Still Playing with Diamine Inks Plus Watercolor

While playing, I find I like using the glass dip pen over all the steel nibs.  It's smoother and carries ink longer.  I don't have to worry about tines getting caught in any fibers if there's any tooth to the paper surface.

The Langton sketchbook / DS watercolors

Zeta Sketchbook / DS watercolors / Top Sketch with Steno 361 Nib / Bottom Sketch with Glass Pen

Zeta sketchbook / DS Aliz Crimson / Micron 08 / Glass pen for sketching and some writing / Lamy with Doc Brown ink

Diamine Ink in Zeta Sketchbook

After seeing how the ink behaved on Fabriano Artistico (old stock), I wanted to try it out in the Zeta sketchbook.  Definitely behaves differently and takes a bit of adjusting with amount of water in brush for the wash.  And each ink color behaves differently in how it washes out.  I find the Graphite washes out a little easier than the Tobacco Sunburst.  Part of me wonders if it might also depend on how the dip pen nib moves across the paper surface.  I felt like the nib was somewhat gouging or scoring into the surface of the Zeta paper....like scratching a thin surface film (hard to explain).

In addition, I thought I would experiment using one of the inks and watercolor after the ink was washed out over the surface of the subject and dried. 

Playing With New Inks (New to Me) - Diamine

Today my order of four Diamine Inks came in and wanted to work this chart showing the colors and how they wash out with damp/wet brush.

What inspired me to try these inks was a dear friend of mine (Fay) told me about and shared a little sample she was working on using the Graphite color.  When I went to order the one color, I ended up with eight colors in my cart and had to apply some self discipline to cut that order, at least in half (for now.....ha ha).  Colors waiting in my wish list for my next order will be more in the line of the three primaries and a dark brown.

I love ink and wash and should do more of it.  I just don't always think to do so.  It presents a challenge in itself in controlling the bleed of ink when applying a wet brush.  Some inks wash out more so than others and what paper one uses will also make a difference in how the ink behaves.

Results of these four colors that came today tell me I could have a lot of fun with this brand of ink.  Pretty colors. 

Also taking this opportunity to play with dip pens and later my glass pen.

Worked in the HSFab01 sketchbook (old stock of Fabriano Artistico 140 lb coldpress)

Playing with Brush Pens

I decided to pull out a few of my Kuretake Zig Real Brush pens to play around with and work some quick sketching.  This is something I need to practice to feel in better control of the pen and how the ink washes out.  I was a bit heavy handed with applying my brush strokes.

The Langton sketchbook / Zig Brush pens / Sharpie pen

This one is watercolor and watercolor pencil using the brush pen only for the lettering.

Stillman and Birn Zeta / W&N watercolors / Zig Brush pen

Bringing Out Some of My Pens and Color Charts

Thought I would go through checking on some of my pens to see how they are doing.  If fountain pens, I'm checking to make sure they still have ink flow or if they are dry and in need of cleaning.  Other pens, I'm just working color charts and testing if water soluble.  Just something easy to do without a great deal of thought.  Plus I was in the mood for some ink and wash.

These are using a Shaeffer Calligraphy pen with Italic nib.  It had a cartridge in it that appears to be a brown but not 100% sure.  There's not much ink left in the cartridge making it a little hard to really tell.  When applying water to it, it has a pinkish tone.  After the wash dried, I took a little watercolor to it.

Fabriano Soft paper


Next I worked in the Stillman and Birn Zeta journal using one of my Sailor Fude pens with ink cartridge that came with it.  This ink really bleeds when wet so have to be conservative with the water.  Also noticed dark ink areas dry with a shine....especially noticeable in the palm tree.

Worked in the Stillman and Birn Zeta sketchbook

Left Page:  Shaeffer Calligraphy Pen (as above).

Right Page:  Bayam Bullet Journal Fineliner pens (set of 18)

And this last is a color chart of all my Various Tube Greens.  Didn't realize just how many I had until I worked this chart pulling out all my different brand palettes.

November 2018 Monthly Challenge - Creepy Crawlies

This month's challenge between friends is illustrating creepy crawlies. 

We are to end up with six illustrations.  We can choose six different "models" or if less than six, we have to sketch in different positions to reach our six quota.

Each illustration has to be done in a different medium.

Worked in Stillman & Birn Beta - large sketchbook

Acorns

While out walking Miya yesterday, Terry came across this cluster of acorns he knew I would love for sketching purposes.  Normally you find individuals laying on the ground........sometimes with caps on and sometimes not.  Might get lucky to find two and rarely three together still on a piece of limb; but, this cluster is a true find (for us anyways).

First I sketched using Procreate without color......using hatch marks for the shading.  then thought I would create a few layers of color. 

Technical and Fine Tip pen tools were used.

After I finished the sketch on the Ipad, I decided to work a few more in my journal ...... using the Fabriano Venezia sketchbook. 

Sailor Fude fountain pen and cartridge ink that came with it (water soluble) and ballpoint for shading (top two) plus two more with ink wash and watercolor (no ballpoint).  I held the pen so the nib was upside down.  For me I have better control this way.

Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Inks

Playing with Sketch Inks on different paper surfaces.

These two pages are Fabriano Artistico 140 lb Soft Press paper.   The inks are being applied either with Lamy Safari EF fountain pens, a dip pen, or a glass pen.  Large areas of color washes are created by scribbling the ink on white plexiglass and using a waterbrush to pick up ink to paint with.

This next example is using the Stillman & Birn Beta journal using different pens for application testing drying times for each.

These next two pages are worked in the Strathmore Visual WC journal.  After playing with these inks, I've decided to get the remaining three colors in the near future.  I want to load each in their own pen for general sketching when I don't need the ink to dry slow.  If I want to work a line and wash effect, I'll use the glass pen.  But even with that, depending on paper surface, the ink dries almost immediately as happened with the barn.  At least I can create pools of ink color and apply with a waterbrush if nothing else :-)

75 Day Challenge - Days 37 and 38

For these two sketches, I used another Lamy I have that was loaded with the original blue ink cartridge that came with it.  The ink cartridge was pretty much used up / dry so I added Lexington Gray ink to it.  Some of the remaining blue mixed with the gray.

The blue ink is water soluble and will bleed if a damp or wet brush hits it.  The gray is waterproof.  It was interesting to see what might happen if I took a damp brush to the outer lines of the dog with the mix.  I love the results.  This has happened to me before using a Tombow black marker pen.

Both worked in the S&B Beta journal.

The ceramic dog is all white but reminds us of Miya....our yorki-poo .... when she was a puppy.  The only difference between the figurine and Miya is the mouth.  She always looks like she's serious......not smiling like the figurine depicts.

Here is one of the mummified brown anoles I have along with three eggs that never hatched.  The mummified lizards were found where they dried up being trapped between screen and window.

75 Day Challenge - Days 34 - 36

Almost half way through the challenge :-)

Still working in my mini S&B Beta journal.

Day 34 - Used one of the Uniball Vision gel pens and then took a damp brush and made some of the ink bleed.

Day 35 - Forget which pen I used for this.  I was on the telephone and wasn't paying attention.  This is a birdhouse I have sitting in my Florida room where I spend most of my time.

Day 36 - Decided to do some stippling with the orchid my youngest son gave me on Mothers Day.   Everything was stippled except the brown twiggy bits in the background.  Used Uniball pens..... the reddish one was one of the Vision pens and the green, brown, and blue were Uniball Signo gel pens.  I made the reddish color bleed just slightly by taking a barely damp brush and gently swishing brush across the petals.

Ink and Wash Quick Sketches

Not a whole lot to say about this one..............just playing around with water soluble ink.  I like working these for value practice now and then :-)

Visual Journal Bristol
Sailor Fude 55 Fountain Pen
Cartridge Ink that comes with it

Ink and Wash - People at Old Time Diner

Quick sketching as I practice working quickly as if out on location with no time to fuss around capturing people.

These people are from a diner I ate lunch at yesterday  I had taken a quick photo with my cell phone of people across the room.  Not wanting anyone to know I was taking a photo, I didn't take the time to frame the shot nor did I even try to focus.  Instead I just quickly raised my phone and took the photo  I figured something out of it I might be able to sketch today.

Left under the table area completely blank because I couldn't make it out in the photo......dark and blurred.  I love what the guys shirt says.......lol

Stonehenge Aqua wc sample paper and Sailor Fude fountain pen with water soluble ink.

Play Doodling with the Sailor Fude 40 Degree Angled Nib Fountain Pen

Play doodling with the newer Sailor Fude pen received.  It has a 40 degree angled nib whereas the first Sailor Fude I purchased had a 55 degree angled nib.

After playing with this SF 40, I think it's much easier for me to maneuver obtaining the various line widths I can achieve.  It seems I can hold the pen in a more natural angle (for me) than I can with the SF 55.

Even with that said, I do like the Sailor Fude line of fountain pens.  I like the lighter weight pens and with these, I like the longer barrel which holds an extra ink cartridge.

2016 Inktober - Day 28

Today's sketch is of a bird I'd never seen until now.  After research of the color and markings, I learned the bird to be an American Redstart that migrates to Southern Florida for the Winter.

Cute little bird and neat calls.  The one I saw was a female with mainly gray coloring and the yellow streaks in wing feathers and the yellow pattern in tail feathers that distinguishes this bird from other types.  The males are much darker with the yellow really standing out when he flashes his tail (according to all I've read).

What was so neat about my first sighting was getting the opportunity to watch it take a bath in our birdbath right outside where I sit all day.  Then flew up in the tree to dry off (I suppose).  The one I saw was a little bigger than a Black Capped Chickadee.

My sketch doesn't indicate the coloring by any means, working in black and white only.  And I didn't shade all the gray in the bird either as I would have done had I painted this.  I was after the shape of the bird and the facial markings more than anything and just recording this new bird sighting.

Used two fountain pens - Sailor Fude and the Platinum Carbon desk pen.

2016 Inktober - Day 27

Today's sketch is my first practice with a giraffe.

Mark's brother in law has asked if I would consider doing a painting of a family of giraffes.  Before committing to a painting, I wanted to practice sketching them first.

Not knowing anything about giraffes, I contacted my dear friend in South Africa asking if she could send me photos from which I could practice.  She sent several photos and I chose a close-up of one to try the face first.

This was fun.......very interesting animal.....love their eyes!  I hope to sketch different angles of the face first and then will try the body and legs.

Sailor Fude and damp brush to wash a little of the ink out for shading.

Playing with Ink and Wash

It's been awhile since I played with my water soluble inks so I grabbed two of my pens that have different inks and worked these three quick wash sketches.

All worked in the Hand.book.

First is using the Rotring Art Pen with a "F" nib.  As noted on the page, I had forgotten just how potent this ink is when water applied.  Normally I would use a flat brush as I can better control the wash but I was working with a waterbrush with these sketches.  Maybe using a smaller tipped waterbrush might have helped.

These next two pages is using one of my Pilot Prera fountain pens and Namiki Black ink.  It's much more subtle and easier to control.

**I screwed up with the placement of the back support beams......ooops**  :-)

Quick Palm Sketches Different Mediums

These are two little sketches worked in the square Handbook journal playing with two different techniques and mediums.  More doodling than anything........just to do something.

Quick Sketching Practice

Some days I still feel uneasy jumping in with pen and ink so I try to make myself practice with the hopes one day it will be easier and feel more natural. 

Sketches worked in the Strathmore Softcover sketchbook.

Building was sketched using a Uni-ball Vision Elite pen which is water soluble.  My intent was to just work the pen and ink but then decided to take a wet brush to it for some tones.  Then I ended up taking some watercolor to it.  I scanned after each......

According to the cap, the pen I used was brown-black.  Was really interesting the color when water was added to it.

 

Tonight I decided to practice more with people..........again pen and ink only.  And then working with a waterbrush adding some watercolor.  Pen used was my Pilot Prera with Lexington Grey ink.

Playing with Preppy 03 Fountain Pens

Playing with Preppy 03 pens...............all water soluble.

Strathmore Visual Softcover sketchbook.

Artistic Battery in Need of Recharging

For the last couple of weeks I've lacked motivation to do much with sketching or painting.  The interest is there but not the energy.  I find I go through these spells............kind of like needing my artistic battery recharged.

I remain diligent in keeping up with other artists .....sitting and looking at their work; keeping up with art groups I'm in; watching art videos; and reading anything I can related.  But actually feeling up to doing anything myself.........it takes a lot during these times.

Even with that said, I have managed a few pages in my Strathmore Visual Soft Cover journal as I work through this.