Learning objectives
■ Confidence-building techniques for using ink pens
■ Where inspiration strikes
■ A quick look at perspective
Ink drawing is a method close to my heart. I like its immediacy, its permanence, the impact of a bolder line on the paper than pencil marks sometimes give me, and the fact that it stays clean and can't be scuffed. Unlike pencil, if we want to describe tone, it has to be done with hatching, in the way that I show in (below). This is less spontaneous than pencil tone, needing a successive build-up of ink – the more lines, the darker the tone. Focal points can be introduced by increasing line density or usingin evidence in this sketch. We also see that hatching can not only record degrees of depth of shadow, but also textures and patterns. I used a full range of values, from the white of the paper, to virtual black. I find the distribution of values in a subject is best spotted by looking at it through half-closed eyes, minimising distractions like colour. If you struggle with this concept and have a phone camera with you, a quick shot of your subject, viewed in greyscale, will help you evaluate it.
