Do you feel like you need a change of pace? Prepping for inktober? Learning to use a new tool can be a wonderful way of discovering new sides of yourself as a creative! Using a permanent medium like ink helps you to be more decisive and stop noodling. Go with the flow and discover what kinds of lines you’d love to draw!

This class is a beginner level introduction to dip pen and ink. I'll go over all the fundamental skills you need to know to succeed.

Lots of people like inking with brushes, but I have definitely fallen in love with the dip pen. I think it’s been an amazing tool for me because:

It forces you to be deliberate about each stroke you make
The line is so much more interesting and has a lot more variation than with regular ink pens
Using lots of lines to build an illustration gives it a wonderful feeling of movement
It gives your drawing a gritty, natural texture
I love the vintage look that comes with it
Making strokes with the pen is just so satisfying!

I had a lot of challenges along the way when I started learning to use dip pens, and I had so much trouble finding solutions for them! So I really wanted to bring you this class to make the process of starting as easy and smooth as possible and save you from the frustrations I struggled with. I’ll go over:

Introducing the dip pen and it’s special characteristics
Getting to know your materials
How to hold the pen and think through your lines
Using line to build form and value
Issues I had when I started and how to solve them
How to fix mistakes or learn to live with them
How to build an illustration with ink and line, basics of composition and balancing values.
How I apply these principles when I draw my own illustrations

As a class project we’ll be testing out your new skills by drawing a nature scene together. I’ll walk you through the process I have when making an illustration, step by step.

After this class you’ll have all the knowledge you need to feel comfortable drawing with dip pens, and have the tools to build your own illustrations with ink and line. You can find your own personal way of using line, use the ink drawing as a basis of a watercolor illustration or create detailed realistic line drawings!

Robby McClellan

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