Learning To Draw With Pen & Ink

[daniellem]

Just coming up for some air before getting back to work. Andrew, as always your work with the Lohan book is so inspiring. Love what you did there with the trees, and with the shadows -- especially under the eaves. Your sketches have such a sense of depth. Can't wait till I can join you back at the drawing board.

 

And nice car, candidvn!

 

Welcome splicer -- please do share a pic of your sketching setup and any sketches -- always so interesting to see how folks work.

[weltyj]

Hi everyone,

 

I've been "sneaking peaks" at this thread for a while, just haven't had a moment to respond here. Life got very busy, but I wanted to chime in.

 

@akohtz, Andrew, your drawings are awesome. I am envious of your ability to draw such refined looking images. It is an inspiration, thank you for sharing. To others on this thread (candidvn, sailor, ...) I love looking at the things you come up with, and your renditions of them.

 

I started working on a new project, about the 1st of December, it based on a photo of a lumberjack from the 1920's or 30's, and he is hanging on the side of a huge douglas-fir tree. I started the drawing by tracing on vellum paper for a new technique, and it works quite well. Then I started working on the detail with both Yama-Guri and carbon black inks. But then I got to the foliage part, and found I had to stop. I thought a toned down green would look very cool, so I searched around a bit, and my Noodler's bad green gator arrived a couple of weeks ago. I haven't had a moment to really start drawing with it but I think it's going to work really well. It will probably be a few weeks before I can get back to it, but I'll share when I have something to share :-)

 

Cheers,

Jeff

[weltyj]

Here is my latest project. Where I left it when I realized I wanted green ink...

[Finalist]

I'm more of a doodler. I like to draw random things that pop into my head rather than reproducing images. I usually just spend a few minutes on a drawing/doodle/cartoon. I ordered a Serwex MB with a flex nib and I'm exciting to see how that translates to drawing. I think the thick and thin lines will really add some depth.

 

 

[Pterodactylus]

Hi Finalist,

 

Looks great, I like the combination of sharp letters and round tentacle of the octopus which forms the last letter.

You should colorate it

[Sailor Kenshin]

Love the color, love the doodles!

[Finalist]

A little Shel Silverstein with some mood lighting as requested by my daughter.

[zemof]

I finished the dreaded 3rd demo in Lohan's book. Several people will attest that it looks quite daunting when you're just getting started, but the results are very fulfilling.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/10833298683_a975c3c04c.jpg

Château in France by akohtz, on Flickr

 

The first two sketches only took me about 2.5 hours each. This one, however, took me over 8 hours. Half of that time was easily spent on the initial pencil sketch.

 

I don't know if anybody else besides me is still working their way through Lohan's book. How far have other's of you gotten?

 

- Andrew

 

@akohtz Andrew, this is really awesome!!!

 

I’m trying to pick up sketching with my fountain pens (gotta put those pens and inks to use right?!) and hopefully some single watercolour so that I can do some journaling on my month-long backpack in April!

[Inkydinkydog]

What a fabulous thread! So inspiring and helpful. Love all the art work. I only recently started drawing with ink rather than pencil, so I'm absorbing all of this like a sponge, LOL.

[Runnin_Ute]

Beautiful work all. I don't have anything to share, nor do I expect to in the near future. Just wanted to poke my head in and admire what you all are doing.

[akohtz]

My drawing studies with Lohan's book got derailed the last two months. Two (separate) deaths in the family that required my attention. Things are finally settling back down.

 

I followed a piece of advice from somewhere else in this thread. My kids got me a smaller sketch pad that I can work in besides my larger pad I'm using for the study series. I've been able to do some small works of my own. It's progress. Even if I haven't done lines every single day.

 

- Andrew

[thehobbit]

This thread got me inspired as well, bought the Lohan's book a while ago, I already made some first sketches, still have to find some better paper - the pad I bought is clearly more suitable for pencils than ink.. Also thinking about a pen with a softer/flexier nib, I was using a fine 78g and a fine 823 and sometimes to get the dark places really dark requires an awful lot of work..

[Inkydinkydog]

You've all inspired me to the point that I just ordered two of Lohan's books. I have much to learn!

[archi77]

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

 

 

 

Andrew, what pen and nib are you using (assuming it's a fountain pen)? I can't seem to get a fine line with my fountain pen and am thinking of switching to one of my architectural tech pens (they don't get much use anymore anyways...) Just curious what combination you were using... all of your sketches look great and have such detail in them.

Thanks.

[akohtz]

Archi,

 

Thank you. I'm glad that people like my work and find inspiration from it.

 

I'm really a total newbie at this. I only own one bottle of ink and two fountain pens. All my drawings were done with the flex nib that comes on a stock $14 Noodler's Nib Creaper pen.

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/Noodlers_Nib_Creaper_Flex_Pens_s/903.htm

 

The flex in the nib allows me to create such a wide variation of thickness in the lines. Just a gentle touch creates a thin line. I also can turn the nib over and use the other side of the point. That creates a very light and thin line as well.

 

Otherwise, most of the detail is coming from patience and diligence. My tools are cheap.

 

I'm lifting the initial outline of the sketch using tracing paper and pencil. This provides little or no details, but does give me the proper perspective. I then transfer that outline to my sketch paper and continue with the pencil to bring over more of the details.

 

Once I'm happy with the pencil sketch, I will switch to pen. I get the initial sketch inked out and erase all the pencil lines. Then the pen goes to work flushing out the details.

 

My advise is READ what Lohan wrote in each lesson. DON'T JUST LOOK AT HIS PICTURES and think you understand every step. Read it. Then reread it. His explanations are where you start to understand his techniques.

 

Soldier on and keep practicing. I sincerely hope you enjoy Lohan's book.

 

- Andrew

[archi77]

Thanks, Andrew. I didn't even think about a flex... I think I have one in the box of "miscellaneous pens" I bought. Might have to clean it up and give it a try! Thanks.

[candidvn]

Couple months ago, I bound this notebook but never try it. Today I decided to test it with Lamy Safari 1.1 italic nib, bullet proof Noodle's ink and watercolor.

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3677/12607600214_eaff2c4d1e_z.jpg

 

Here are the sketches

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/12607452723_fb0f9a7a73_z.jpg

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5540/12607611524_20b9d92f7a_z.jpg

[Inkydinkydog]

Archi,

 

Thank you. I'm glad that people like my work and find inspiration from it.

 

I'm really a total newbie at this. I only own one bottle of ink and two fountain pens. All my drawings were done with the flex nib that comes on a stock $14 Noodler's Nib Creaper pen.

 

http://www.gouletpens.com/Noodlers_Nib_Creaper_Flex_Pens_s/903.htm

 

The flex in the nib allows me to create such a wide variation of thickness in the lines. Just a gentle touch creates a thin line. I also can turn the nib over and use the other side of the point. That creates a very light and thin line as well.

 

Otherwise, most of the detail is coming from patience and diligence. My tools are cheap.

 

I'm lifting the initial outline of the sketch using tracing paper and pencil. This provides little or no details, but does give me the proper perspective. I then transfer that outline to my sketch paper and continue with the pencil to bring over more of the details.

 

Once I'm happy with the pencil sketch, I will switch to pen. I get the initial sketch inked out and erase all the pencil lines. Then the pen goes to work flushing out the details.

 

My advise is READ what Lohan wrote in each lesson. DON'T JUST LOOK AT HIS PICTURES and think you understand every step. Read it. Then reread it. His explanations are where you start to understand his techniques.

 

Soldier on and keep practicing. I sincerely hope you enjoy Lohan's book.

 

- Andrew

I'm starting one of his books today, and I'll follow that advice.

[candidvn]

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/12650658433_7c0dc365ab_z.jpg

 

I'm not good at shading.

[Sailor Kenshin]

I like it. What's the pen?