer will depend on the type of line you would like to create, bearing in mind such qualities as thickness or thinness of the line, and fluidity versus control. The kind of pen you choose will also depend upon the type of art you want to create, in terms of style and subject.
My two favorite
pens are currently the
Sakura Pigma Micron Pens If you are using
only one color ink on paper, you'll basically be
working in two colors: the color of your ink, and
the color of your paper. Each will play off the other. In pen and
ink drawings, the blank space is just as important as the markings
you make with the pen. Therefore, you need to pay as much attention
to what's going on in the background as you are to what you're doing
with the pen. If you are more accustomed to working in color, this
will require a different way of thinking and creating art than you
might be used to.
and
Staedtler Pigment Liner Pens
.
These are the pens that I used to create my ink drawings that you
can see on the right. They come in a variety of nib thicknesses. I
especially love the super tiny nibs (.005), because they allow for
lots of detail. However, it is really handy having the thicker ones
for filling in lots of space! Therefore, I would recommend having
a range of nib sizes.
paper
on
the market, you
can also use papers that are designed for painting as well as drawing.
For instance,
watercolor paper
is great for pen and ink drawings, especially if you plan to do watercolor
washes under or over the ink drawing.
Printmaking papers
,
illustration board
and
bristol board
also
work well.
Some interesting
papers you may want to experiment with are:
Yupo,
vellum
,
colored paper,
metallic paper
,
papyrus
,
bark
paper
,
Nepalese
Lokta papers
,
Japanese paper
and/or
handmade paper
.
Feel free to think
outside the box. If you're not concerned about longevity, you can
create art on a variety of unconventional surfaces, such as the inside
of a cereal box, cash register receipts, vintage book pages or postcards,
etc. Traditionally, these types of surfaces were not recommended for
making "fine art" - one reason being the high acidity levels
of these papers, which means the paper would yellow and deteriorate
over time. These days, anything goes in contemporary art, so these
issues are less of a concern. However, if you do want to take the
extra step to ensure longevity, there are
archival sprays on
the market that can neutralize the acidity in such papers.
other materials
So you've got your paper and pen. What else might come in handy for your ink drawings? There are a few other materials that you might consider keeping on hand whilst working on your pen and ink drawing:
-
pencil
- Ink is a very unforgiving medium. Once you make a mistake, the best you can do is try to cover it up by integrating the mistake into the drawing. Worst case scenario, you'll need to start over. That's why a pencil is handy for lightly sketching in your initial drawing.
-
kneaded rubber
- If you've sketched in your drawing with pencil first, you'll need to erase it after you've applied the ink. I would recommend using a kneaded rubber, because you can mold it to the shape you need and it won't leave any 'flakes' like some erasers do.
-
ruler
- If you want to make straight lines, rulers are essential.
-
templates
- If you want to make perfect circles, ovals, or other shapes, you don't need to torture yourself by trying to draw them perfectly freehand. Use a template!
-
archival sealant spray
- After you're drawing is finished, it's a good idea to give it a coating of archival spray. This will seal in the inks, ensuring that they are waterproof. A good spray will help to protect your drawing.
There are many different drawing papers available for creating pen and ink artwork. Learn about several different kinds of art paper that you can use to make your pen and ink drawings!
How to create value in pen and ink drawings
Most people are somewhat familiar with the process of shading with a pencil, but not everyone knows how to do it with a pen. Learn the basic techniques for creating value in pen and ink drawings.
Check out the detailed pen & ink drawings of Eli Helman. In this exclusive interview, he discusses the process and inspiration behind his elaborate pen and ink art.
Got a question about working in pen and ink? This handy FAQ about pen and ink techniques contains questions and answers from pen and ink artists like you. Ask a question and receive an answer!
