Thursday, May 16, 2019

Pen Sketching is a Confidence Builder

Pen Sketches by Édouard Detaille, 1848-1912
Sketching directly from life in pen with no pencil lay-in is a good thing to do once in a while. It builds confidence and sharpens your accuracy.

Because pen sketches preserve every touch—every boldness and hesitancy—they're like an indelible record of thought itself.

18 comments:

Paul Sullivan said...

You are so right! These sketches are over 100 years old and are full of life and vigor.

Jim Douglas said...

I like how Édouard was practicing his signature in the lower right hand corner. After six versions, he ran out of room and gave up! :)

Rich said...

Love to look at self-confident sketches like this.

Still, I'm glad the times of such headgear are over...

Sconklin56 said...

I have a sketchbook of smooth paper I use just for my fountain pen. It’s relaxing to allow yourself to make mistakes. A pen definitely shows you what you did wrong!

Gary said...

"Pen Sketching is a Confidence Builder" or the opposite. I like to occasionally sketch with a pen. It certainly puts me back in my place. Gary

Jennifer Rose said...

I spent about 6 months drawing with a pen and now find it difficult to draw with a pencil lol

Tom Hart said...

I love sketching with my Noodler Ahab fountain pen. It has a nicely flexible nib. But it has developed a propensity to leak, which requires a fair amount of vigilance and maintenance to control. Do you have any favorite fountain pens to recommend?

Glenn Tait said...

I find that sketching directly with ink consciencely makes me observe more carefully because I don't have the safety net of the eraser. Besides any mistakes usually disappear within the context of the drawing.

Tom, I like using the fude style pens, the type with nibs that have curved tips which enable a variety of line widths. My preferences are the Baoer 388 and Hero 9018, both inexpensive pens, $10 or less, brass/metal bodies and caps, available on eBay. Been using them for years, they're reliable and haven't had any leaking issues.

Tom Hart said...

Thanks Glenn. Much appreciated. I'll look into those pens now.

James Gurney said...

Tom, I've got the Noodler AHAB, too, and love it, especially the flexible nib. Haven't had issues from leakage. I also like my Waterman Phileus, Opera, and Hemisphere: https://amzn.to/2VvKsoC

Lynnwood said...
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Lynnwood said...
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Lynnwood said...
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Lynnwood said...

Sorry! Don't know what I'm doing wrong to make my comment show up three times!?!!the Baoer and Hero sound good too

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Lynnwood said...

( try again:/)This is how the difference between drawing with pencil or pen FEELS to me.Drawing with a pencil is like walking down a forest path, sometimes fast,sometimes slow,feeling the uneven terrain,watching your feet but also taking in your surroundings. Drawing with a pen is like RUNNInG down the path a bit too fast letting gravity take it's course,trying not to fall or twist your ankle.Scary but exhilarating! Each type of drawing is a counterbalance to the other. With the pencil you're questioning and exploring. The pen PULLS you along and you try to keep up.At least that's how it is for me :)

Lynnwood said...

( try again:/)This is how the difference between drawing with pencil or pen FEELS to me.Drawing with a pencil is like walking down a forest path, sometimes fast,sometimes slow,feeling the uneven terrain,watching your feet but also taking in your surroundings. Drawing with a pen is like RUNNInG down the path a bit too fast letting gravity take it's course,trying not to fall or twist your ankle.Scary but exhilarating! Each type of drawing is a counterbalance to the other. With the pencil you're questioning and exploring. The pen PULLS you along and you try to keep up.At least that's how it is for me :)