Pen and Ink Drawing Technique…The Magic of Tiny Dots

Have you ever wondered what a tiny dot can do? Well, for starters, it can create an exotic background in a pen and ink painting. Using dots is one of my favourite pen and ink drawing technique.

As seen in the above pen and ink creation, dots get denser as they move away from the main form. I started with a thin nib pen near the main form and kept on increasing the density of the dots as I moved further away. I also kept on changing the thickness of the nib as I moved further away.

Things to remember in this pen and ink drawing technique: 

This pen and ink drawing technique might seem easy at first. However, one needs to be really patient and enjoy the process as making such a background is quite time consuming.

Another thing that had to be considered while making this background was the way density of dots was increased. The increase in density had to be done gradually. As is the case with any still life study or oil painting, etc.; the change in tones is very gradual. Similarly, in the case of these dots, the transition from one density to another should not be stark.

The transition should not look forceful. The pen should not be moved in a mechanical way to make dots. It should be moved randomly so that there is no stark line.

Another thing to take care was when I reached the edge of the paper. That’s the portion that required maximum density. It had to be darkest. Now the darkest portion is important because it can accentuate the whole painting and take it to another level. At the same time, it can spoil the painting if overdone. So, the amount of darkness to be used depends on careful observation of the whole painting.

Once,I was finished making the dots, I placed my painting at a distance. The dots were so gradual that rather than looking like clusters of tiny dots, the background looked as if a background was painted using gradual tones in black and white. That’s like a litmus test to check whether you have given the background of dots appropriately or not.

Your turn to use this pen and ink drawing technique: 

Try making such a painting using this pen and ink drawing technique. There is so much fun in making these tiny dots and observing the painting developing slowly with a spectacular background. Get your painting framed with the right colors and voila, you can be a proud owner of a lovely pen and ink painting.