Learning To Draw With Pen & Ink

[akohtz]

I'm using a generic 8.5x11in sketchbook. Some of the sketches will easily fit on smaller pages, but I think that others benefit from the additional real-estate.

 

Don't be afraid to redo some of his lessons until you're more comfortable with the result. Nobody says you have to get it perfect on the first try or even get it perfect before you share it here. I've junked a couple of 'false starts' in the name of learning the specific technique he's conveying in the lesson.

 

I hope you enjoy the book and have fun with it.

 

- Andrew

Edited December 4, 2013 by akohtz

[daniellem]

Candidvn, I love the flowers...

 

For those going through the Lohan book - what size paper/notebook are you doing the exercises on? I just ordered the book, and want to get a notebook before it arrives.

 

Thanks!

 

I've been using the 6"x8" Stillman and Birn Espilon series wirebound notebook. I think for the most part, you don't want to go too large with the drawings, as it would take a good bit more time than working at a slightly smaller (but not too small) scale. Of course if you have a bigger notebook, you can always do more than one per page. The thing that is most important is paper quality so that your lines don't bleed or feather. Bristol board is really nice to work on, too -- I have seen that Strathmore has a bristol version of their "Visual Journal" notebook series but I have not ever tried it. (If anyone here has tried out that sketchbook, could you weigh in on how it works for pen and ink?)

[akohtz]

 

Of course if you have a bigger notebook, you can always do more than one per page.

 

Ha. I actually did that with two of the smaller ones.

 

The last day I worked in my sketchbook was Thanksgiving. Way too much has been going on in life the last two weeks.

 

Demonstrations 8 (my next one), 9, and 10 are the exact same image of a barn in different seasons. This is a cool teaching technique. Since the main image won't change, we get to focus on what the specific differences are that the seasonal changes cause. I would say these three lessons should definitely be done in order.

 

- Andrew

[bitterwonder]

Get a small sketchbook with paper that you like but that doesnt intimidate, and on the days when there is no time to DRAW you can set the goal of just making one drawing. (Of anything, the goal is to just do it, mistakes and all. it is in a book apart from your good sketchbook) Learning to draw is about formal lessons and theories, but it is also about getting in to the habit of drawing. As Renoir said, "Not a day without a line...."

[daniellem]

That's great advice, bitterwonder. It's amazing, the progress one can make, when you do something every single day -- even if you only spend five or ten minutes a day at it.

 

I've been reading a great book that I checked out from my local library -- "Drawing from Within" by Nick Meglin. Takes a very different approach from many "how to" books out there -- very fun and accessible and encouraging. He talks about a time when he was teaching a university level drawing class where he made his students use only a fountain pen and paper for a full semester, to teach them that materials don't matter -- all that matters is getting the marks down on paper and learning from them.

 

Andrew, thanks for the heads up on the next few Lohan demos. Like you, I haven't had much time for serious pen and ink work lately, but I'm hoping to get back to the book soon! And demo 8 is next in line.

[bitterwonder]

Drawing Lessons From the Great Masters by Robert Beverly Hale (not anatomy lessons...) is a good book to have. And copy from.

[akohtz]

I finally finished the next demo.

 

It came out okay. I'm looking forward to repeating the same scene covered in snow for the next lesson.

 

- Andrew

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5479/11379374636_ec29c0032e_z.jpg

Barn on Hill - Fall by andykohtz, on Flickr

 

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

Get a small sketchbook with paper that you like but that doesnt intimidate, and on the days when there is no time to DRAW you can set the goal of just making one drawing. (Of anything, the goal is to just do it, mistakes and all. it is in a book apart from your good sketchbook) Learning to draw is about formal lessons and theories, but it is also about getting in to the habit of drawing. As Renoir said, "Not a day without a line...."

I've been way out of the loop and want back in! Perfect advice, thanks.

 

And...AK, I love that barn, too.

[Dennis W]

Some excellent drawing examples for study can be found in several recent Project Gutenberg releases. A Tour Through The Pyrenees by Hippolyte Taine , Jaufry the Knight and the Fair Brunissende by Mary Lafon , Four Hundred Humorous Illustrations, Vol 1 (of 2) by George Cruikshank , Four Hundred Humorous Illustrations, Vol 2 (of 2) by George Cruikshank, and The Bachelor's Own Book by George Cruikshank. Should you want to download the larger picture files go to “More Files…” and select the largest file for download.

 

Regards,

 

Dennis

[daniellem]

Andrew, that's a lot better than just okay in my book, wow! Beautiful job!

 

And thanks for the info about the Gutenberg releases, Dennis -- will have to go check those out...

[akohtz]

Thanks Danielle. That made me feel better. I just had two 'false starts' on demo 9 tonight. Each time I was just getting into it and then realized I'd done something to totally screw it up. I got my initial pencil sketch down on paper for a third time just now and decided I'm not touching the pen to it again tonight. LOL. Tomorrow is a new day.

 

- Andrew

[Prvt. Toter]

ok, I am waaaay behind... here is the first excercise, finally took a few minutes and worked on this... definately warrants more time, but still good learning, even from a short sesson...

 

[inkstainedruth]

I'll admit that I have balked at getting the Lohan book, simply because I'm not thrilled with the concept of copying someone else's work (I did that in an adult ed watercolor class I took a couple of years ago, and I wasn't impressed then by the concept -- and *that* was with an actual instructor). Reminds me a bit too much of the "How to Draw Horses" I had when I was a kid (don't remember who it was by -- there was a whole series of them, and I had the one on horses) because I didn't (at age 7 or 8) grasp the concept of that sort of kite shaped structure just being the undersketch.

A while back I picked up the _Drawing on the Right Side of Your Brain Workbook_ when I ran across it in a local Half-Price Books (I have the original book somewhere in my house). So I think that my New Years Resolution (is it too early to think about those before Christmas?) is going to be taking a good long look at the Workbook (admittedly it's probably not going to be just pen and ink work).

But I'm intrigued by the Meglin book -- it sounds interesting. I will have to see if my local library system carries it.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Sailor Kenshin]

ok, I am waaaay behind... here is the first excercise, finally took a few minutes and worked on this... definately warrants more time, but still good learning, even from a short sesson...

 

Well-done! And I love your avvy.

[fiberdrunk]

I got the Lohan book and drew the wagon wheel exercise with homemade black walnut ink:

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/11522032543_9ccf91e806.jpg

[akohtz]

Toter, fiberdrunk,

 

Nicely done. You both should keep going! What you've do so far looks really good.

 

I look forward to seeing more of your work.

 

- Andrew

[ethernautrix]

You-all are doing such great work! I left my Lohan book at home when I came to Poland, and I realized that perhaps that was a mistake. So I bought the e-version (Kindle). I haven't looked at it yet but am slowly being drawn back into the practice of drawing. (Yes, boo! (The pun. Booo!))

[subramaniyam]

While not exactly completely pen and ink, the lettering was done with a dip pen and india ink. Coloring is using aquarello pencils and then washed. My first sketch of 2014. :-)

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2883/11712825514_38be56a452_z.jpg

Regards,

Sub

[daniellem]

Prvt. Toter and fiberdrunk -- nice work on those Lohan exercises. They both look great!

 

Sub -- Wow -- that is some excellent work, and a very cool effect with the combo of ink, watercolor pencil, and textured paper.

 

Happy New Year, all!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Love it!