Many artists like to draw on the spot with ink, either alone or in combination with watercolor or colored pencils. They may sketch in guidelines with pencil first, as Liz Steel sometimes does, or jump right in, like Warren Ludwig. They may do the ink drawing first and then add color, like Don Low, or include touches of ink to add sparkle to a watercolor sketch. There is no “right” way to work, just as there is no perfect pen. Again, it’s a very personal decision.
These are some of the pens (and a favorite pencil) that I use frequently. From left: A Sheaffer calligraphy pen I’ve had for decades, a Micron Pigma disposable, an ancient Sheaffer fountain pen from the 1920s, a mechanical pencil I’ve had for decades and two new Noodler’s Creaper flex pens.
Markers are handy tools for working on the spot, and they come in many styles, including double-ended markers, calligraphy markers and brush-tip markers. You can get them in a wide range of colors, too, and many are water-soluble so they can double as watercolor-like tools.
Don’t throw away a marker that’s beginning to get a bit dry. These can provide interesting effects on textured paper.
The combination of ink and watercolor is a happy one, and sketches done in ink alone are often clean, crisp and powerful. Don’t be put off by the emphatic quality of ink if you draw a line you don’t like; just draw another right beside it. Sometimes that creates a wonderful vibration, a story of the creative process. “Perfection” need not apply—we’re sketching here!
There are several brands out there that carry felt tip, ballpoint or fountain pens. Some are waterproof and some are water-soluble, so be sure to test in an unobtrusive spot before surprising yourself in the field. A disposable, water-soluble pen will allow you to wet the lines and add value.
You may prefer a refillable fountain pen you can keep for a long time. In that case, try either water-resistant ink that won’t smear and will retain sharp lines, or water-soluble ink that will lift with the touch of a brush, letting you make interesting halftones quickly.
Try out all the pens and markers you have on one sheet of paper. It helps to make notes as well, so you remember which does what and how they feel to you. That’s how I settle on my must-have tools.