Ink drawing methods are among the oldest drawing techniques. We used to know how to draw with ink, the difference lies only in the tools used. They are much simpler than today's felt-tip pens and ballpoint pens. To apply the carcasses, the masters used the feathers of geese and swans, as well as reed sticks. Only closer to the nineteenth century did ink tools take on their usual appearance and began to be made in the form of a metal pen.
General points
About how to draw with ink, tell the existing techniques, of which there are about twenty. All of them have differences and are used for specific cases.
For the classical technique, a feather is used, which is inserted into a wooden pen. But some, not knowing how to draw with ink and pen, use ordinary ballpoint pens. With their help, it is easy to apply smooth lines and not be afraid that the mascara will lie unevenly.
Although pens and felt-tip pens have a number of advantages, classical techniques provide more opportunities. You can, for example, draw with ink, dipping a pen in ink or apply the finest lines or saturated strokes with a cane stick.
A drawing made using a pen usually has simple strokes and contrasts due to the alternation of the filled dark areas with empty white ones.
Using a pen paired with ink requires good preparation and considerable patience, but allows you to clearly draw details.
Tools You May Need
Before you draw with ink, you need to not only decide on the technique in which the drawing will be done, but also prepare everything you need. Depending on the choice, you may need:
- Cartographic pen and pen for it.
- Feathers of different density.
- Handles made of wood.
- Brush number 6 (columns).
- Scraper, if coated paper is taken for work.
- Felt pen, preferably thin.
- Filled pens, such as liners or rapidographs.
- Handle with a piston.
- Wedge shaped reeds.
- The same reed.
- Marker.
- Sharpened bamboo stick.
Varieties of feather hatching and lines
How to draw with ink? For beginners, it is important that the training takes place gradually, so first they should learn the basic types of strokes and lines.
- Contour lines. The name itself says that they are used to draw all the bends of the depicted object. Regardless of whether long or short contour lines are used, they are located very close to each other, so that the effect of flowing around them is created.
- Parallel hatching. The lines of which it consists are straight and straight. Thus, it is convenient to depict flat objects or natural phenomena. For example, rain.
- Cross lines. In this case, parallel hatching of different directions is superimposed on each other. In this way, you can achieve a deeper tone and give the surface of the objects depicted roughness.
- Tangled lines. They can be of various lengths and go in any direction. As a rule, sketches are performed in this way, for easier adjustment. This method is also used to draw bushes and trees.
- The waves. Curved lines are drawn very close together to make a wavy surface. This helps to convey the texture of trees, feathers or veins on the leaves.
- Touching lines. Combine the properties of contour and cross. They can be located in any direction and intersect each other. These lines do not have to be even at all, so they are ideal for painting grass or fur.
After the basic hatching techniques have been studied and tested, you can learn how to draw with ink and ink on paper using spot hatching. It requires accuracy, patience and perseverance. Spot hatching is used for small components of the object (sand grains, water droplets).
Tone Relationships and Contrast
There are rules without which it will not work to create a good ink drawing. Given that only white and black colors are used in the work, it is very important to be able to create different shades.
Using lines and dots, you can create a gray tone, and the more often they are located, the darker the shade you get. You can’t draw with ink without knowing how to create different colors. And vice versa, skillfully playing in tones, you can not draw the contours of objects separately. A dark object placed on a light background will have a completely natural border.
Another key to perfect drawing is contrast. It is created both by changing the color, and by changing the direction of the strokes.
Mascara and brush
The technique of how to draw with ink with a brush is widely used among illustrators and animators. Unlike a regular pen, using a brush allows you to perform more elements. The abilities of this tool directly depend on its quality and form. So, round brushes made of sable, squirrel or synthetic hairs are able to create not only a wide strip, but also a very thin line.
The brush allows you to control how much ink remains on the paper. It will depend on the force of pressure on it.
In some cases, the dry brush technique is used . The essence of the method is that the initial saturated black color of the mascara, as it is drawn by the brush, passes into shades of gray, which gradually lighten and completely disappear after the paint finishes. With the right use of this technique, you can create certain effects.
Tip for beginners
Those who choose this technique for their work will have to be patient, as you never know how the shade will turn out in the end, when the brush dries. In order to have at least a slight idea of the result, you can conduct a test on a blank sheet. The main thing is that the paper is of the same quality as that used for the drawing. Sometimes you even need to slightly dry the brush with a dry cloth to get a specific shade.
How to choose a pen
Feathers can be made of various materials. As a pen, masters use the tips of bird feathers and sharpened sticks of reeds, bamboo or any tree.
Many artists prefer to create their own tool, but for beginners, copies from the store are better. Moreover, this will not cause any problems, because today feathers of various sizes are sold at affordable prices.
When choosing feathers, you need to be guided by the technique in which the drawing will be performed, and by what effects will be used when creating the image. For example, thin feathers made of fiberglass will allow you to work quickly, as the ink appears evenly in them. In addition, this is a great option for those who can not always carry mascara with them.
Linear drawing is best done with classic feathers with wooden holders. The use of such a tool slows down the work, as the pen must always be lowered into the mascara, but it helps to achieve the necessary lines.
How to choose ink
Ink is also different. You can use simple, polymer-based, or acrylic. Their basis is water, so they can be bred to the required consistency.
In general, the selection of tools and materials will depend on the depicted object, the technique of execution and the place of drawing (room or street).