Ink Drawing
Pen and ink drawing refers to the technique of creating art using drawing pens and ink as primary materials. Even though the development of ink as a medium of written accounts revolutionized the history of mankind, it was used as a medium of art during 7th and 8th Century China. It was used as a medium of art to depict the daily lives of the people or the culture or religion. It was mostly applied using brushes made from feathers or animal hair. The ink was used to draw on sheets of paper or silk and these historical, detailed art pieces became an inspiration for what we have today as an Ink drawings.
Kits required for pen and Ink Drawing:
- Nibs and handles are used in traditional pen and ink art. Nibs are like reservoirs of ink and are available in various sizes. Different types of nibs produce varying effects on the paper. They are attached to a handle and are dipped in ink.
- Technical Pens: Technical pens are widely used today. It reduces the hassle of dipping the nibs in the ink bottle over and over again. They reduce the chances of ink spills. They are also available in a variety of sizes and are either pre-filled or refillable.
- Inks: It is available in two types- pigment or dye-based. Pigment-based inks are more intense in color and are made of pigment particles that sit on the paper and don’t get soaked. On the other hand, dye-based inks are an ink-infused solution, are lighter in color and get soaked in by the paper.
- Surfaces and Paper: Bristol paper provides an excellent medium for ink drawings. Use smooth paper as it provides a better medium for ink drawings than textured papers in drawing classes.
- Stationeries: Graphite pencils and kneaded erasers are a must.
- Nylon brushes for applying watercolor-like ink wash effects.
Pen and Ink drawing techniques:
- Hatching- Hatching is a technique that is applied by drawing lines linearly. The lines are drawn in the same direction and they do not overlap each other. They are mostly drawn parallelly. If the lines are closer to each other, they add a darker value to the art and if they are drawn with more space between them, they add a lighter shade or value to the art piece.
- Stippling- It is a technique done by adding dots on the surface of the paper. Concentrated dots can make your art look darker, less concentrated dots can give a lighter value to the art piece. Even though a time-consuming technique, it can be highly rewarding as it looks aesthetic and realistic.
- Cross-Contour- It is a technique that is used to define the contour or the edge of an object by drawing concentrated lines near the edges.
- Cross Hatching- Cross-hatching is similar to hatching but the lines cross over each instead of parallel lines. The more the lines are concentrated, it shows a darker area and vice-versa.
- Ink Wash- Ink wash is about applying ink using a brush with a water base. The technique could be used in the same way watercolor is used. The amount of water mixed with the ink determines the shade of ink.
- Random lines- The lines drawn here go in all directions. The concentration of lines in one area can define the lighter or darker value of shade. This method could be used to show various textures.
Learn to create art with Ink with our interactive Ink Drawing Course in just one year.