Introduction to Drawing with Ink and Wash

Course Times & Enrolment

Tuesdays from 16th January 2024 (Code DP201-203) Tuesdays from
16th January 2024 1:30pm - 4:30pm • (5 classes) G09 Thomson's Land, Holyrood Campus • Tutor: Christine Frew BA (Hons) Drawing and Painting

This course is now closed for enrolments

Course Summary

This course will focus on the techniques and approaches to using dip pens, sticks and brushes to make and explore imaginative line and wash drawings. Using a range of primary and secondary stimuli, such as drawings, objects and photographs, students will be taught a range of drawing techniques and approaches, which support the development of ambitious and complex and personal pictorial compositions.

Course Details

Special Information

This course will include a limited supply of basic papers and cards. However please do acquire the materials recommended for this course.

• dip or scratch pens (nibs can be bought separately from handles)

• Black waterproof drawing ink

• Brown or sepia drawing ink

• Coloured Drawing inks -a couple of brighter colours (sets containing black, brown and colours are available and are good value)

• 2 or 3 soft wash brushes (go for flat chisel shapes either or both synthetic and natural - fine strands)

• A roll of Masking tape

• A sketchbook or drawing pad A3-thick smooth cartridge paper

• other papers optional -such as found/ recycled paper, packing paper, brown paper etc

• If you want to use watercolour paper, please use 'hot-pressed' (smooth) and not cold pressed (rough). The smoother surface means your dip pen or nib won't get snagged in the fibre.

• pencils and rubber

• Paper towel

• Pipette or ink dropper

• other drawing tools such as pens, coloured pencils, pastels, charcoal optional

Content of Course

Introduction to using a dip pen and ink techniques
Introduction to using ink lines with wash and muted colour
How to consider and translate tonal range
Experiment with bright and saturated colour
How to record experiments and compositional ideas in a sketchbook
Pictorial composition and what makes it work.
Consider mood, subject and context
Using primary sources and studio set ups to trigger an imaginative and inventive response through drawing and composition.
Use secondary source materials such as photographs and sketchbook drawings to develop more imaginative and inventive compositions
How to develop a theme and create a personal project
Develop a series of related, ambitious and complex compositional drawings.

Teaching method(s)

This course will be based and delivered in specialist art and design studios. Students’ progress will be monitored and supported by the tutor with individual advice given to each student. Teaching will include practical demonstration of technique, one to one tuition, group discussions and critiques.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

Use dip pen, sticks and brushes to make line and wash drawings effectively and with confidence;
Use drawing to develop a range of complex compositions derived from primary and secondary source materials;
Resolve and present a series of intensive and coherent compositional drawings.

Sources

Core Readings

Core Readings

The recommended titles below may be of interest in following up the themes discussed in the course:

• Stobart, Jane. 2011. Extraordinary Sketchbooks, , A&C Black, Bloomsbury Publishing plc, London.

• Bernice Rose, 1982. A Century of Modern Drawing from the Museum of Modern Art New York, British Museum Publications, London

• Masked M, Sothern J. 2014. Drawing Projects an Exploration of the Language of Drawing, Black Dog Publishing, London.

• Luckhardt U., and Melia, p. 1995, David Hockney - A Drawing Retrospective. 1st ed. London: Thames and Hudson.

Artists

You might like to research some of the ink drawings made by the following artists:

William Gillies (Scottish Colourist) ink drawings with wash and often watercolour

Kate Downie, 'Coast Road Diaries'.

Richard Diebenkorn-strong tonal work

Joan Eardley

Elizabeth Blackadder

Van Gogh-look especially at the pen work in drawings such as 'Peasants Working, Arles 1888' , ' The Fountain in the Garden of the Hospital, St. Remy 1889' and 'Farmhouse with Sun, Arles 1888'.

Per Kirkeby-mixed media and abstract

Jim Dine-multi stranded, multi disciplinary artworks

Emile Nolde-ink, wash and watercolours.

Giorgio Morandi-still life drawings

Kathe Kollwitz- figurative works

Marlene Dumas-contemporary, figurative and political

Yoyoi Kusama-modern, abstract.

David Hockney -draughtsmanship and an ever enquiring eye.

Turner-atmospheric sketches and studies

Rembrandt, Piranesi and Daumier-old masters

Galleries and Museums
www.nationalgalleries.org National Galleries of Scotland
www.moma.org The Museum of Modern Art, New York

www.tate.org.uk Tate gallery, London and other

www.royalacademy.org.uk Royal Academy London
www.metmuseum.org Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
www.drawingcenter.org This is a gallery and education space in New York showing contemporary works.
www.drawingroom.org.uk This is a London gallery space and resource centre. Here you’ll find lots of information such as an artist’s directory, archive material etc.

Queries

If you have questions regarding the course or enrolment, please contact COL Reception at Paterson's Land by email COL@ed.ac.uk or by phone 0131 650 4400.

Student support

If you have a disability, learning difficulty or health condition which may affect your studies, please let us know by ticking the 'specific support needs' box on your course application form. This will allow us to make appropriate adjustments in advance and in accordance with your rights under the Equality Act 2010. For more information please visit the Student Support section of our website.