[gdartist]

Hello all, I've been big into charcoal and graphite all my life, but i never really got into pen and ink. Pen and ink has always interested me and im trying to expand on my techniques. My question is, when doing pen and ink drawings...for example...if i was too start on a portrait or a still life; do you want to start with a rough sketch in pencil? Or do most pen and ink artists just go right at it and start light? I guess i am a little intimidated at the fact I can't erase pen once its on paper...so I just wanted to get opinions of the processes people take when using pen and ink. Thanks Guys!

 

[George924]

I always sketch out the outline drawing and when the ink is dry I come back and erase the pencil...and Welcome to the forum, great to have you here.

 

[Leadr1]

I done the same too.....

 

[AZACRYLIC]

Planning is always good unless you have good experience with pen & ink.
I had an excellent teacher who produced a book on pen, brush & ink (out of print, unfortunately) His name was Henry C. Pitz

 

[bdavison]

I usually sketch it out with pencil first. I don't do all the details, just rough shapes to get the perspective and sizes right. I use a SUPER HARD pencil...and draw very lightly. Then when I start inking, I do the details...and then of course use a kneadable eraser to get rid of any pencil lines.

I only put as much detail into the pencil sketch as I need for the inking.

For example, if I was doing a person's facial expressions...like fear, joy, etc. I might sketch out the details till I have it nailed the way I want it...then ink it.

If it is general scenary...like trees, etc. I'd probably just sketch a rough shape of the tree and trunk...not each individual leaf...I'd save that work till I got to ink.