Pen and Ink DrawingsDennis L. Law, ASLA

Kansas State University

Pen and Ink by Dennis Law

Introduction

• Equipment

• Exercises

• Tone Building

• Value StudiesPen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

Equipment

• Paper

• Pens

• Ink

•Other EquipmentPen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

Equipment• Paper

Pen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

Pen and ink drawings can be made on a wide-variety of papers or boards. The list of paper commonly used for Pen and Ink includes the following:

Bond Paper (Hammermill)Bristol Pad (plate finish)Frosted AcetateLayout Bond (Bee)Print paperSketch Pad (Artworthy)vellum or mylar

Equipment• Pens

Pen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

•Rapidograph pen set (000 -- 4) These pens are difficult to keep clean, especially the finer points.

•Sharpies by Sanford (more likely to smear and slow to dry)

•Felt-tip pens by Flair or Pilot (more likely to smear and slow to dry)

•Rotring (extra fine) This is the pen recommended.

Equipment• Ink

Pen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

•India ink is best used in all pens.

•Felt tips or Sharpies use an alcohol based ink which tends to be weak and fades over time

•Rapidograph and Rotring are best used with cartridges which already contain India Ink.

Equipment• Other Equipment

Pen and Ink drawing by Dennis Law

There is a lot of equipment that could be used in the craft of pen and ink art. Things like pencils and erasures help the novice get started but eventually, you’ll want to just use you pen and a pad of good paper.

Exercises to Get Started

Straight Freehand lines:

Exercises to Get Started

Controlled dashes and dots:

Exercises to Get Started

Controlled curved lines:

Exercises to Get Started

Toning for shade: (first exercise)

Exercises to Get Started

Toning for shade: (second exercise)

Exercises to Get Started

Toning for roundness:

Getting Started

1. Begin by drawing in pencil a sketch of the European street scene shown below as a simple line drawing. Set up the perspective showing vanishing points and horizon lines, etc. Do this drawing on a sheet of yellow tracing paper.

Getting Started

2. Add elements and adjust the composition on the tracing paper. Do not worry at this point about shades and shadows. This should be a simple line drawing at this point.

Getting Started

3. Transfer the drawing to the white bond paper using graphite paper. It is still a line drawing at this point.

Getting Started

4. Add textures, elements, shades and shadows. Do not “over render” the drawing. Use the white of the paper to give value and contrast to the drawing. This will add a 3-dimensional quality to your work.