Dec 14

Dec 14 Inking My Drawings

I started my artistic journey in January only wanting to learn how to draw reasonably good portraits with only pencils. I kind of accomplished that by May or June and then became really interested in the “urban sketching” phenomenon (more about that in future post) and sketching in general. As a teenager I loved drafting in school and practiced it a lot. My early passion for drafting, I believe, influences my sketching. Getting into drawing objects around me and, eventually, buildings led me to inking. My sketches just looked more finished if I used ink.

I’ve always been a sucker for fine tip ink pens so, naturally, I had to purchase a variety. I decided on the Sakura Pigma Micron brand and bought a multi-pen set with different sized tips. Over the past several months I’ve learned that I like to use the 08 size for major lines such as the main lines of a building, a house. I’ve found that sometimes, though, it’s a bit to broad and 05 is better. The 01 tip, on the other hand, is perfect for details in a house or building sketch, such as window panes, blinds, fine work on building facades and so on.

I took an Urban Sketching workshop with John A. Hancock of Waynesboro, Virginia, in Richmond (VA) in early October. There were twelve of us and many used and promoted the use of fountain pens for inking. Well, I hadn’t used a fountain pen in years and remember not being thrilled with them when I did. However, influenced by how much everyone raved about them, I came home from that workshop and ordered a fountain pen and a bottle of ink.

I selected a Lamy Safari because many suggested it was the best first fountain pen for sketchers. The pen has a fine tip nib and writes and draws beautifully. It didn’t take long for me to order another pen, the Duke 209 Bent Nib fountain pen, because it’s bent nib - referred to as a fude nib - is supposed to be more versatile for sketching. The broad, bent nib produces a wide line but if used on its side it produces a narrow line. Everyone told me a fude nib was hard to get used to. They were correct. I have not gotten used to it and I’m not sure I will. And, even though I love the Lamy Safari, I continue to reach for my Microns when I’m ready to ink my pencil sketches.

The jury, however, is still out. I will continue to experiment with, at least, my Lamy Safari and I will pick up my Duke 209 now and then. I recently took a “Drawing with Ink” class locally and we used only dip pens to do our drawings. Pen handles into which you insert different pen nibs. Old school. I wasn’t impressed though it was interesting and fun to try out a new (to me) inking tool. My trusty Microns, though, remain my go-to tool for inking my drawings and, I suspect, will remain so for some time.