Then THIS is the course for you! Covering all of my 'signature' techniques, to help you develop your inking and mark making.
(video to be replaced ASAP)
This video will tell you more about what you can expect from the course, what's included, how it's structured and how to approach it.
Read on below too, to preview the outline of the course and for reviews and more information.
This course is suitable for a wide variety of pens and papers. If you are using a fountain pen, or a fine liner, then the techniques will all be directly applicable. But I will also experiment in the course with a variety of other types of pen and encourage you to try out what you have at home.
My work is all done on 140gsm budget sketching paper (cartridge paper).
Additionally, I will make use of a waterbrush (which costs a couple of pounds/dollars at most, you can find linked on my supplies tab) to create some inky washes. But will also demonstrate a variety of ways of creating inky washes from standard pens and brushes too.
The ink I am using is Platinum's 'carbon black' ink. This is a permanent ink, and whilst useful this isn't vital by any means.
And that's it - if you are already an artist, sketching at home, then you will have everything you need for this course already!
What other students are saying really resonates with me too. Love that we can share and inspire each other as well as have your constructive feedback once we've finished a challenge. Thank you so much Toby for these wonderful lessons and helping us see our potential.
Perri Pires
This section will have:
Introductory video
Supplies descriptions
FAQs and 'how to' guides
A place to introduce yourselves
Welcome to Workshop One, where we lay the groundwork for a loose and confident ink sketching style. We will cover a lot of ground in this first workshop, below is a preview of what we'll review:
Equipment and Supplies. Discover why simple cartridge paper and the right ink are all you need to get started without overspending.
The Power of Grip. Experiment with different ways to hold your pen to unlock more texture and speed in your work.
Measuring and Proportions. Master the use of dots and anchor measurements to ensure your sketches always fit perfectly on the page.
Purposeful Lines. Move beyond tracing and learn how to use varied line weights to provide information about texture and age.
Light and Shadow. Use basic hatching and bold lines to create a sense of depth and three dimensional form in your buildings and landscapes.
Welcome to Workshop Two, where we dive deeper into bringing your sketches to life with dimension and detail. We will cover a lot of ground in this second workshop, below is a preview of what we will review.
Value and Tone. Understand the relationship between light and dark by building value scales and using simple ink washes to tone down your page.
Planes and Depth. Learn to see objects as 3D surfaces and match your hatching direction to these planes to create believable, realistic forms.
Developing Your Style. Practice quick thumbnails to explore different hatching techniques and discover whether you prefer a bold illustrative look or a loose, sketchy approach.
Hatching vs Textures. Discover how neat hatching creates subtle shadows, while repeating patterns and purposeful marks build rich, complex textures like bricks and foliage.
Putting It All Together. Combine continuous lines, bold ink, and soft grey washes in a final challenge to create a lively, deeply textured scene that is uniquely yours.
Welcome to Workshop Three, where we explore the playful magic of continuous line sketching to help loosen up your style and simplify complex scenes. We will cover a lot of ground in this third workshop. Below is a preview of what we will review:
The Continuous Line. Discover how to use a single, dancing line to map out simple shapes and capture the silhouette of a scene.
Moving with Intention. Learn why a continuous line is not just a lazy loop. We will cover how to add purposeful "jinks" and textures to keep your linework looking confident rather than scruffy.
Finding Anchor Points. Master the puzzle of a sketch by drawing key landmarks first, making it easy to connect the rest of your scene using relative measurements.
Less is More with Soluble Ink. Give your pen a rest and learn how to use a wet brush to activate your ink, pulling out beautiful directional shadows without the need for heavy hatching.
Tackling Complex Tangles. Turn messy, overwhelming subjects like telephone wires and organic undergrowth into fun, approachable sketches using slow observation and confident, sweeping gestures.
I think feedback and interaction is a vital part of progressing in art, so I promise to answer every question you have, and give feedback on all your art from the course.
If you have any difficulties or challenges in the course, just email me to make sure we can make it right!
If, for whatever reason, you purchase this course and feel it's not right for you then I'll make it right. Whether that is a transfer to a different course or a refund.