How to Draw With Color Ink

Drawing with colored ink offers many challenges to the pen and ink artist. Choosing the right kind of ink to get the realistic results can be a challenge. Additionally, since ink doesn't erase like pencils, there is less margin for error in drawings done with ink. Another issue is finding the right balance of colors to achieve the shading and color tones you need. Color ink drawings come with their own rewards. A completed color ink drawing is more durable and long lasting than a pencil drawing, and if done effectively, will look stunning in a frame.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Pencil
• Gel ink pens
• Sketch pad

1. Sketch your drawing with a hard pencil. A 9H is the hardest, lightest pencil. It will work well for getting the lines of your drawing on paper, and it will be easy to erase or cover over with pen. Compose your drawing before you begin adding ink. If you're sketching a person, add all of the facial details in pencil as well. Your pencil sketch should be fully realized except for the coloring.

2. Start adding color to your portrait with the eyes. Remember that every aspect of your drawing will get color of some sort. The whites of the eyes will get shading. You can use very light gray to shade them, then color the irises whatever color you like. Leave a little circle on the pupils to allow yourself to add a light shade of gray as a way to show reflection.

3. Color the face next, using the color of your pen even to go over the pencil markings. In a color pen drawing, you don't want hard, dark lines of another color showing through. Use the same color for an outline as you're using to color an area, pressing slightly harder for the outline to bring out the definition.

4. Color each area of your drawing with diagonal strokes, going over areas several times when you want to make them darker. To bring out lighter areas in the face, darken the places around the ones you want to lighten. This is an effective way to add light and depth to the features without having to weaken your color application. Apply color to each area of your drawing using this method for even color balance.

References

• Color Ink Drawing Turotial