by pen, ink & wash
My most recently unrolled set of drawings, again from 1982, consist mostly of life drawings done in pen and ink with wash. I will always remember the mixed feelings of trepidation in using such a demanding medium to do very quick studies, as well as the excitement in the challenge and in seeing the almost instant results. The flaws only add to the dynamic freshness of this way of working.
A wonderful surprise for me in some of these was to discover how the blue-black ink had in some places transformed over time to a sepia tone. In fact, the second image above is the reverse side, a bleed, of the top one. Though I have enhanced it a little for viewing here, it still does not show well here yet I think I like it more than the original. The third piece is a favourite detail from a larger sketch with a lovely blend of colours, accidental in that it was a product of the passage of time, rather than coming from the artist’s hand.
June 10, 2012 in Drawings by Marja-Leena
Fine stuff! Great!
I once had a pal, a wanna-be artist, who did ink drawings, but instead ova water, he rushed out to a snow bank and came back inside sometimes with surprising result.
Well, snow is of course frozen water, but the lumps did some special effect, as you can believe!
I really like these things!
Ripsa, kiitos, thanks, I’m so pleased you like these! We artists will sometimes do anything to get special effects – though I admit I have not tried snow yet!
I know what you mean about being nervous doing quick studies with a medium like this that usually requires some drying time in between layers. Your results with the pen and ink washes here are very bold and show you’d already developed a fine control. Your understanding of the form and light values was wonderful.
I like the first one (two) but particularly like the third. That hand is great.
Susan, thanks! Actually, I don’t think we were given drying time in doing these quick life drawings. I like the freshness as a result of not going in and reworking or fixing. The thumb on the hand is all wrong, but otherwise I like it too.
Uff … been having password troubles … but I’ve been reading all of your recent posts. This series is interesting in that you look at all the angles, turning the paper and noticing the sepia. Isn’t that the coolest thing?! He looks like he’s emerging through time …
rouchswalwe, I’m sorry about the password troubles. I wish I didn’t have to use it because I think I’ve lost some commenters, but wow, I love not having spam. And I love “He looks like he’s emerging through time.”