Pen
and Ink Drawing 8
Ink
and Watercolour Drawing Materials

All
the materials that you need to create a pen and ink
drawing with watercolour are illustrated above and listed
below:
INDIAN
INK :
Indian Ink is a type of ink that is waterproof when
dry. It is supplied in bottles of various sizes. The
small bottle illustrated above is the most suitable
for using at a desk.
NIBBED
PEN (DIP
PEN):
Nibbed Pens (or Dip Pens) are necessary for
drawing in indian ink as fountain or cartridge pens
clog as the ink dries. A nibbed pen, which is easily
rinsed clean after use, comes in two detachable parts
- the nib and its handle. They are sensitive drawing
tools whose quality of line responds to the hand pressure
you exert.
WATERCOLOURS:
Watercolour
paint comes in pans (illustrated above) and tubes. Pans
are usually the most convenient for smaller work like
our ink drawing, whereas tubes are more suitable for
working on a larger scale. Watercolours also come in
different qualities of pigment, the strongest and most
light fast colours being the most expensive.
BRUSHES:
You
can use almost any brush for watercolour, but the most
versatile are soft sable hair or good quality synthetic
brushes. It is best to invest in a good
brush which will retain its character and quality
over time.
PENCILS:
Choose any pencil that you can easily erase without
leaving a mark. Ink drawings are often done on top of
a preliminary pencil sketch which is later erased.
PAPER:
In our experience, it is better to use a smooth paper
of 180 gms or more. If you use a lighter weight of paper,
you should stretch it to prevent it from buckling when
wet. A good cartridge paper is very satisfactory, but
will it will yellow over time. If that is a problem,
it is best to use a smooth HP (hot pressed) watercolour
paper with a neutral PH.