One of the handiest and most interesting techniques for journaling (or any other kind of art!) is the combination of ink and watercolor. They really complement eachother and can give you a wide variety of effects. Ink first, ink after the wash dries, even ink into a damp wash. Have fun!
Fun for travel, too, especially if you’re rushed...you can just do the quick ink sketch and add color later, from memory, notes, or photo references. The ink provides a kind of guideline, and you can splash in watercolor (a little or a lot) to create a careful sketch or do a loose wash or two, to just tie everything together. Your choice!
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It’s fun and challenging...and sometimes almost meditative...to work directly in ink, with no preliminary pencil work, as we mentioned last time. It encourages you to slow down and pay attention. If you aren’t happy with the line you made you can just draw a new one right next to it; a record of process! It makes an interesting vibration, sometimes.
But there’s not a THING wrong with sketching in pencil first. If you’re more comfortable that way, go for it! Sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. That too is your choice.
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The ink can really give you a framework for some loose watercolor handling! Here, I carefully sketched the bricks, rafters, and other details from this odd perspective, getting into an almost Zen-like place, then let myself PLAY with watercolor, dripping and spattering freely. You could go even more splash and do a wet in wet wash over your ink guidelines, it’s a very effective technique.
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If your subject tends to move, you can do a quick sketch like this and then firm up the image with watercolor – I still chose a loose effect, but together the two really say NapCat!
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Here, you can see both types of ink and wash – the very quick landscape was done out in the heat, so the color came later! The pizza oven and slice of luscious pizza were done more carefully (and comfortably) and color added on the spot.
Try out different ink colors and types...even watersoluble ink can be fun, and added watercolor washes mix with the ink to form subtle halftones. Give it a try!
You’ll find lots more techniques on my best-selling CD, Ink & Wash Workshop, available here.
Please drop by my artists blog, my fine arts gallery blog where I often offer mini-demos, my catalog where you can find instructional CDs for artists, or drop by for a visit on Facebook!
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