Oriental inks
Chinese and Japanese inks come in solid-stick form and are usually supplied with an ink stone. The ink stick is rubbed down on the stone, with a little water being added until it is the desired consistency.
Restoring flow
If ink evaporates slightly while it is uncorked during a day’s work, the colour becomes deeper and the ink thicker. Adding a little distilled water will thin it and restore an even flow.
Permanence of inks
Only black and white inks are permanent. Coloured inks consist of soluble dyes rather than pigments, and are not lightfast. To minimize fading, always protect your finished drawings from prolonged exposure to light.
Richard Bell
Carrion Crows Pen and ink on paper Various dimensions
Soft brushes
The brush is an incredibly flexible drawing tool. A sable brush with a good point can, in a single stroke, convey line, rhythm, and even the play of light on a subject. It can change direction easily, twisting and rounding corners where a pen or pencil might falter. Sable and other soft-hair brushes are suitable for ink drawing; experiment with various types of brush on both smooth and textured papers, and compare the different marks they make.
Chinese brushes
Chinese bamboo-handle brushes, which were originally designed as a writing tool, are versatile, inexpensive and extremely expressive. The belly holds a lot of ink, and comes to a fine point for drawing rhythmic, flowing lines.
SEE ALSO
| MARKERS AND FIBRE-TIP PENS | Though normally associated with the graphic designer’s studio, pens with felt, fibre or plastic tips are now widely used by fine artists as well. |
Versatility
Markers are ideal for on-the-spot sketching, giving a rapid impression of form, colour and atmosphere.
The large range of markers and fibre-tip pens available makes them extremely useful for rendering both free, spontaneous sketches and sophisticated, detailed drawings. Coloured markers are especially convenient for outdoor sketching, because the colours are consistent and ready to use, and dry almost instantly.
Colour permanence
Markers come in many colours, with intensity and permanence varying according to brand. Since marker colours consist of dyes and not pigments, they tend to fade in time or when exposed to strong sunlight. This doesn’t matter for rough sketches, but for permanent artwork, make sure you buy a lightfast brand.
Gigol Atler
Sketchbooks
Various markers on paper
15 × 10cm (6 × 4in)
Water, spirits and alcohol
Solvent-based waterproof markers
Water-based soluble markers
Ordinary paper
Bleed-proof paper
Some markers contain water-based ink and are water-soluble; others contain spirit- or alcohol-based inks and are waterproof when dry. If you want to overlay colours, choose solvent-based markers, which are easily distinguished from water-based markers by their smell (alcohol-based ink has less odour than spirits). On a sketch pad, the colours may bleed through onto the next page, but you can buy marker pads in which the paper is formulated to resist colour bleeding.
Marker tips
Fibre-tip markers are fairly firm and smooth-flowing, and come with tips of all shapes and in most sizes.
Plastic-tip markers are hard and durable. Their tips make the finest lines.
Brush pens have resin tips. They are quite flexible and ideal for sketches and colour washes.
Roller pens are extremely tough, keeping their shape well. They produce a smooth, fine line.
These range from soft felt to hard tung sten car bide. Softer tips make smoother lines; hard ones keep their shape longer.
Tip shapes
Wedge-shape tips cover solid areas well. Drawing with the thin edge will produce fairly fine lines.
Bullet-shape tips are appropriate for bold strokes and solid areas, as well as dots suitable for stippling.
Fine-point tips are similar to technical pens, in that they produce even, fine lines.
Coloured-marker tips vary from broad wedges to fine points.
| ACCESSORIES | One of the best things about drawing media is that you will require very few accessories. The drawing aids described here are all inexpensive and easily purchased in specialist art shops. |
Erasers
Plastic or putty erasers are best, as India rubber tends to smear and can damage the paper surface. Putty erasers are very malleable;