Gretchen Burns: Drawing with Ink Topics Class

SIXTH AND FINAL ASSIGNMENT
The sixth and final assignment was to create 10 inked pieces that contained a similar theme. I chose to create 10 "portraits" of different animals, birds, insects, fish, etc. I believe that by doing this, I helped myself prepare for biological illustrations.

FIFTH ASSIGNMENT
The fifth assignment was more like the assignments that have been done in my Commercial Art I class. We had to create three illustrations that were based on a similar theme. I've been wanting to do the theme of dead princess or fairy tales for a while, so that was the theme that I chose to illustrate.


Rapunzel 9" x 12" Ink, nib, brush, ink wash

My first illustration depicted Rapunzel hanging herself out of her tower with her own hair. I was really pleased with this illustration until I decided to add in a little village in the background. I feel that I should have left the entire background either alone and gone with the ink wash or have elaborated. However, I feel that if I had elaborated, the detailing in the tower would have been lost.

Yet again, I am looking forward to taking Life Drawing so that I can become better at figure drawing instead of how I am now.

Sleeping Beauty
9" x 12"
Ink, nib, brush, ink wash

The next illustration that I did was Sleeping Beauty. My concept was that she had waited for her someone to wake her up for so long that her body just decayed and a pile of bones was all that was left.

With the technique of this illustration, I really liked how I created the illusion of a beam of light falling on the skeleton, but at the same time, I wish that I would not have used the ink wash in the curtains, and just layered the shading lines. I feel that that while this is nowhere near as busy in texture as some of my previous illustrations have been, I still need to tone down my use of different patterns and textures in illustrations. Maybe I just need to pick one pattern per illustration and work with that and try different patterns in separate illustrations from now on.

Cinderella
9" x 12"
Ink, nib, brush, and ink wash

The final illustration that I created for this assignment was Cinderella. I find it fascinating that a woman was able to run down stairs in one heeled shoe and not fall. I decided to go with the idea that Cinderella did indeed fall, and fell in a way that she broke her neck and died.

With technique, I feel that this was my most accomplished usage of technique in all my illustrations from this assignment. This was the most consistent in pattern usage. I even liked the used of ink wash in the background.

The only issue that I have with this illustration, and it was brought up during critique, was how Cinderella's dress turned out. One of the problems that I realized after the fact was that I have no patience when waiting for ink wash to dry so that I can apply the next layer. Because of this, the ink bled and the dress appeared two-dimensional instead of three-dimensional.

FOURTH ASSIGNMENT

The fourth assignment that was created was to use ink wash to obtain gray tones and learn the dry brush technique in the illustrations. There had to be at least one figure in each illustration. One needed to be in ink wash, the other in dry brush.

My first image was that of Dian Fosse when she was studying the silverbacked gorillas in the mountains of Rwanda.

Dian Fosse and friends
9" x 12"
Dry Brush, Ink, nib, ink wash

I used a dry brush technique to attempt the fur on the gorillas, but it didn't work out as much as I had planned. I think that it would have been successful if I had taken the time to create and illustrate jungle-like leaves instead of using dry brush and blending the texture of the gorillas and the background.

I was proud of how I depicted Fosse (except the mouth). I used an ink wash for her clothes, and it believed it really helped to convey her in my illustration.


Jane Goodall and friend 9" x 12" Ink wash and ink

My second illustration portrayed Jane Goodall but in inkwash. This was my first attempt at ink wash. I think that I was too impatient with the wet material and didn't wait long enough for it to dry before applying the next layer. To achieve the darker colors, I used straight ink for the darkest shadows. I like the simpler way that the chimpanzee is portrayed.

My only problem with this illustration is the shadows of Jane Goodall's blouse and her legs. When discussed during the critique of this class, it was mentioned that sometimes, although some directions look good in a photo, they don't look good when it comes to creating them in a 2-D space. I absolutely agree with this statement.

THIRD ASSIGNMENT

The third assignment that was created was a combination of using both the brush and nib that portrayed an environment. The 'environment' had to contain at least one figure, and had to have some sort of background.

My first image that I worked on was based on a thumbnail sketch from my Commercial Art I class. It was supposed to depict a worker at the Steamboat Arabia museum in Kansas City who was restoring a cloth boot found in the cargo of the sunken steamboat.

Brush and nibs #1
8" x 10"
pen, brush, ink

I believe for the most part I succeeded, but I will still have to continue to work on my facial structure when it comes to illustrations.

My second illustration was set in an old diner, or malt shop. I know that the facial features were not ideal, and practice definitely needs to be done. I went overboard with the textures and created a confusing space. The seats were nicely done, but the texture seems to be too soft and airy compared to the dark thick solid lines of the rest of the illustration.

Brush and Nib #2
8" x 10"
pen, brush, ink

However, my favorite part of this was the dress. I felt that I was really able to convey the pattern and texture of the fabric.

The third and final piece was done almost completely in brushed ink and had an almost extreme effect of light versus dark, with hardly any grey tones in between. Looking back, I would redo the movie screen and pick a scene that wasn't so white compared to the rest of the illustration. I'm trying to figure out how to do a wash where brush strokes aren't as visible.


Brush and Nib #3 8" x 10" pen, brush, ink

I do feel that I succeeded in creating the contrasting tones on the tops of the vehicles though. It shows that it is a drive-in movie theater, and that the cars are from a very specific decade.

SECOND ASSIGNMENT
The second assignment was the use of a brush in ink illustrations. Yet again, there needed to be two objects, two animals, two people and two landscapes.

With the object illustrations, I felt that I achieved texture on the camera. I don't exactly agree with how the strap was illustrated, but it could have been much worse.


Object #1 9" x 6" Brush and ink

On the nail polish bottles, I didn't agree with how the black nail polish looked as an end result, but I felt that I achieved a look of a different set of colors of polish as they went away from the viewer. My favorite part about this illustration is the appearance of glass bottles.

Object #2
9" x 6"
Brush and Ink

The two animals that I illustrated were entirely different in technique. The owl required making sure that the brush had a good pointed tip on it and making sure that I expressed a quality of tufts of fur. I found it therapeutic to just sit and brush out the tufts of fur on the top of the head and on the top of the wings. I felt that this was a successful piece all together.

Animal #1
9" x 6"
Brush with Ink

At first I liked the beagle puppy that I drew, it was a half-attempt at dry brush technique. But the muzzle was more difficult because it was almost all black. I thought that I had done a good job, but during in-class critique, it was mentioned that it looked like the muzzle had been cut off, which immediately disturbed everybody. New goal is to work with dark things (like muzzles on dogs) and make them appear as if that is what it is supposed to be.

Animal #2
9" x 6"
Brush and ink

The first person that I decided to illustrate was Lady Gaga in her famous "Telephone" outfit. I like the dynamics of this photograph and wanted to try to make it into an ink illustration. For me, it was fun to figure out the different textures to create her outfit. The only part that I have an issue with is right under her nose. I feel that I went a bit overboard on the shading and she looks like she has a mustache.My favorite part was the area that had the dial. I really think that area just stands out really well.

Person #1
9" x 6"
Brush and ink

My second person was Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes in the BBC television show "Sherlock." While I liked the texture of the piece as a whole, I felt that I could have done better on his mouth.


Person #2 9" x 6" Brush and Ink

The landscapes were my least favorite pieces.

FIRST ASSIGMENT
The first assignment for the class was working with nibs and learning how to control them with ink. Eight illustrations were assigned, two animals, two landscapes, two objects, and two people.