Pen, Ink and Watercolor Wash Sketching.

Pat's Pen, Ink, and Watercolor Wash Sketches, Techniques, and Tips...5-08

During a family visit, my sketch view was out the window at the Texas Hill Country. It's November and some trees have begun to change color. 5.75" x 4.25", Strathmore 400 Drawing paper. The same vintage eyedropper pen that I brought with me on the airplane. Platinum Carbon Black ink.

We are all relaxed and watching TV after Thanksgiving dinner. The view of the Texas hills is the same, but the evening light is a bit dimmer. 6" x 4.5", Lanaquarelle 140 lb. Hot press watercolor paper, vintage pen with Platinum Carbon Black ink and Winsor Newton watercolor.

Having a collection of nice pens filled with ink is like have a pet that needs daily exercise. If the pens aren't used, their ink will dry up and they won't write anymore. Here are some sketches of objects on my drawing table done to exercise the pens. 6" x 3", Strathmore 400 Drawing paper, Waterman #7 flexible Pink nib pen with Pelikan 4001 Brown ink.

Because we have family in Michigan as well as Texas, we can experience all the seasons when we get photos like the one below. This sketch was easier to do from a photo than from a spot sitting in a snow drift. 7.25" x 5.25", Strathmore 400 Drawing paper, Waterman #7 Pink nib pen with mix of Noodler's Eternal Brown and Noodler's Bulletproof Black inks and watercolor washes.

Back home in California, I took an afternoon to sketch the area where the Carmel River flows down into the Pacific. Although here, as the tide comes in, it looks more like the ocean is flowing back up into the river. 9" x 6", Arches 140 lb. Hot press watercolor paper. Waterman #14 pen with an extra fine nib is filled with Platinum Carbon Black ink. The ink is absolutely waterproof, so I was able to add a lot of very wet watercolor washes. Since the ocean breeze dried the ink quickly, there was no bleeding.

Artists like to get new materials, so I know you will understand how pleased I am to have discovered the Aquabee Super Deluxe Sketch Books online from DickBlick.com. The 93 lb. paper comes in many sizes and is perfect for pen, waterproof ink, and watercolor wash. The still life above is 6" x 9"