Ink and wash in line drawings

by Tissa Hewavitarane

There is a large variety of ink in the market, from sepia to waterproof coloured ink such as Indian ink and watersolulable ink. They vary from brand to brand. Some ink, for example, is not colourfast and some can be diluted with water more easily than others. So it is worthwhile to try out several kinds before making a final choice.

You can use a wide range of implements such as a brush, or its handle; a mapping pen or a dip pen, a nail file or a knife, a palette knife or a match stick to apply ink. With a brush you can create a line or a wash, whereas most other tools produce only a line.

When starting a drawing try out different kinds of paper because the surface of the paper directly affects the kind of line you will get. If you are using watercolour paper especially a rough one, the nib of the pen will scratch and drag on the paper so that you do not get a fluid line.

A street corner vendor

A hot-pressed or smooth paper is therefore better with a pen. However, if you are using a brush you can draw on a rough paper, dragging the brush across it.

The undulations in the paper will come through in the marks you make, and give them an interesting look. One should not do anything physically strenuous before creating an ink drawing because this makes your pen shake. Some artists always practise their strokes, warming up their hands before sketching until they get the stokes right. In the same way, first practise your strokes, because once you have committed a mark on the paper it is difficult to remove it.

Spontaneity

You can use masking fluid to touch out mistakes, but this tends to spoil the spontaneity of the medium. To make it easier to avoid mistakes I sketch a drawing on the paper first. It is possible to add substances to your ink such as gum arabic which gives it a thickness to your ink that you can scratch into when it dries. To vary the line, from your brush or pen over, if you are using a nib you can press on it to open it out and create a broader line or even paralled lines.

If you use a matchstick you could chew the end and use it to produce a feathered effect. Pen and ink can be combined with many other media. You can draw on the surface of your paper with chalk and then draw on top of it with pen and ink, or you can as turner did, make a pen and ink drawing and then apply a wash or series of washes over it.

Line and wash with ink has always been a favourite of mine. This time-proven art form, allows the artist to create bold eye-catching compositions, rich textures and striking value contacts. The delicate and bold lines produced by a fine pen nib can produce intricately detailed work. There is no set up, clean up or extended drying time to slow you down. So, when doing a drawing with pen and ink learn to observe, feel free to experiment different techniques in drawing a human figure, or a landscape. Notice the figure drawing I have done with pen and ink outline capturing the characteristics of the vendor. He is seated at the corner of a road way. A light wash of burnsienna is applied to give the tonal variety of the lines and strokes on the painting which are compatible with the mood you want to capture is expressed clearly. Observe the proportions between the elements of the body and how the principal lines relate to each other. The whole paintings is done with one colour, with brisk bold strokes in line. Notice the bullock-cart at far end done only with a thin nib pen.

Rhythm

It gives the movement and rhythm of driving fast. The brush is used to apply lines in the same way one forms lines with a pen. A figure sketch is more dramatic than a still life. It brings into play a higher number of more complicated recourses both for shade and colour.

There are various techniques and a variety of line drawings available to draw. For example, contour lines are marks that precisely follow the curves and planes of an object. Parallel lines are straight marks that extend in the same direction. Parallel lines provide a flat, smooth appearance that works well in depicting distant or hazy subjects. A scribble line is a free flowing mark that loops and twists in a sketchy manner.

Value is the degree of lightness or darkness present. When ink marks are arranged closer together or layered one set over another, the value of the pen-and ink work becomes evident.

Contrast between dark and light value areas and skilful use of highlights and shadows will add definition and dimension to your work.