MESSY INK LINES ARE SO LIBERATING

I love the sound of a pen dancing and skipping across paper but I used to be very intimidated and rigid when drawing with pen and ink. The lines can't be erased and the pressure cause artist's block and made it difficult to enjoy the process.

After much practice in architecture school, I gained the confidence to draw freely with pen and ink because we were constantly required to sketch in pen. It was a deliberate effort at first that then transformed into natural gestures and mark making.

Now, depending on the project, I might first draw faint guidelines in pencil, but constantly I remind myself to practice drawing freely and messily in pen. It is truly liberating to confidently and sometimes carelessly, create marks that will exist forever.

Practice messy lines
You can gain confidence with ink lines by practicing with loose, messy, sketchy lines and doodles. Try different line types, scribbles, shapes and hatching patterns.

Trace over pencil lines
Tracing over pencil lines will help you practice technique, gain control over the pen and feel the flow of the ink. Eventually you will have the confidence to sketch and draw free hand.

PEN & INK SUPPLIES

Fountain Pens & Dip Pens
I have a variety of fountain pens & dip pens and favor the ones with very fine tips. Dip pens easily allow for switching between different ink colors, as they are easier to clean than fountain pen nibs.

Ink & Watercolor
I use black india ink alot with dip pens because it is waterproof on pretty much any type of paper, but don't put india ink in your fountain pens because it contain shellac which will harden and clog your pen. You can find shellac free india ink, but it is not waterproof.

For other purposes, my favorite black ink is Noodler’s Black which is supposed to be water resistant on cellulose paper (but always test your paper). I have experienced bleeding and smudging on cellulose paper so it can depend on the exact type and brand. I also found that it is pretty water resistant on Windsor & Newton 100% cotton hot press paper, which I love for ink and watercolor drawings.

For color, I love using a glass dip pen with watercolor or colored inks from Ferris Wheel Press and Diamine.

Paper
For ink only drawings, I usually use Fabriano or Canson XL mixed media paper. When combining ink and watercolor, I like to use hot press watercolor paper like Fabriano, Windsor & Newton, or Arches Hot Pressed paper. There are so many paper options, so always test your ink and paper combo - different ink & paper combinations can react differently. If the paper is too absorbent, the ink may bleed. If the paper is too rough, it may be difficult to control your lines because your pen may skip across the surface. Delicate paper may not hold up to metal tips and wet media. Everyone has there own style and process, so it's important to experiment and find paper that works perfectly for your style and purpose.

DOODLE & SCRIBBLE
If you haven't already, I hope you will try some messy pen sketching and find some joy and freedom in random, careless mark making with different color inks and pen tips.