Discovering pen and ink techniques to learn and apply

A lot of people think artists just “know” what to do. That we were born with it.

I hate to burst your bubble, but that’s not the case! There are practices in artists’ lives that do make us more aware of the details around us so we can apply them more easily…we notice an interesting texture, or the way light hits an object, or our spidey sense notes line quality in one spot of another artist’s work that we want to find a way to adapt into our own style.

But we struggle just like a lot of people do. It’s not magic. It’s practice!

Sometimes that practice involves research: going to galleries, reading art magazines, following fellow artists who inspire us. These are all practices everyone can do. And in today’s video, I’ll take you on a field trip to one of the best resources that inspires me all the time - I visit it probably half a dozen times a year when I want inspiration to create interesting lines in a pen drawing.

Watch the video below - and if you could, pop over to YouTube to leave a thumbs up to feed the algorithm! If you’re reading this in time, join us here in chat during the 8am Pacific Premiere.

Supplies (affiliate links provided at no cost to you; thank you for using my links and supporting my work!) Stillman & Birn Beta sketchbooks BLICK | AMZ | JACKSONS Kuretake or Tachikawa Manga Saji Pen Nib BLICK | AMZ De Atramentis Document black ink
JETPENS Crab pen holder AMZ | Goldspot

Visit the most amazing blog post ever HERE!

Join me this weekend for a draw-along session! Leave your ideas for subject matter over on YouTube in the comments, or scroll through others’ ideas and upvote your fave with a thumbs-up. On Friday I’ll share the reference image so you can be ready for the livestream on Saturday at noon Pacific time!

Tap on any image to see it larger.

In case you missed it - the new seashells classes are done! The preregistration price is continuing through tomorrow only, then it goes up - sign up before then and save a little money!

1. Ink Drawing Jumpstart (level 1, not new)

2. Sparkling Seashells Class (level 2) NEW

3. Inked Seashells Class (level 3) NEW

4. Thrifted Frames (all levels) NEW NEW! This is content within the Sparkling Seashells class, but I know not everyone will want to take that class. So I’m offering this one separately for only $3!

All about pirates!

1. How much does a pirate pay for corn?

   A BUCK-aneer.

2. What did the elderly pirate captain say when asked if he was 80?
   “Aye, Matey.”

3. What do you call a pirate mutiny?
   A conspira-sea!

4. Why type of socks do pirates wear?
   Arrrrgyle

5. Why did nobody want to play cards with the pirate?
   Because he was standing on the deck.

6. Why do pirates carry swords?
   Because swords can’t walk.

7. How do you turn a pirate furious?

   Take away the “p.”