Pen and Ink

[melydia]

This thread is for those sketches done working without a net, that is, starting in pen rather than pencil. No erasers here.

This is a real stretch for me, as I start nearly every picture with pencil, and any inking I do is more like tracing than drawing. So it's a somewhat scary way to stretch my artistic skills, without the comforting presence of my trusty eraser. Sometimes I'm tempted to go for the Wite-Out, but I know it'll be even more glaringly obvious than the stray line. :)

What about you? Do you prefer pencil, or do you sometimes sketch with a pen? How is it different?

Oh yeah, and this drawing is supposed to be of a saber-tooth cat skull.

--melydia

[melydia]

Dang, I meant for it to show up in the image. Let's try this again.

[Carol@Swallowcliffs]

Drawing with pens do give you a sense of freedom!

[Jules]

I like both- It just depends on what I am wanting to do- and what kind of mood I am in. My ink drawings are tighter ad more controled than my pencil. When using pencil I love to smear and push the marks around on the paper and get soft subtle value shifts. With ink I acheive these value shifts meticulously. I always do my doodling with ink- it just feels better- maybe that is the sense of freedom Carol mentioned

[Heidi]

Since I started doing zendoodles I have become more confident in drawing without a safety net. But I still like to use a pencil for certain things - like you, Jules, I like the softer shading and smearing you can do, and it just feels more informal and relaxed to use a pencil. Two different kinds of freedom, I like them both.