Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

How are you? I hope you're doing really well today.

My name's Ms. Afzal and I'm going to be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling really good about that because we've got an interesting material that we'll be exploring.

It's one that I particularly love and that is the fineliner.

I wonder how you feel about fineliners.

Our lesson is called "Experiment with Dry Media: Fineliner." It comes from the unit of work "Foundation Workshops: An Introduction to the Area of Study." So, if you have some fineliners on hand, some enthusiasm, some curiosity, and some focus, I think we are all set to begin our lesson.

Let's do that.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can use fineliners with different nib sizes to create clean, detailed lines and combine them with other media to enhance my artwork.

Yes, we are gonna be getting right into using fineliners during this lesson today.

I hope you're all ready for that.

We have some keywords in our lesson: line weight, broken line, and variety.

Let's find out what these words mean.

Line weight is how thick or thin the line is.

Artists use different line thicknesses to show depth, importance, or to add interest to a drawing.

A broken line: this is a line made up of small dashes or gaps instead of being solid.

Artists use this to suggest lightness, softness, or something that isn't fully visible.

And variety: the use of different elements to create visual interest and complexity in an artwork.

Achieved by using different colours, shapes, sizes, textures, and lines.

So, these are our keywords: line weight, broken line, and variety.

Let's be on the lookout for them.

Let's listen out for them.

They will be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called "Experiment with Dry Media: Fineliner," and it has two learning circles to it.

First of all, testing line variation, and next, combine media creatively.

Let's begin by testing line variation.

Take a look at these three images.

What do these images have in common? Pause here and tell someone nearby.

So, what did you come up with? What did you notice about these three images? It's not so much to do with the content; it's more to do with the media that has been used.

"They all use the same media: fineliner." You've got it, Jacob.

I wonder if you came up with that answer too.

So, here we have the humble fineliner.

Fineliners are a popular choice for artists and designers as they excel in creating clean, crisp lines.

They're ideal for intricate details and precise illustrations.

I love fineliners.

I love using fineliners.

Pause the video and share with someone how do you feel about using fineliners for your artwork? Thanks for sharing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why are fineliners a popular choice for artists and designers? Is it A, they're mostly used for shading a smooth gradient, B, they're used mainly for painting large areas, C, they blend colours easily like watercolours, or D, they excel in creating clean, crisp lines? Pause the video and share with someone why fineliners are a popular choice for artists and designers.

Well done if you selected answer D.

Indeed, they excel in creating clean, crisp lines.

This is why fineliners are such a popular choice for artists and designers.

Artists and designers known for employing precise, clear lines include "Hymn of Life - BOZA," 2005, by Yayoi Kusama, has precise lines.

Street artist Phlegm is known for his distinctive drawn style, which contains clear lines for detail.

Al Davison is a comic book artist.

Precision in his lines is important to communicate the narrative.

Shantell Martin's use of bold lines extends to a wide range of outcomes, including drawing on canvas, walls, and floors.

Pause the video and share with someone, do you know any artists or designers who use clear, precise lines in their work? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Fineliners come in various sizes for different line weights.

You have thin pen nibs, which can create detailed fine lines, and then thick pen nibs, which create bold lines with strong visual impact.

Pause the video and share with someone, which one are you more drawn towards: thin pen nibs or thick pen nibs? Are you more for the detail or the boldness? Thanks for sharing your preferences.

I really like those thin pen nibs, which can create fine, detailed lines.

Take a look at this image.

What's the first thing that stands out to you in this image? Which area of this image stands out to you? Pause here and share with someone.

Here's Sofia.

"I see the bold, dark areas here first," and Sofia's pointing to the right-hand side of the image: some of those bold, darker areas.

Artists use different line weights to show depth, importance, or to add interest to a drawing.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is the most likely reason an artist might use thicker line weight in a drawing? Is it A, to erase parts of the drawing, B, to make the drawing look less realistic, C, to make something more important, or D, to show something is far away? Pause the video while you decide what is the most likely reason an artist might use thicker line weight in a drawing.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, using thicker line weight in a drawing will help to make something look more important.

Take a look at this drawing of a feather.

How could you describe the use of line in this artwork? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your descriptions of the line in this artwork.

I wonder how you described it.

Perhaps you described it in this way: some artists choose to use a broken line in their fineliner drawings.

A broken line is made up of small dashes or gaps instead of being solid and this can be used to suggest lightness, softness, or something that isn't fully visible, which makes it a great type of line to use for something like a flower, a feather, or a portrait.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to spend 10 minutes creating two drawings of the same image to test line weight and broken lines.

You should use small pieces of paper, A6 or similar, use different nib sizes to create different line weight, and we can see an image at the top there.

We've got a very fine liner, something a little bit thicker, and then thirdly, we have quite a thick nib.

Explore using broken lines, as we can see in this image of a feather.

You might use small dashes and gaps instead of a solid line.

And combine different line weights with each other.

So, pause here while you spend 10 minutes creating two drawings of the same image to test line weight and broken lines.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, so how did you get on with that task, spending 10 minutes creating two drawings of the same image to test line weight and broken lines? There are many possibilities, but you may have created something like this.

On the image on the left, we can see some broken lines, we can see some crosshatching, some fine details, and the image on the right, we can see some darker marks, perhaps using a thicker nib of fineliner.

Let's see what Aisha has to say about the drawings.

"Jun has combined different line weights as well as mark-making to achieve skillful experimental sketches." And Andeep.

"Jun has used many methods to create broken lines.

I particularly like where the line appears to follow an invisible thread." Great reflections there, and I hope you enjoyed reflecting upon your artwork as well.

And now I'd like you to create a larger drawing combining different line rates and broken lines to achieve a more detailed image.

You should select a smooth paper that compliments your subject, ensure the subject of the drawing links to your theme, use different nib sizes to create different line weights, explore using broken lines, and combine different line weights with each other.

So, pause here while you have a go at creating a larger drawing, combining different line weights and broken lines to achieve a more detailed image.

I'll see you when you're finished.

All right, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on with that task of creating a larger drawing, combining different line weights and broken lines to achieve a more detailed image? You may have created something like this.

Here's Jun.

"I've used a controlled thick line weight to emphasise depth and structure.

The effect of broken line with fine line weight gives a delicate appearance." A really great reflection on your work there, Jun.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle, combine media creatively, but take a look at this drawing.

How could this drawing be developed to create greater visual interest? Pause the video and share with someone.

I wonder what ideas you came up with.

Here's Izzy.

"We could work into it to create texture and tone." I love that.

And Alex.

"Different media like colour pencil or watercolour could be layered over the pen." Fantastic ideas.

Fineliners can be used in conjunction with other media, creating a variety of rich textures and effects.

So, we could use watercolour alongside pen.

You can really see how the pen marks stand out with that use of colour, and we could also use colour pencil with the pen.

It's giving us quite a different effect.

Very striking.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is one advantage of using fineliners with other media like watercolour or pencil? Is it A, they allow for textured and layered effects, B, they erase easily after painting over them, C, they only work on digital surfaces, or D, they prevent the use of any other materials? Pause here while you decide what's the advantage of using fineliners with other media like watercolour or pencil.

Well done if you answered A.

Indeed, they allow for textured and layered effects if you use fineliners with other media like watercolour or pencil.

Developing drawings by adding variety through combining media can be an art form in its own right.

It can also be used as a tool for artists to consolidate and test ideas before developing other works.

How could adding variety help you develop your work? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas about how adding variety could help you develop your work.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is the most likely reason artists might combine different media in their drawings? Is it A, as combining media always makes the work permanent, B, to avoid having to plan their work in advance, C, to test and develop ideas before creating a final piece, or D, to make their work easier to copy? Pause the video while you decide what's the most likely reason artists might combine different media in their drawings.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, to test and develop ideas before creating a final piece is the most likely reason artists might combine different media in their drawings.

Artists create variety in their work and combine media to test ideas and those artists include Helen Wells, who has combined media in her sketchbooks to document a journey.

She employed a variety of colour, shapes, and patterns in her abstract works.

Adebanji Alade layers media in his sketches, adding ink and watercolour to record the tones and colours that document the world around him.

Do you know of any other artists who create variety in their work by combining media? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing any artists you know of.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to combine media to create a variety of texture and colour in your drawing.

You could work directly on your drawing from task A, you could photocopy the work from task A, you could create a new drawing entirely, work with any media.

You should check your fineliner is waterproof before adding any water-based media to your original drawing.

So, pause here while you combine media to create a variety of texture and colour in your drawing.

All right, it's good to be back with you.

How did you get on combining media to create a variety of texture and colour in your drawing? There are many possibilities, but you may have created something like this.

Wow, I love the way this work of art has really, really come to life.

Pause the video and share with someone what you're really enjoying about this work of art.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I'm loving the atmosphere that's been created by the use of watercolour alongside these fine detailed lines created by the fineliner.

It's a really, really great combination.

Very effective result.

And let's hear some more reflection on this artwork.

Here's Lucas.

"There's a deliberate juxtaposition between the sharp fineliner marks and the watercolour softness." Here's Laura.

"Fineliners create precision and clarity that anchors the looser, more expressive colour work." Love that reflection.

And finally, here's Sam.

"The interplay between tone and line enhances the tactile quality of the piece." Really, really wonderful reflections there, and I hope you enjoyed reflecting upon your artwork and what you've created through this variety of texture and colour in your drawing.

In our lesson, "Experiment with Dry Media: Fineliner," we have covered the following: fineliners are a popular choice for artists and designers as they excel in creating clean, crisp lines.

They're ideal for intricate details and precise illustrations.

Fineliners come in various sizes for different line weights.

Fineliners can be used in conjunction with other media, creating variety of rich textures and effects.

Developing drawings by adding variety through combining media can be an art form in its own right or a tool artists use to consolidate and test ideas before developing other works.

Well done, everybody, for joining in with this lesson.

I love this experimentation with the fineliner.

I wonder what you were drawn to in particular.

Did you enjoy creating broken lines? Did you enjoy using fine, very fine fineliners or ones with perhaps a thicker nib? And also, I love the way you brought in the colour through the use of different media, combining watercolour, pastels, and various other media to create your final artwork.

I think it's been a great lesson, I hope you've enjoyed it too, and I'm looking forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.