Line and wash, or pen and wash if you prefer, is an expressive and versatile way of working. 

 

In essence ink lines are used together with washes of colour, either transparent watercolour or ink washes. This mixing of media allows the artist to take advantage of the strengths of both. The lines are used to define edges and details, while the washes develop the colour and emotion. Tone and form may be developed with the line work or added using the watercolour depending on the artist’s preference. 

 

This element of choice is a recurring theme we will explore throughout this course. We will look at the different pens, inks and watercolours available and then how to combine them to best effect.

The course uses buildings, people, flowers, animals and objects as our subject matter. The lessons we learn with each are transferable to whatever you wish to paint.

You have lifetime access to the course and can study when and where you choose. I hope you really enjoy it!

Line and Wash Painting, was published in Jan 2022 by The Crowood Press. It is my third practical art book.

If you have enjoyed this course and share the work you've done on it, please make sure to tag me on social media (@lizchaderton on Instagram and /lizchadertonartist on Facebook) so I can get to see it too! It would be great if you could say that it is from this course, as that helps spread the word.

If you are not a member already, why not join Watercolour Studio over on Facebook? https://www.facebook.com/groups/694706731930461 And finally, you should not exhibit or display pieces completed on this course without my written permission, to comply with copyright law. I really look forward to seeing what you do. 

An introduction to the two main classes of pens - reservoir and dip pens. What marks do they make and what are their individual characteristics? We put them through their paces.

It is worth watching this first, before deciding if you want to add any of these to your collection.

The range of inks available is huge. From fountain pen to artist's drawing inks. What should you be looking for?

Watercolour is a very simple medium. The paper can be wet or dry, the paint can be wet or dry (thin or thick), so there are only four possible combinations. 

So why does it take a lifetime to master?

Of course, in between there are many nuances.

This lesson introduces you to this wonderful and versatile medium to give you the groundwork from which to build.

Line and wash work combines both painting and drawing skills, so it is worth getting match-fit on the drawing front.

In this lesson, we explore some simple exercises which will stretch your drawing muscles.

Raiding the vegetable rack or the fruit bowl, will let us explore starting with line work or starting with colour. We will explore both and see what the advantages of each are.

We will use a watersoluble pen (Stabilo Point 88) to do a quick urban sketch, to see how using one pen and a little water can be a quick way of gathering information.

We will then add watercolour washes, to explore how the initial sketch can be developed.

Dip pens have a reputation for being old fashioned and messy, however they are cheap to buy and expressive to use.

In this lesson we will explore mark making with a dip pen, before drawing a portrait of a goat starting with the ink first before adding colour.

If you enjoyed dip pens, you might want to make your own. Check out the Cola pen course which is also available.

Simply outlining a painting or colouring in a drawing, is missing a trick in pen and wash. We want both media to play their own role. In this module we explore dynamic outlining. We follow the contours of the subject (in this case a calla lily) to give it impact.

The Deanery, a famous Lutyens designed Arts & Crafts house in Sonning, is our muse for this detailed line and wash piece. 

We start with big shapes, then add colour, before developing tone and then layers of detail.

In this module we will produce a lively portrait in pen and wash, starting with the line, before adding colour and then finishing with final details of both ink and colour.