Challenge Your Artistic Skills with Your Choice of Drawing Ink

 Ink is a traditional, versatile medium developed around the world, from ancient cultures up to date, for different purposes such as writing, drawing and painting. In fine art, the term ‘pen and ink’ is used for a drawing technique that includes the use of black and other coloured inks applied to a support, most commonly paper, with a dip pen, brush, or modern marker pen. Drawing ink has a smooth liquid texture and is mainly used by fine artists, illustrators and calligraphers.  

Ink is very often used for sketches, finished drawings, ink and wash paintings as well as book illustrations and more. Keep in mind that the paper used can affect the ink’s performance, if it’s too absorbent or too impermeable. Try to stick to watercolour paper, block printing paper, mixed media paper, and other papers stated for use with ink, so the ink can dry properly and not smear. 

Types of Drawing Inks  

• Alcohol Based – Alcohol based inks dry very fast, they are acid-free and offer vibrant colours. This type of drawing inks is made from solid-based dyes and can be immediately absorbed into paper surfaces and most commonly, it’s water-resistant.  

• Solvent Based – Solvent based inks might come with a strong smell and have a bright colour. They are waterproof, scratch-proof and long-lasting and they don’t fade. Usually, this type of drawing inks is used on non-absorbent materials. 
• Water Based – Water based inks have light and thin dyes, dry quickly and they are water-resistant. This type of ink doesn’t have a strong smell and is also known as dye-based type of ink as the dyes it contains are chemically dissolved.  

• Pigment Based – Pigment based inks have colour pigments and a binding agent made from acrylic or shellac. Indian ink is an example of this type. Interestingly, Indian ink was first created in China and is sometimes referred to as China ink. At the beginning, it was available only in black, but today it can be found in other colours as well. Traditionally, Indian ink was made with carbon and contains varnish of shellac, which gives it permanency and waterproof properties.

Properties of Drawing Inks 

There is a variety of inks available on the market to suit your creative needs and requirements, application methods, the surface you’re working on, and the expected, final result. To choose the right drawing ink, you’ll need to know if it’s waterproof, marker-proof, will it fade with erasing or sunlight and other potential issues that may occur later on. In order to avoid it, many artists are looking for the following properties in their choice of ink. 

Drying Time 

Some inks are quick-drying, and ink applied with a brush usually dries faster than the ink applied with a nib. Quick-drying inks are a great choice for artists who try to stay away from smudging and smuggling while they work.  

Feathering 

This refers to the quality of the ink when it spreads out, creating blurry and indistinct lines. It can also be caused by the paper or the nib and some quick-drying inks don’t produce feathering as the flow of ink is more controlled. 

Thickness 

Not all black inks have the same hue. Darkness is a key difference, and the thickness refers to the darkness or the lightness of the ink. Some inks are very dark, while others are lighter and some inks may appear lighter once they dry. 

Gloss 

Gloss stands for the shine an ink has when it’s dry. It can be glossy, semi-gloss, matte, or somewhere in between. Gloss is more lustrous, shiny, and matte is smooth and dull. 

Solubility 

Some inks can be dissolved by water, alcohol, or other substances. Knowing this ahead of time can be very helpful for your work.  

A Few Tips on Using Drawing Inks 

Finding the right ink can be a long and challenging process as ink is a challenging medium at first try. Whether you are a beginner or an artist who wants to learn more ink techniques, here are some tips that can help you improve your skills. 

Choose Your Tools 

You can choose from a wide selection of calligraphy pens, markers, brushes, nibs and airbrushes. To avoid rust, dried hairs and stains, make sure to properly place all tools while working and keep cleaners nearby all the time.  

Your Style Can Determine the Ink 

Always choose your ink to perfectly suit your artistic needs and purpose. Waterproof inks are ideal for line work, and water-soluble inks can be used for washes. Dark inks are a good choice for scanning and digital colouring and with a little editing, you can get crisp, clean lines. Inks that provide a gloss finish give a sense of quality and professionalism. Many inks may appear glossier when applied with a nib, but inks that have matte finish will keep their quality no matter what tool you’ll use to apply them. 

Try Different Strokes 

Cross-hatching, stippling and circular marks will add texture to your work and build the shading and form you want to achieve. 

Manage Tones 

Many artists are wondering how to use ink to create different tones. The easiest way is to use dark (not too dark) ink and then dilute it to indicate the lighter areas. Pen and ink can’t be easily undone, so try stepping back from your work of art as you build it up and once you feel you achieved the balance of light and dark, there is no need to apply any more. 

Practice 

Pen and ink may seem like a very difficult medium at the beginning, so try sketching in pencil before drawing over the top with ink. Finally, making mistakes is a normal part of the artistic process, and can result in a spontaneous piece of art, with a sense of passion and life.