Lesson video

Hello everyone.

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

My name's Ms. Afzal, and I'll be your art teacher for this lesson.

I'm feeling excited about that 'cause I love teaching art and also because we're gonna be exploring some exciting media today.

Our lesson is called Experimenting with Wet Media Inks.

Yes, we are going to go, we are going to be getting right into the inks today, exploring how to use them, different techniques, and I hope you're excited about that too.

The lesson comes from the unit of work Foundation Workshops and Introduction to the Area of Study.

So you're going to need some inks, some creativity, some enthusiasm, some focus, and if you have all of those things, I think we're ready to begin.

Let's do that.

The outcome for today's lesson is I can explore and exploit the creative possibilities of ink by controlling its properties and applying a range of expressive techniques to develop artwork.

We have a few keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Wash, dilution, gradient and precise.

So what do these words mean? Wash is a technique where ink is diluted with water to create lighter values.

Dilution, this is the process of mixing ink with water to lighten its intensity.

Gradient is a smooth transition from one shade or colour to another.

And precise, these are lines, marks, or details that are clean, exact, and carefully made.

So these are our keywords, wash, dilution, gradient and precise.

Let's look out and listen out for them.

They'll be coming up in our lesson today.

Our lesson is called Experiment with Wet Media Inks, and it consists of two learning cycles.

First of all, record with ink.

Next, develop expressive ink techniques.

That sounds fun, doesn't it? So let's begin recording with ink.

Take a good look at this image.

Hmm, question for you.

Which medium has been used to create this artwork? Pause the video and share with someone.

I'm pretty sure everybody has got the right answer, which is ink.

Ink has been used to create this artwork.

Next question, how do you think the medium, the ink has been applied? Pause video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

We're gonna be finding out a lot more about ink and its application.

Drawing inks have been used throughout history.

Traditionally inks were created from natural substances and would therefore most commonly have been black, brown, or sepia hues.

Pause video and share with someone.

Have you worked with ink before? And if so, how did you find it? Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Drawing inks are now mostly synthetically produced and so are available in a wide range of colours.

Pause, video and share with someone which colour ink are you most drawn to working with out of the ones you can see on screen? Thanks for sharing your preferences.

The purple is drawing me in.

So is the blue.

Inks are a flexible medium, which can be applied in various ways with different tools.

You could use a pen nib, you could use a stick or a brush.

How might the different tools alter the drawing outcome? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your answers.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is the most accurate statement about working with inks in art? Is it A, inks always create the same effect no matter the tool.

B, inks are difficult to use and give limited results.

C, inks are only suitable for use with fine tipped pens or D, inks can be used in various ways with different tools.

Pause video while you decide which of these is the most accurate statement about working with inks in art.

Well done if you selected answer D.

Indeed, inks can be used in various ways with different tools.

Artists using different tools to create their ink drawings include Rafa al-Nasiri applies ink with brushes, combining precise calligraphy with visible brush marks.

Nakatani Suisen explores the beauty of calligraphy, pushing boundaries while using traditional tools like the fude brush.

Ralph Steadman is known for his chaotic ink drawings, often drawn with pens, sticks, or even toothbrushes.

Pause video and share with someone.

Do you know of any other artists who work with ink? Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Artists using inks to capture imagery with precision and control include Olivia Kemp created precise and detailed pen and ink drawings.

Stephen Wiltshire is known for detailed and accurate pen and ink drawings made from memory.

Kiki Smith captures detail and texture using hatching and crosshatching with pen and ink in her drawings.

These are just some more of the artists who are using inks in their artwork.

Inks are excellent for creating precise, clean and detailed lines, making them ideal for illustrations, comic art, and detailed drawings.

Skills like hatching and crosshatching can be used to create tonal gradients.

Take a look at this drawing on the screen and share with someone where you see some precise clean detailed lines and where you can see hatching and crosshatching used to create tonal gradients.

Pause the video while you do this.

Thanks for sharing your responses.

We can see some clean lines around the outlines of this Teddy and we can see the crosshatching along the legs and the side of the body giving us that tone or gradient.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why are inks considered ideal for illustrations, comic art and detailed drawings? Is it A, because inks are perfect for painting large loose shapes? B, because inks create sharp clean lines for detail.

C, because inks dry slowly and can be blended easily.

D, because inks produce bold colours without much effort.

Pause video while you decide why inks are considered ideal for illustrations, comic art and detailed drawings.

Well done if you selected answer B.

Indeed, inks create sharp, clean lines for detail.

Now there's also another way in which we can use inks.

Inks can also be diluted with water to create washes, adding dimension to artwork.

Layering washes can create gradients so we can see the different layers of washes and gradients in this image of the jug and the bottle.

Another way of using inks is that artists can dilute inks directly on the paper by first painting with water, then adding the inks.

Here's Laura.

By adding ink like this, I'll have to let go of some of the control as the ink and water mix.

Really a lovely effect created there by the ink on water.

Check for understanding, fill in the gap.

Artists can dilute inks directly on the paper by first painting with, and then adding the inks.

Pause the video while you fill in the gap.

Well done if you filled the gap with the word water.

Let's read this again.

Artists can dilute inks directly on the paper by first painting with water and then adding the inks.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to observe and record the shapes of objects using ink, experimenting with precise lines to create a detailed drawing.

You should accurately observe, shape and form.

Use hatching, crosshatching, or stippling to create gradients of tone.

Use imagery or objects which link to your theme.

You could test different tools for drawing like sticks or pen nips.

So pause here while you have a go at this task of observing and recording the shapes of objects using ink, experimenting with precise lines to create a detailed drawing.

Enjoy your task.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, how did you get on with that task of observing and recording the shapes of objects using ink, experimenting with precise lines to create a detailed drawing? There are many possibilities and you may have created something like this.

Love this drawing.

Here's Lucas.

I used a pen nib to create controlled and precise lines.

I'm pleased with the use of crosshatching.

And so you should be, Lucas.

Next, I would like you to record objects using ink, experimenting with ink dilution to create gradients of tone.

You should consider whether you'll choose a colour or monochromatic palette.

Record shapes using a wash of diluted ink for tonal base layers, use stronger ink to define shadows or edges, use water to create gradients.

Try wet on wet versus wet on dry techniques.

You could test using different brush sizes and brush shapes.

So pause here while you have a go at this part of your task, recording objects using ink, experimenting with ink dilution to create gradients of tone.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, how did you get on with that part of your task? Recording objects using ink, experimenting with ink dilution to create gradients of tone.

There are many possibilities.

You may have created something like these.

Well, I'm loving these images, these gradients of tone, use of colour.

Here's some feedback from Sam.

Lucas, your first image has a focus on shape, but the second use is dilution to create more delicate gradients.

Great work.

Well said, Sam.

And I hope you enjoyed recording your objects using ink.

And now we're onto our next learning cycle.

Develop expressive ink techniques.

How could we add more expressive marks and take risks with the medium of ink? Pause video and shower with someone.

Here's Jun.

We could test mark-making, but to take risks with ink, we could drip or splatter it.

Great ideas.

And Sofia, I've heard of people adding bleach or salt to wet ink on the page too.

We could try that.

Terrific ideas.

For a more expressive style, splattering or dripping ink or adding bleach can create dynamic textures and effects.

How could you use dynamic textures in your drawing from task A? Pause the video and shower someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following best describes the purpose of splattering, dripping ink or adding bleach in art? Is it A, to clean the surface before applying paint, B, to correct mistakes in a drawing or painting, C, to create bold and lively textures and effects, or D, to make the artwork look neater and more controlled.

Pause the video while you decide which of these best describes a purpose of splattering, dripping ink, or adding bleach in art.

Well done if you went for answer C.

Indeed, it's to create bold and lively textures and effects.

Combining splattering and ink can look like this.

Splatter ink on dry paper, paint shapes with water only and then add ink to wet surfaces.

Really creating something quite expressive and dynamic there.

Ink reacts differently with bleach depending on their recipe.

In this example, green ink disappears and turns purple.

Green and purple are really, really looking great together in this image.

Apply a thick ink wash and then use a new brush with bleach over the top.

And that's what can give us this fantastic effect.

However, there are some very important things to consider when working with bleach.

So you should ensure that's an adult is supervising, work in a well ventilated area, protect your clothing and skin.

You may want to use gloves and aprons.

Do not get it in your eyes.

Use only a small amount of bleach, wash hands thoroughly and clean all services.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Which of the following is the best reason for wearing gloves and working in a well ventilated area when using bleach? A, to avoid wasting materials and time.

B, to help the bleach dry more quickly.

C, to protect your skin and avoid breathing in fumes, D, to make it easier to clean up the workspace.

Pause video while you decide which of the following is the best reason for wearing gloves and working in a well ventilated area when using bleach.

Well done if you selected answer C.

Indeed, to protect your skin and avoid breathing in fumes is the reason.

Salt can create a different effect when sprinkled onto wet ink.

You can be precise and purposeful about the placement of the salt, and here we can see what's happening.

The salt absorbs the ink as it dries, leaving a mottled effect.

Really wonderful effect created there.

Artists can add precise lines over dried experimental ink surfaces.

This contrast can create interest in artworks.

This work has ink wash gradients, bleach marks, and precise lines drawn over.

So we can see a whole range of techniques have been used in this one artwork.

There's the ink wash gradients, there are the bleach marks and some of those precise lines.

Let's have a check for understanding.

Why might an artist choose to add precise lines over an expressive ink background? Is it A, to cover up mistakes in the ink layer, B, to create a contrast that adds interest to the artwork, C, to help the ink dry faster, or D, to make the splattered ink look more realistic.

Pause video while you decide why an artist might choose to add precise lines over an expressive ink background.

Well done if you chose answer B.

Indeed, it's to create a contrast that adds interest to the artwork.

Artists who take risks with ink to create dynamic and contrasting works include Ceija Stojka's work Bergen-Belsen from 2003 combine different ink washes and expressive drawing style to communicate emotion.

Hua Tunan has developed the ability to control splattering to create accurate and detailed ink drawings full of energy.

Nick Stewart and Laura Melissa Williams work with inks often adding experimental processes like combining bleach and inks.

A number of artists we can see are taking risks with ink and creating dynamic works.

And now it's time for your next task.

I would like you to explore a range of expressive ink techniques.

First of all, explore ink techniques such as splatter, drip, bleach, and or salt for expressive effects.

Annotate your media experimentation.

And after that, record objects combining two or more expressive ink techniques in your experimental composition.

So pause here while you first have a go at experimenting with techniques and then recording your objects using two or more of these expressive ink techniques.

I'll see you when you're finished.

All right, how did you get on with exploring a range of expressive ink techniques? There are many possibilities, but you may have explored and created something like this.

We can see gradients, some splatter.

Love that in the background.

Bleach has been used and some dripping, all combining to create something very expressive.

Next, I'd like you to develop your work by layering precise lines over your dried experimental ink composition.

You should develop your work from task B1.

Use line for definition of structure and emphasis.

Use your knowledge of tools from task A to select the most appropriate tool for your drawing.

So pause here while you have a go at developing your work by layering precise lines over your dried experimental ink composition.

I'll see you when you're finished.

Okay, how did you get on with developing your work by layering precise lines over your dried experimental ink surfaces? There are many possibilities, but you may have created something like this.

Here's some input from Jacob.

The precise ink lines created using a pen nib and a softer background creates contrast of both marks and colour in my work.

Absolutely.

He's really seeing that quite clearly.

You might choose to present your work altogether in your portfolio to show experimentation and recording and seeing it all together like that is really quite impressive.

You could also photograph your work and present them digitally or put them on display.

Here's Jacob.

I've put my studies on a display board.

I can reference these later when developing ideas.

It's a useful record of ink techniques.

It really is, and you might like to do the same.

In our lesson Experiment with Wet Media Inks, we have covered the following.

Inks are a flexible medium, which can be applied with different tools like pen nibs, brushes, sticks, and more.

Inks are excellent for creating precise lines, making them ideal for illustrations, comic art and detailed drawings.

Inks can be diluted with water to create washes, adding dimension to artwork, layering washes can create gradients.

For a more expressive style, splattering or dripping ink, or adding bleach or salt can create dynamic textures and effects.

Artists can add precise lines over dried experimental ink surfaces.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore inks together with you and to have a go at all these different techniques, drawing with ink, diluting it with water, creating washes, gradients, adding bleach and salt, and then drawing over the top with precise lines.

You have been very busy in this lesson.

I hope you enjoyed yourself and are pleased with what you've created.

It's great to be here with you, and I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

In the meantime, stay creative.