Sketchbook Cow
Category: Ink
Fountain Pens and Sparkling Ink
I’ve drifted back to ink after a few weeks with acrylic. Since I stopped painting watercolors, I’ve also stopped keeping sketchbooks other than a place to practice rough pencil drawings. The other day I realized I wanted a good, old-fashioned sketchbook, a place for all kinds of sketches using all kinds of media. The only rule would be that I plan the sketch first, so, hopefully, the sketchbook would become a kind of final project on its own.
I’ve used Stillman and Birn sketchbooks before, and they offer sturdy paper in multiple surfaces, sizes, and bindings. I chose the hardcover Zeta in the largest format, 8.25”x11.75”. The surface is smooth enough for pen and ink but heavy enough for multiple washes.
Within the pages of a sketchbook I can use any media and not worry about lightfastness. Suddenly, all the beautiful, dye-based inks are an option. I can put down a line drawing in permanent ink and use washes of brilliant, colorful ink over the top. I can also use acrylics, watercolor, pencil, and pretty much anything that strikes me.
Christmas this year has a pen and ink theme, and I’m starting a collection. I pulled out my existing pens (two Moonman minis, one Moonman M2, and a Sailor fude) and I’m adding a Twsbi Eco-T, a Moonman with a glass nib, and a dip pen with many nibs. Because I can never make up my mind, I bought two sample ink sets from Goulet pens, one consisting entirely of inks that sparkle. They’re lovely.
Ice Pony
Still enjoying markers, again on a Claybord, mixing ink and scratchboard techniques.
And to continue the chilly theme, here’s an exercise I completed for my embroidery class. This lesson was on value.
Inktober
Using India ink has been eye opening. It’s lightfast, permanent, and waterproof. It’s available in many colors, and it’s mostly transparent. It can be a stick, liquid in a bottle, or markers. I guess I never thought about how perfect it is as a medium.
I think it creates beautiful, glowing colors. Unlike watercolor, I don’t overmix and create mud. I wanted to add a little opacity as well as some white here and there, however, so I bought a bottle of Dr. Martins’s Bombay white. That, along with the few dozen Faber-Castell Pitt Brush Pens should hold me for awhile.
I’ve learned to work from light to dark as once the ink is down, it’s not possible to lift it unless working on a surface like Claybord or Duralar. I’ve also learned to use washes and glazes. I don’t quite know how such an art supply fiend like me has managed to miss ink as a medium all these years. I’m pleased I finally found it.