Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Pen & Ink, Wash, and White Gouache

Walnut Ink

Fountain Pen Ink

Plein air sketch with Walnut Ink

Plein air sketch with walnut ink and white gouache 

Plein air sketch with walnut ink and white gouache

Plein air sketch with walnut ink, white gouache and watercolor

Plein air sketch - start

Plein air sketch with walnut ink and white gouache
This past year, I discovered Walnut Ink.  It is a lovely brown colored ink that can be used with a pen, for a nice line, or a brush, for a lovely wash.  For years, I have used a fountain pen with brown fountain pen ink, so the walnut ink was a nice addition.  Both inks are not waterproof, and if I make a line and go over it with a wash, the line will "bleed".  

I work on a toned paper, usually Canson pastel paper in gray or tan, or I have made toned paper with watercolor (see 4th photo down).  I play off the tone by going darker or lighter to give me a sense of form and space.  Drawing like this has become my favorite way to work...working in simple masses of light and dark.  The set up is perfect for plein air sketches, because it is very portable, and it only requires a little water for the gouache.  I can make lighter brown tones by diluting the walnut ink with water.  By making additional washes of the ink, I can make darker tones.  The walnut ink acts much like watercolor and is quite compatible.


3 comments:

toile la la said...

Karen, you've mentioned the Walnut Ink here and I wondered if it is similar to Oak Gall ink - which I learned about via Little Augury.

Many Old Master inked studies appear to be created with a similar brown ink.

Interesting to see your artwork in-progress.

toile la la said...

Karen, you've mentioned the Walnut Ink here and I wondered if it is similar to Oak Gall ink - which I learned about via Little Augury.

Many Old Master inked studies appear to be created with a similar brown ink.

Interesting to see your artwork in-progress.

Karen Winslow said...

Yes, I would think that the inks are similar. Both are made from trees..the oak from the oak gall, and the walnut from the walnut husks. Both create a brown ink, but the gall ink will turn more gray.

I love brown ink drawings. This past fall, I got to go to the Morgan Library in New York. A fantastic drawing exhibition featuring work from Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian, etc. was on display, and it was so inspiring!!