Making the most out of water soluble pens for sketching
Water-soluble pens can for sketching can be so usefull! A few lines, a bit of water for shading that is all you need. Today we will apply all we have learned in the last 7 lessons. Additionally, we will add some shading with a soluble medium, in my case an ink pen.
Find all the previous lessons here
What type of water soluble pens can work for this exercise?
You can use any medium that is water-soluble
- Color crayons,
- Neocolor II from Caran d’Ache,
- Stabilo aquarelleable,
- Ink pen, ( used a sailor pen)
- Pencil
Do a little test just to make sure your medium is watersoluble!
It is always best to draw from reality. Choose anything that inspires you or draw a long with me:
A few steps to remember
- Look for the main shapes
- Refine the lines always checking what is next to it
- Add details, work with negative space
- Vary the lines, interrupted lines, one-line,
- Look mostly at the model not on your page
- Add some texture
- Use a paintbrush and activate the lines
- Push the paint around as you wish
- Clean your brush if the washes become too dark
- Add some sprinkles if you enjoy that
- Add colors
Inspiration – how you could use this ink technique
As you can imagine you can use this technique for anything. From drawing your interiors, plants, or even portraits. I sketched in on a terrace some faces of people sitting close to me and also some vegetables.
Getting annoyed with water-soluble pens
Before I used to get so annoyed when I accidentally used a water-soluble pen for sketching and when I started applying watercolor to my sketch all my lines started bleeding. ..finding this technique has opened and a new way of working for me.
If you missed the previous ink drawing post: A simple ink drawing makes the ordinary look so cool!
If you wish to see all the foundation posts click here: Foundation posts
Practice suggestion for the theme:
Try to draw your vegetables and fruits in your house. Landscapes could be a lot of fun too!
Pen and ink drawing books that I enjoy a lot
This two books gave me a great insight of sketching with ink in general.
Book with a lot of exercises on strokes, how to shade but also a few step-by-step instructions for finished drawings. (It can be used without the main book)
To find out more about the book click here!
A book about how to draw with an ink pen. From strokes to shading, texture, and finished drawings.
To find out more about Pen & Ink Drawing click here:
I have both books but you could easily work with one or the other. The workbook has space to practice in it, while the Pen and Ink Drawing book covers more theory but you will need to practice outside of the book.
I can also highly recommend his youtube tutorials: Alphonso Dunn
Return to my home page to get inspired: click here
