Bic4 Ballpoint Pen, Sanrio Novelty 10 Colour Ballpoint Pen on Archival 8.5" x 11" paper.
A breakdown of the Bic4 pen and No-name 10 colour pen layering that I’ve used.
Drawing in a single direction instead of using back-and-forth movement alleviates some of the blotching that happens when using ballpoint pens. The back-and-forth method usually deposits the gunk that builds up on the tip of the ballpoint, smearing them in unexpected and unfortunate places on the drawing. When using the back-and-forth method, I usually have a napkin handy in order to clean the tip of the pen. Model: Meadhbh (Maeve)
I’m often asked about my Bic pen drawings and how I do them. It starts with a good foundational drawing, the ballpoint pen part is just trying to colour within the lines. I try to do my best to explain the process, but the best way to show my progress is by posting my efforts to master pen drawings over the span of 3 or so years. I have been doodling/drawing with ballpoint pens as far back as I can remember - they were cheap, readily available and always lying around the house. It wasn’t until I was bored during a particularly long team meeting-conference call (around 2016-17) that I started to think about the possibilities of ballpoint pens as serious portrait illustration tools. My first experiments with full colour ink portrait drawings were rather crude, but that’s the point of learning new techniques—as long as the curiosity and the love of drawing is there, you can transfer that skill and passion into any medium. Remember, the most exquisite drawings and paintings you see didn’t materialise fully formed, they started out as failed experiments. Failure after failure after failure. It’s important to remember this when you get discouraged (I've failed spectacularly over the years). The only difference between the accomplished artist and the beginner is hundreds of hours of practice. Talent can only get you so far. It’s the hard work that you do behind the scenes that makes your work look effortless. Keep doodling. Keep learning. Stay curious.
I saw a man outside the library wearing a crown nestled into his cowboy hat. He was speaking swiftly, seemingly to himself, possibly freestyle rapping. Probably crazy. Then I drew some saints and stuff around him. I suspect he could use some assistance, perhaps spiritual.
The other night I chin-chin with the universe... My quick daily sketch from my sketchbook.
'Glass of universe'. Ink, coffe and red wine. Yes, I was seeping on this wine while sketching...
Hi! Got really inspired by the Hearthstone art and Dave Greco so I decided to practice a little bit! This fanart piece was made using an original concept art of the character by Blizzard as seen in the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRYg3JIe5jY
And most of the time, imperfection is the way to see the balance of life. It's where you see and understand the most beautiful lesson that we will carry upto the end of our existence.
