Fearless Drawing

47

Drawing with a brush is so expressive, and it opens

an entirely new toolbox of possible marks. I have

completed this adventure using a bottle of India ink,

a rich and fluid medium that can be purchased quite

cheaply in a single bottle. India ink does stain, so take

particular care to roll up your sleeves and protect your

work surface.

If you don’t have any India ink, then you could

substitute:

O

Watercolors

O

Bottled writing ink

O

Kids' poster paints

O

Cup of cold, strong, black tea or coffee

You will also need a paintbrush. I used a size 4 round

watercolor brush for all the marks you see in this

chapter. Please ignore the cheap sets and just buy

one good brush (4 or similar size), taking care to wash

it carefully, reshape it with your fingers, and allow it to

air dry after each use.

We have already covered many of the techniques

referenced in this chapter using a pencil, but it’s

fascinating to see how different these effects can

look when created with a brush. Many artists prefer

the lyrical nature of drawing with a brush, and it is

definitely a very different physical experience from

the drag of graphite across the page.

Hello Brush

To draw a thin line, hold your brush vertically and

apply very little pressure, then increase pressure by

pressing down to create a thicker line. Adjust the

pressure over the course of the stroke to create a

line of variable thickness.

Create a curved mark by guiding the brush with

a small, semicircular movement of your wrist.

Let’s start out with a simple exercise of drawing

lines, making them straight, wavy, fast, and

slow. Draw as many different lines as you like,

taking time to really explore the feel of the

brush on the page.

PRACTICE BRUSH MARKS

The marks you make with your brush are more variable than those you can make with a pencil.

48 > Fearless Drawing

Mine:

Mine:

Mine:

Yours:

Yours:

Yours:

Create a flamelike flick by touching the point of

the brush to the paper and flipping your wrist

upwards.

Make a small dot by holding your brush

vertically and allowing just the very tip of the

bristles to touch the surface of the paper. To

create larger dabs, apply more pressure and

alter the angle of your brush.

When you’ve applied most of the paint to the

page and the brush is nearly dry, you will see

how the brush applies the paint in a scratchier

texture; this is called a dry brush mark.

Hello Brush > 49

Mine:

Mine:

Mine:

Yours:

Yours:

Yours:

TIPS

 You can lightly sketch the outline of the letter in

pencil first if you’d like, and then erase it once

you’ve finished (and it’s dried!).

 I created regular lines of pattern to build up my

initial, but feel free to adopt a more spontaneous

approach, filling the area with explorative shapes

and marks for a different effect.

PAINTED INITIAL

In this practice exercise, I’ve used many of the brush strokes we’ve just tried

to paint my first initial. Paint your initial on page 51, practicing the brush

strokes we’ve just learned and inventing more of your own.

50 > Fearless Drawing

Continue to play with mark making using your brush. If you really enjoy this technique, collect a few more brushes for further

experimentation. I have a few travel paintbrushes of various sizes that I like to use whenever I’m out of the studio. Travel brushes are

great because they are designed to allow the delicate bristles to fold inside the body of the brush, protecting them while they’re

in my bag. I also have a paintbrush where the body of the brush is plastic and can be filled with water or ink (I usually fill mine with

coffee!). Then you’re able to paint simply by gently squeezing the body of the brush to release the liquid. I find these fantastic when

I’m out and about as they allow me to paint easily without too much additional equipment.

Hello Brush > 51