Sketch Book for the Artist

Brush Marks

A SINGLE BRUSH will make an enormous range of marks damp or dry), and above all whether the brush is

depending upon the width, length, softness, and type of saturated with pigment or relatively dry. A single brush

its hairs. It also depends on the angle at which it is held, has almost balletic potential to draw fine or undulating

the degree of pressure applied, the speed of the stroke, lines and curves, splashes, and spatters, and to make

the texture and absorbency of the paper (which may be pools and stains on the page.

SETTING UP

Here I drew with a soft Japanese painting brush (see pp.246-47).

I rubbed a block of Chinese ink (see p.35) into two tablespoons of

water in a shallow, unglazed earthenware dish. I had left the end

of the ink block in the water overnight to make it easier to dissolve.

Blowing spots

These three spidery creatures (above

right and below) were made by dropping

spots of ink from a brush onto the page

and, with my face close, blowing hard on

them several times to disperse the ink

(close your eyes if you try this.)

I

GODS

AND

Monsters