This course introduces the timeless art of pen and ink drawing, a classical technique once central to book illustration and storytelling. Students will learn the fundamentals of line work, washes with black ink, tonal contrast, and expressive textures using cross-hatching, curved, and scribbled lines. Along the way, you’ll explore how early artists embroidered characters with mood, drama, and expression, creating powerful visual narratives that still inspire today.
By blending traditional methods with personal creativity, students will not only gain technical skills but also an understanding of how storytelling and visual art have historically intertwined. The course encourages experimentation, reflection, and a deeper appreciation of pen and ink as both a disciplined and expressive medium. This course is suitable for beginners as well as those wishing to sharpen their drawing and sketching skills.
- Learning the fundamentals of handling pen and ink, including line quality, washes with black ink, and achieving tonal contrast.
- Techniques to build effective textures and depth through cross-hatching, curved strokes, and scribbled lines.
- How early artists used these approaches to illustrate narratives, developing characters enriched with mood, drama, and expression.
By the end of this course, student should be able to:
- Apply fundamental pen and ink techniques, including washes, tonal contrast, and line variation.
- Create depth and texture using cross-hatching, curved strokes, and scribbled lines.
- Illustrate expressive characters that convey mood, atmosphere, and dramatic effect.
- Analyse historical examples of pen and ink illustration as a storytelling medium.
- Develop original illustrations inspired by traditional book illustration techniques.
- Integrate technical skill with creative expression to produce compelling narrative artworks.
- Pen, pencil
- Chinese ink
- Sketchbook or paper
IMPORTANT: Please arrive to the first class with all the relevant materials. A lack of materials is not just a handicap to you but to the ability to teach. Materials cost is not included in a course fee. In the event of a course being cancelled WEA cannot be held responsible for the purchase of any course materials. We therefore suggest you purchase your materials closer to the time of the course commencing.
The following stockists are examples of places where you can purchase art materials for your course:
- Art on King: 199-201 King Street, Newtown. Ph: 9516 2342
- Eckersley's Art and Craft Store: 93 York Street, Sydney. Ph: 9299 4151. Also located in various locations throughout Greater Sydney. WEA students receive a 10% discount on materials required for their course at the York Street store when showing their course confirmation email.
- Parkers Art Supplies: 3 Cambridge Street, The Rocks. Ph: 9247 9979
- The Art Scene: 914 Victoria Road, West Ryde. Ph: 9807 6900
- The Sydney Art Store: 11 Salisbury Street, Botany. Ph: 9699 2162
You can also purchase materials from places such as Dymocks, Officeworks, Spotlight, Lincraft or online art suppliers such as Art Shed Online.
