Marker Ink Wash

Ink wash drawing is something most artists would consider to be a difficult medium to work with.  In the classroom, a challenging medium is always welcomed.  What better way to teach the students how to be patient with their art than with ink wash.  Now, ink can get very messy and will stain clothing, an easy and inexpensive way around this is to use washable markers and water.

The students will receive plastic palettes, water cups, and markers of assorted colors.  They will get the same result as a traditional ink wash drawing, but they can use color as well, which will also give them the experience of working with watercolors.

In our class we were given the same materials and were told to experiment.  Some of us drew portraits, animals, flowers, etc. and some made experimentation sheets showing how the different brands of markers behaved, and also showed different techniques of applying the ink.

These materials behave in just the same way as watercolors.  The colors are even more vibrant in some cases.  This is an ideal technique in getting a class ready to work with watercolors.  Learning how to use a brush with a medium that is unpredictable in relation to something like acrylics or oil paints.

In relation to ink wash, however, the black markers never gave a true black like India ink does.  The tone was always grey or even slightly green because of the inks in some brands of the markers.  Still, this is a usable technique in getting students prepared to work with ink wash.  Once using actual ink, the students should still practice with the materials because ink will be much darker and will have to be used in much smaller amounts to achieve the same result.

Value and Color are the two main elements of design that students will utilize when working with these materials.  In some cases Line can be used, especially when working with some sort of ink quill, such as a bamboo pen.  Gradation and Contrast are the two most relevant principles of design with these techniques.  The students will be able to see how manipulating the water before it dries can create gradation, and the darkness of the ink can certainly enhance contrast.

Students who have never worked with these types of wet materials will have to figure out ways to control them.  They will need to problem solve in order to achieve a desired result.  Creativity plays a big role here, but creativity will also be used in how the students use these newly learned skills to create imagery.