20 INK Tips for BEGINNERS!

Summary

The video script offers an insightful guide for ink drawing enthusiasts, presenting 20 valuable tips to enhance their artistic skills. Starting with the importance of a well-worked-out sketch before inking, it moves on to techniques like using a light pad for sketch transfer, varying line thickness for visual impact, and practicing line tracing for confidence. The guide also emphasizes the use of different pens for detail work and the significance of muscle memory in creating fluid lines. It delves into ink wash preparation with a watercolor palette, choosing the right paper weight, and utilizing rendering methods for texture variety. Artistic advice includes focusing on contrast to direct the viewer's attention, using silhouettes effectively, and employing white ink for highlights. The script concludes with the recommendation to document the finished ink drawing digitally, either through scanning or photography, ensuring the artwork is preserved for future reference.

Takeaways

• 📝 Complete your sketch and make a tonal thumbnail before inking to minimize decisions during the inking process.
• 💡 Use a light pad to transfer your sketch for a clean line art without pencil marks on the final paper.
• ✍️ Employ a mix of thick and thin lines in your line art to guide the viewer's eye and add depth to your drawing.
• 🖋 Practice tracing lines to build muscle memory and steadiness for confident strokes in your final drawing.
• 🎨 Use a watercolor palette and eyedroppers to mix ink washes, and create a swatch key for easy reference.
• 📄 Choose a paper that is 140 pounds or heavier to prevent buckling when using ink washes.
• 🔍 Use different rendering methods in ink to create varied textures and make objects appear distinct from each other.
• 🌿 Master dry brushing to produce various textures, which is especially useful for natural elements like fur and grass.
• 🛠️ Utilize frayed old brushes to create a unique scratchy texture that can add a natural touch to your ink drawings.
• 🌈 Leave a puddle of ink wash on the paper to create a dark rim effect for interesting textures and patterns.
• 🖌️ Apply wet-on-wet techniques for soft gradients, particularly useful for creating lifelike rosy cheeks.
• 🎭 Focus on contrast to direct the viewer's attention to the focal point of your piece.
• 🐾 Use silhouettes effectively to show what's happening in your piece without relying on busy line work.
• ⚫️ Don't be afraid to use very dark or black values and use white ink for line art over black shapes for added impact.
• ⭐ Use white ink for specular highlights as it's easier to add them at the end rather than leaving white spaces.
• 🌌 Create lineless shapes to recede in space and use hard versus soft edges to set objects further or closer in the composition.
• 📷 Make a good digital record of your completed ink drawing, using a scanner or a camera with natural light for the best results.

Q & A

What is the first tip the speaker gives for ink drawing?

The first tip is to work out your sketch as much as possible before you start inking, making artistic decisions ahead of time and creating a tonal thumbnail to guide the ink application.

How does using a light pad help in the drawing process?

A light pad allows you to see your sketch through the paper, enabling you to trace the line art without touching a pencil to your final piece of paper, which is especially useful when transitioning from digital sketching to traditional inking.

What is the significance of using a variety of thick and thin lines in line art?

Using a variety of line widths helps to create different effects, lead the eye around the drawing, and control the order in which the viewer sees different elements of the composition.

Why is practicing tracing lines before starting the final drawing beneficial?

Practicing tracing lines helps to build muscle memory and a steady hand, which is crucial for creating confident strokes that follow the sketch, ultimately improving the technical side of inking.

How does the speaker recommend mixing ink washes?

The speaker suggests using a watercolor palette and eyedroppers to control the amount of ink and water, making a swatch for each shade and creating a key for reference.

What type of paper is recommended for ink washes?

A paper that is 140 pounds or heavier is recommended, as it doesn't buckle as much when water is added, making it easier to create clean line work.

Why is it important to use different rendering methods in ink drawing?

Different rendering methods allow for the creation of various textures and can make objects in a piece look distinct from one another, even if they share similar tones.

How does dry brushing create different effects in ink drawing?

Dry brushing involves applying a brush with pure ink directly onto the page without water, which can create different effects based on the amount of ink left on the brush and the pressure and motion used during application.

What can a frayed old brush be used for in ink drawing?

A frayed old brush can be used to create a scratchy or dry brush texture, which is particularly effective for rendering fur, grasses, feathers, and other textured elements.

How does leaving a puddle of ink wash on the paper create a unique effect?

Leaving a puddle of ink wash on the paper results in a dark rim effect as the pigment collects at the edge of the puddle, creating a unique texture and pattern that adds dimension to the artwork.

Why is it recommended to make a good digital record of your completed ink drawing?

Making a digital record of your completed ink drawing is important for preserving the work, especially since ink drawings can be delicate and prone to damage. A scanner or a good quality digital camera can be used for this purpose.