There are several, specific brush exercises leading up to three projects; I recommend you take the time to practice with each brush lesson to build control and confidence. The exercises involve round, flat, filbert, rigger, angle, and fan brushes. Practice with as many types as you have available. Also try comparing synthetic to natural bristle brushes, and different manufacturers if possible.

Project One: Simplified Bamboo
Bamboo is a classic ink subject and we'll take the control learned from handling round and rigger brushes to create a simplified painting.

Materials:

Round brush, capable of coming to a reasonable point when wet, in size 10 - 14.
Rigger brush
A4 or US Letter cartridge paper
Water
Paper towels
Indian Ink

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Project Two: Wild Grasses
Scrubby, coarse, and wild, we'll manipulate a variety of brushes to create a patch of expressive vegetation, first in tones of Indian Ink, and then in watercolour with Indian Ink.

Materials:

Variety of brushes
Spray bottle for water
A4 or US Letter cartridge paper
Water (for rinsing brushes)
Paper towels
Indian Ink
A few basic watercolours (reddish brown, deep blue, yellow, perhaps a green or two)

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Project Three: Loose Landscape
We'll go back to using only Indian Ink for this final project.

Materials:

Variety of brushes
Spray bottle for water
A4 or US Letter cartridge paper
Water (for rinsing brushes)
Paper towels
Indian Ink

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Marina Onoprienko

Artist

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