Pen, ink and wash drawings
Tissa Hewavitarane
Moistening the paper before
you apply colour is the best way to
execute gradations, but it is difficult
to handle the colour using this
technique. |
Pen and ink has always been a
favourite of mine. This time-proven art form, allows the artist to
create bold eye catching compositions, rich textures and striking value
contacts. The delicate and bold lines produced by a fine pen nib, can
produce intricately detailed work.
There is no set up, clean up or extended drying time to slow you
down. So when doing a drawing with pen and ink learn to observe, feel
free to experiment different techniques in drawing a human figure or a
landscape. And above all, relax and enjoy what you do.
Colour and water
The first technique a beginner needs to know in order to get started
in watercolour is the wash technique. The principle of watercolour
painting is simple: all one needs to do is wet the brush with colour and
water and spread it over the paper. Before painting with all colours, I
recommend you practise the basic of the wash technique with a single
colour. Once you understand the possibilities that this technique can
offer, it will be much easier to try out more complex procedures.
A small amount of paint is placed on the water colour palette. Water-colour
paint from the tube is denser and more concentrated than solid colours,
which are wetted and softened by running the brush back and forth across
the pan. Once the colour is on the pallette, water is added with the
brush. The more water you add, the pan. Once the colour is on the
palette, water is added with the brush. The more water you add, the more
transparent the tone then appears.
Applying the colour
Once the colour is on the palette, a little is placed in a
compartment.
Then a little water is added with the brush in order to lighten the
colour. First apply the colour with a moist brush. Next the brush is
washed in water and rinsed and the colour is spread a little. A tone is
made more transparent by adding water to it. By repeating this
procedure, adding more water each time, you can obtain a gradation of
the tone.
Moistening the paper before you apply colour is the best way to
execute gradations, but it is difficult to handle the colour using this
technique.
Gradations on wet backgrounds
Paint is applied when the gradation begins. Since the paper is wet,
the colour will spread much more easily. The more you extend the paint
the gradation; in this way, the colour seeps into the wet area, since
the wet paper allows the paint to spread on its own.
The wash technique is apparently simple; it mainly consists of
leading some paint on wet brush and applying it to the paper,
‘stretching’ it out by adding ever larger amounts of water to obtain a
gradation of the tone from dark to light. As the gradation becomes
lighter, the tones becomes so light that it can barely be distinguished
from the white paper.
The white of the paper
The greater the amount of water added to the paint the lighter and
more luminous the resulting colour is. The less water added to the
paint, the more opaque it will be. Thus it is easy to see that the
colour white does not exist in water colour. It is represented by the
colour of the paper. You will observe the two sketches reproduced in
this section titled the ‘vendor’ and the ‘umbrella mendor’ are examples.
Notice the figure drawn with pen and ink outline captures the
characteristics of the vendor. A light wash of burntsienna is applied to
create tonal variety. The emotional impact of the lines and strokes on
the painting which are compatible with the mood you want to capture is
expressed clearly. The whole painting is done with one colour.
A figure sketch is more dramatic than a still life. IT brings into
play a higher number of more complicated recourses both for shadows and
colour. The figure titled ‘umbrella mendor’ is sketched with rapid
strokes. Observe the proportions between the elements of the body and
how the principal lines relate to each other. I have completed the
drawing using two colours. A pale yellowish green applied for the
background and a purplish blue to the vendor, and the umbrella.
Drawing and wash
The colours achieved in this painting are the result of not just the
pigments used, but also when and how they’re applied, with dark shades
the quality and depth of colour gained is delivered in this way.
Despite the fact that wash is executed with water colour, it is
really a drawing technique. No matter whether you are experienced at
drawing or not, you will see how closely wash is linked to drawing.
The brush is used to apply lines in the same way one forms lines with
a pen. Moreover, the gradation technique is similar to stumping or
shading progressing from dark to light using a single colour. In both
cases the artist can achieve a great number of tones. A wash allows the
artist to paint different tones of the same colour, according to the
amount of water that is added to the paint on the palette.
Points to remember
The drawing is the foundation of water colour painting. it is used as
a guide as to where to apply the various tones or colours. Therefore, it
is essential that the artist draw the lines correctly before starting to
paint.
Take care when you are measuring amounts of water with the brush not
to load so much that it drops off the brush.
The white areas of the painting must be left unpainted. If you want
to reserve a white area, it should be wetted with clean water.
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