Scratchy pens
December 31, 2003
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| The great thing about an illustrated journal is you don't just have to just say things like"I feel a wild energy today" or "Everything's pissing me off this morning." You can express your emotions with the way you write and draw as well. I try to write relatively clearly most of the time but occasionally I reach for one of my dip pens. They are fairly unpredictable and messy. If I push instead of pull the nib, it skitters across the grain of the paper and sprays like a bug hitting a windscreen or if I'm frenzied enough, it'll leave my page looking like the scene of a mafia hit. I have about eight different nibs but I am so aggressive with them that the nuance don't much matter. I use india ink most of the time. For color, I love Dr. Martins (not the boots but the transparent water colors) which are intense and vibrant and come in sets of fourteen which can be mixed and splashed around with a brush too. |
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| Saul Steinberg, whose work still appears in the New Yorker years after his death, was a master of many things – including the dip pen. Revisit him for inspiration on drawing, lettering and brilliant, subtle ideas. |
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| My handwriting has always been fairly illegible. When I was in first grade, we were told we'd learn cursive in second grade. But then I changed schools and everyone had already learned cursive the year before. So I was left to teach myself to write properly but never had the patience or discipline to really get it right. My cursive is sort of a halting and inconsistent thing which fits perfectly with the spidery wierdness of a steel dip pen. | |||||
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A record of my exploration into all aspects of drawing, illustrated journaling, creativity, and the inspiring aspects of art. By the author of "Everyday Matters," "The Creative License", and "An Illustrated Life" and other books.
Comments
Scratchy pens! Thanks for the memories! My first ever pen and ink drawing was done with a crowquill when I was a teenager - a portrait of JFK. I had an impossible time controlling it and I thought it was just me. Maybe I should get one of those pens out again and give it another try for fun. I'm glad you started an art blog for the new year - I'll look forward to reading it regularly.
Posted by: Kwint | December 31, 2003 04:58 PM
oh WOW i love your blog! i'm really excited about getting your newest book, i've heard great things about it.
my writing is illegible too, my friend named it "misunderstood urban scrawl".
Posted by: soren | January 1, 2004 11:42 AM
Very Ralph Steadman.
Posted by: Michelle | January 6, 2004 07:01 AM