Drawing a Self-Portrait in Ink: Blocking In

In this lesson, instructor Miles Yoshida will demonstrate how to draw a self-portrait from life on toned paper using ink. You will learn how to tone your paper using a combination of watercolor and ink. Miles will show you how to block in the portrait with a very light diluted ink, starting from the eyes. You will watch him slowly move to the darker values of ink as he further develops his drawing.

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.