Sketching has always been a second thought for me. Eventually I would use an ink pen for a very quick rendition of a future painting. I bought some pencils recently with a nice steel box and everything, I started to take this more seriously.
I have too many notepads lying around with sketches left from when I was into sketching again. It was always an option I would jump into and eventually lose interest.
Recently, I believe as a departure from the less detailed approach of pastels, I've started investing in pens. Several different types of pens including the cheaper craft pens. It has opened up a world of new opportunities, I mentioned on an earlier post to grab anything you can to start the creative process.
These pens are again, the cheaper side of pens but great for allowing yourself the freedom of experimenting and getting creative.
The first pens I'll describe are the Pilotpens that come in a wide range of colors. Colored pens with lots of control. Flow is much like a regular pen but all different colors. I like the small lines and accurate sketching.
This is often how an idea starts. A pen sketch. Very sloppy, just to develop the idea. I was a scuba diver in a previous life and I sent it to my stepdad and he was clueless. This was a month or so ago and after starting a pastel, it sat for a few weeks untouched.
It's still in the works but this is where the simple sketch begins to take on its shape and form. It is a visual cue. The pen I used was just a standard ink pen.
King Art Pens
I've just started using King Art pens and the small nibs and the extreme control has been truly helpful to do some more detailed images.
Birds of prey series from the
Blackland Prairie Raptor Center- I will be attending the next show on the Saturday after Halloween. I'm very excited because it is a photographic opportunity that never get old.
These images will be donated to their giftshop. You will be able to buy prints from them or maybe even an original, it will be their call. I'm planning on drawing two more before the next show.
To see more stories on visiting the Blackland Prairie Raptor Center-
I bought some small pads of
Strathmore Mixed Media and started creating one notecard after another.
The paper is smoother than previous pads I've used and it lends itself so well to using the pens.
A smaller space allows more attention to detail. I was able to work up the details while also using a bit of wash from other markers as well. I used some. Pentel markers as well to do some coloring beneath the details, notice the yellow tone.
I have been creating images of cardinals for a long time, often on ornaments for the holidays. I wanted to do an accurate drawing of just the tight detail of the male and female.
This was created with a mixture of all the pens. I couldn't find a great red so I bought some
Faber- Castell markers with two nibs-one broad and one fine-I was able to create the vivid reds necessary for this sketch.
Notecards online
I have been creating photographs for notecards to sell on
my etsy site. The idea was "from my garden to your desktop." They included photos from my garden including the passionvine of which I collect. I thought an added option would be drawn notecards-blank for the client to send to friends and family.
The added group of products will be replacing some of the older ones. I am offering pet notecards for personal portraits or generic.
Improving skills
The more I sketch these images, the more options I find, with overlaying broad and intricate lines to allowing colors to vibrate. The older images were more trying to capture a specific look, the latest ones are more seeking to bring out the vivid colors of the markers.
The pens and markers I've mentioned have greatly helped to grow my love and passion for sketching. At age 60-I've fallen in love with sketching.
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