In this lesson with instructor Miles Yoshida, you will study how to create an ink drawing of a cat using a dip pen and a brush. In the demonstration, you will notice how Miles varies the direction of his mark-making to achieve different surface textures. Throughout the lesson, Miles will also talk about the importance of taking good photo references in your art practice.

This lesson belongs to the course Introduction to Inking. In this 12-week course, Miles Yoshida will provide you with a complete manual for inking. You will start the course by examining old Renaissance drawings. You will study the essential materials needed for inking, including a ballpoint pen, a technical pen, a dip pen, and a brush. Then, Miles will demonstrate hatching and creating gradients using straight and curvilinear lines. From there, he will show you how to apply those skills to a compositional study of basic forms. You will also get a chance to create a master copy which will further strengthen your hatching ability. Toward the second half of the course, Miles will teach you how to draw a still-life, hands, animals, and landscapes in different approaches. Lastly, you will learn to create a self-portrait drawing from life on toned paper using a combination of black and white inks. This course will offer you many opportunities to practice your hatching skills so that you can capture any subject and master the art of inking.

Throughout this course, you’ll have access to the NMA community for feedback and critiques to improve your work as you progress.