Studio Staples: The Power of Pen and Ink Washes in Preliminary Sketching

For years, my go-to sketching tools were graphite and charcoal. These familiar friends are comfortable media, making it easy to make corrections and explore ideas. However, a recent exploration of pen-and-ink washes has unlocked new opportunities for making preliminary sketches, offering a compelling balance between deliberate, precise marks and spontaneous abstraction. My tool of choice has been Tom’s Studio Lumos Dual Tip Pen. Loaded with water-soluble ink, it’s proving to be both versatile and inspiring.

The Lumos Dual Tip Pen is refillable and dual-tipped, allowing me to choose the tips and ink that work best for me. I choose the fine point when I want to lay down crisp, controlled lines that define contours and capture intricate details. On the other end, I can insert a brush nib to make broader, more fluid marks that can suggest mass and movement with a painterly quality. This ability to switch easily between such distinct mark-making possibilities within a single tool is freeing. It encourages a dynamic approach to sketching, allowing me to respond intuitively to the subject before me.

The real magic, however, begins when water is introduced. Working on watercolor or mixed-media paper, I can lay down my initial ink drawing, focusing on structure and key features. Then, with a simple wet brush, I can gently activate the water-soluble ink. The once-defined lines begin to bleed and soften, creating beautiful, nuanced washes that allow for a deep exploration of value relationships. Suddenly, I’m not just drawing lines; I’m sculpting with tone, pushing and pulling areas of light and shadow.

This process has been particularly enlightening in how it forces me to consider edges. The sharp, definitive lines of the pen can coexist alongside the soft, diffused edges created by the washes. This allows me to articulate a crisp edge to bring a feature forward or let an edge dissolve into the background, creating a sense of atmosphere and depth. It’s a constant negotiation between what is stated and what is merely suggested, helping me to work through complex ideas about light, form, and how they interact. In preliminary sketches, this helps me to explore ideas for the role edges play in a final composition.

In these three small figure sketches, you can see this dynamic at play. Notice how the underlying pen lines provide structure, while the washes build form and create a sense of light and shadow. There are moments of sharp detail juxtaposed with areas where the ink has bloomed and softened, hinting at a more abstract interpretation.

Figure Studies in pen and ink

Compared to graphite or charcoal work, in which I’m generally building up tone gradually and can enjoy the safety net of erasure when needed, pen-and-ink washes demand a more deliberate and direct approach. Each mark with the pen feels more committed. Yet, this isn’t a restrictive process. The introduction of water brings an element of unpredictability and discovery. The way the ink moves and settles can lead to unexpected textures and tonal variations, opening the door to happy accidents and pushing the sketch towards a more expressive, even abstract, outcome. It’s this blend of focused intention and loose, watery effects that I find so compelling.

If you’re looking to shake up your sketching practice or explore a medium that beautifully merges drawing and painting sensibilities, try pen-and-ink washes. It may seem intimidating at first, but it quickly teaches you to trust your instincts and embrace the unexpected. A water-soluble ink pen, paired with suitable paper and a brush, is all you need to begin!

Meet the Artist

Scott Maier is an artist, instructor, and a content contributor to artistsnetwork.com. He’s an adjunct instructor at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design, as well as the author of the instructional art book See, Think, Draw: An Easy Guide for Realistic Drawing and Beyond.