Pen and Ink Medium

One of the most important characteristics of pen and ink is its directness. The first touch of the pen to paper makes a mark that has a look of finality. The medium makes serious demands on the artist; it calls to his strengths and draws attention to his weaknesses—it is a medium that challenges. A painter once said that he was almost afraid to handle the pen,--“It is so fearfully direct.”

If the mastering of ink technique had to be summed up in a single phrase it would be “incessant practice.”  Incessant practice is a necessity to develop the skills required to get desired results from pen and ink. There is perhaps no other medium offering a better chance to develop a personal technique. Pen drawing is akin to handwriting and just as no two people write alike, so no two people draw alike.

 

I create full-blown drawings executed slowly and deliberately paying attention to the details—not sketches which are hastily executed simply giving essential features without the details. I spend anywhere from two hours for a two inch square to 70 hours for my largest work. A lifetime of experience, skill and ability go into creating my original drawings.