Black Lines and Stark Details

Long before printing presses and the easy duplication of writing and images, hand lettering and hand-drawn sketches were the method of visual communication. Both the lettering and sketches were drawn with inks made from plants, berries and even animal blood. Writing and drawing instruments of this period included everything from twigs and thorns to sharpened feather quills. Early pens, like those used for the signing of the Constitution or the drafting of the Bill of Rights, were natural feather quills, sharpened to a point. The hollow vein in the feather allowed an adequate quantity of ink to be held at the tip and ready for wicking onto the writing surface. The very same instrument would also have been used by any artist of the time.

As time and technology have progressed, the tools used for ink drawing have changed, allowing the artist more control of line and inks that are permanent, lightfast and intensely vibrant in color. Papers of many surface qualities and fiber contents are available in a wide range of colors.

Economy sets are available at art supply retailers that include a variety of point (nib) widths and their coordinating staffs (handles). Some sets include feather-sharp nibs--still referred to as quills--and a slender, smooth staff. Other collections include nibs that are specifically for calligraphy applications. Many packages include a group of nibs that are uniquely suited to drawing and artistic applications.

Individual rendering pens, usually cartridge style, with fixed nib sizes offer reliable, true linear control and no fear of ink depletion. One can draw continuously for hours without skips, sputtering or other unexpected events. Special nibs and staff designs are also available in throwaway styles. These are made especially for the artist and come in the nib sizes most desired for drawing and precision work.

Black inks--permanent, lightfast and richly dense--are made by a number of quality manufacturers. However, artists are no longer limited to black line work only and might opt to overlay colored inks on their completed black line rendering. Not only are vivid ink colors available, but also acrylic liquids in rich colors with high levels of fine quality pigments that work well with nibs or in technical pens.

Grounds onto which pen and ink can be placed include a wide range of textured surfaces and fiber content. When working with a sharp-edged nib, such as a quill nib, it is wise to choose paper with a smooth, even surface such as vellum or Bristol board. Their near-slick surface does not snag the nib and allows for even, flowing lines without interruption.

Rough-textured papers--such as watercolor paper--offer one aspect of ink drawing that is unique to all rough surfaces. When a nib is pulled across the uneven surface, automatic stops and starts of line flow often occur. This can be most interesting, and adds an element that drawings containing continuous lines often lack. The added benefit of being able to add watercolor washes to any finished ink drawing done on watercolor paper is a reason that, despite the uneven texture, watercolor paper is one of the most popular bases for ink work.

Paper bases such as drawing and pastel papers and fine quality stationery stock can be excellent for pen and ink sketches. When excessive line work or a thick ink application is used, it is advisable to use a paper with more weight and thickness.

In application, drawing in pen and ink can be most satisfying. It is an additive technique in which each line adds to the previous lines to gradually form an image. Because you add each line, dot or stroke individually, you are in complete control of the degree of depth you achieve with your lines.

Crosshatching can be the basis for building dark areas in a pen and ink drawing. It is achieved by doing exactly what the name indicates: Short lines are used in a cross pattern over previously drawn lines. The artist is able to build slowly and precisely the tone, depth, shadowing or texture he or she wants by simply adding lines. Gradation of tone is very easy to achieve with this slow and gradual building of detail.

Dots of ink--made by carefully setting the point of a pen to the paper and then raising it away--are called pointillism; and this is one easy way to start your ink drawing experience. If crosshatching seems daunting, consider building a drawing with individual dots of ink. Interest can also be created within a drawing when these tiny spots are used in tandem with longer lines.

When you are ready to work with pen and ink, begin by first sketching in graphite the image you wish to render. This drawing can remain a part of the finished work or may be erased when the ink work is complete. One tip for beginners is to lightly work your shadowed areas first. Then add crosshatching to intensify the depth of the dark once the remainder of the drawing begins to take shape.

NOTE: Rather than outline an object, consider leaving the edge of the surface most affected by light open and work in the shadow behind the object instead. This offers interest to the viewer and allows him to fill in the "blanks."

A Potpourri of Gifts

The holidays are once again upon us and you're probably wondering what you might get the artists/crafters on your list. Well, you have an abundance of choices from the advertisers who bring you ARTtalk each month, so please consult the following to aid in your selection.

Alto's Mat Cutting Systems are known worldwide for their versatility and ease of use. Included in the line are the popular Model 4501 and 4505 Mat Cutting Systems, Oval Template Set, Circle Cutter, T-Square Cutter, Model 45 Mat Cutter and Freehand Mat Cutter, as well as mat board assortments and replacement blades, of course. Framers can learn or enhance skills or techniques with Alto's publications that include Introduction to Matting, Creative Mat Designs 1, and Creative Mat Designs 2, in addition to the Mat Makers Video Library: The Basics. www.altosezmat.com.

American Art Clay Co. (AMACO) has manufactured high quality equipment and supplies for pottery, ceramics, enameling and crafts since 1919: ceramic clays, glazes, underglazes, kilns, potter's wheels, slab rollers and related items. Also see their art and craft products including Sculptamold, Permoplast, Rub 'n Buff, Friendly Plastic, FIMO, Paragona, WireForm, and ArtEmboss. There are lots of gift items and stocking stuffers here for artists and craftspeople of various disciplines, so visit your retailer to see them. www.amaco.com.

Ampersand Art Supply manufactures high quality prepared wooden panels and accessory products, including Claybord, Claybord Black, Claybord Textured, Gessobord, and Hardbord. You'll also find scratchboard videos to help you learn techniques, as well as tools and kits for gifts/stocking stuffers. www.ampersandart.com.

Artograph has a line of eight models of art projectors uniquely designed to effectively project an image for visualizing and tracing; spray booths that are designed to reduce the messy overspray associated with sprayed materials; the Lightracer and Lightracer II light boxes to back light patterns and stencils for any tracing applications; and the cleverly designed Sidekick Easel, which clamps solidly to the edge of almost any surface and is fully adjustable in height and angle and quite portable, too. www.artograph.com.

Artool Products Co. has an extensive line that includes innovative art materials, tools and airbrush accessories for fine art, illustration, T-shirt art, body and finger nail art, sign and automotive art and graphics: Artist Bridges, Cutting Rails, Freehand Airbrush Templates, Friskfilm, Artool Cutting Mats, Body Art and Nail Art supplies. www.artoolproducts.com.

Createx Colors is a manufacturer of high quality artist paints. Their varied product line includes world-renowned Airbrush Colors, Acrylic Colors, Liquid Fiber Dyes, Monotype Colors, Marble Colors, and Pure Pigments. And be sure to see the brand new line of Createx Textile Colors, available in a brilliant spectrum of 63 non-fading colors.

Fredrix Artist Canvas products include stretched canvas (Creative Edge, Gallerywrap, ovals, round, convexo, and more), rolled canvas (cotton, linen, Polyflax, primed or unprimed), stretcher strips (Gallerywrap, standard and heavy duty), canvas panels and pads, gesso brushes, palette knives, easels, and Stretchaire, a canvas-stretching machine for professionals. Accessories that make great stocking stuffers include canvas pliers, Clip-Its and Hang-Its, disposable palettes, sketchbooks, and more. www.fredrixartistcanvas.com.

Graphic Chemical & Ink Co. Printmaking, etching, blockprinting litho supplies. Silkscreen Trade Names: Perfection, Easy Wipe, Graphic, Sureset, Universal, Graphinx.

General Pencil Company's line of made in America products includes General's Layout/Ebony Pencil, Flat Sketching and Pastel pencils in a wide range of colors; Semi-Hex school and office pencils; Scribe-All grease pencils; Kimberly Drawing and Colored Pencils; Sketch & Wash; and Multichrome Color Pencils. You'll also find Drawing and Watercolor Kits, books, charcoal, How a Pencil is Made Kit and the popular Artist's Survival Kit. Great stocking stuffers include The Masters Hand Soap and Brush Cleaner and Preservative. www.generalpencil.com.

Genesis Artist Colors are heat-set artist oils--and quite unique because they are the only fine art paint that stays wet and workable until heated. Artists have total flexibility and control over when their paintings will dry. The line includes over 70 colors, drying tools, several sets, plus a line of Genesis Artist Brushes that are guaranteed for life when used exclusively with Genesis Artist Colors. The Genesis Sample Set would make a great stocking stuffer. And you may choose from five Genesis Systems, including the new Travel Master System, which includes palette keeper, paint organizer trays with lids, brush/accessory box and 45 colors, all in a heavy-duty aluminum case for easy portability. www.genesisartistcolors.com.

Graphic Chemical & Ink Co. carries virtually everything for the printmaker: inks and additives, print papers, printmaking plates, chemicals and supplies, E. C. Lyons tools, Graphic tools, hot plates, brayers, color shapers, lithographic stones, lithographic supplies, block print supplies, picture frames, rollers, silk screen supplies, and printmaking books. Trade names include Perfection, Easy Wipe, Graphic, Sureset, Universal, and Graphinx. Linoleum, Plate Maker, and Wood Carving Sets make great gifts for the printmaker. www.graphicchemical.net.

Iwata Airbrushes are imported by and manufactured exclusively for Medea Airbrush Products for basic to expert airbrushers. The extensive line of precision airbrushes ranges from the Eclipse to the new Revolution to the renowned Custom Micron. Compressors are available for various applications from the Sprint Jet and Smart Jet to the Power Jet and the Shark line. From models and hobbies to acrylic/watercolor painting to illustration, there's an Iwata airbrush to meet your needs. For stocking stuffers, consider Com-Art Airbrush Colours and Medea Textile Colours. Your retailer will be pleased to make airbrush/compressor recommendations to match skills/applications. www.iwataairbrush.com.

Jacquard Products, manufactured by Rupert, Gibbon & Spider, Inc., are used by professional artists and designers worldwide, as well as hobbyists and craftspeople. This extensive line includes paints, dyes, pigments, accessories, books and videos, creative crafts kits, silk fabric and scarves. The Silk Colors Kit makes an excellent gift to get started in the beautiful art of painting on silk with dyes, while the Pearl Ex Gift Set (with project book and tip sheets) is a great introduction to Pearl Ex metallic powdered pigments and their many uses. Also see the new Metallic Nail Art Kits for little ladies on your list.

Logan Graphic Products is the manufacturer of a complete line of mat cutting tools, from inexpensive handheld cutters for the beginner to production mat cutters for the professional framer. A much-appreciated gift would be the affordable Logan Do It Yourself Mat Cutting Kit that includes Adapt-a-Rule Kit #524, mat knife, bevel cutting head, Basic Mat Cutting book by Vivian C. Kistler, decorative corner rub-ons, 10 pieces of practice mat board and 10 extra blades. See your retailer for additional suggestions.

Proedge manufactures knife and tool sets for artists, modelers, hobbyists, graphic artists, and jewelers, too. You'll find a wide variety of knives and blades, screwdrivers, hammers, pliers, burnishers, saws and more--singly or in sets. The #30820 Knife Set includes one each PRO #1, #2, and #5 precision, medium and heavy duty knives with ten assorted blades, available in a storage tray or wooden box. Individual knives and extra blades make great stocking stuffers for artists and crafters.

Silentaire Technology has a line of silent compressors for use with airbrushes, spray guns, and air tools from Werther International. The new Scorpion automatic shut-off compressors represent a high-quality line of affordably priced entry-level compressors manufactured to exacting standards and requirements of reliability and durability. Also available from Silentaire for the airbrush artist is the new Spectrum 2000 Color Changer, a unique system that makes it easy to change or blend colors and to create special effects. www.arttalk.com/Silentaire/home.htm.

Strathmore Artist Papers believes that art encompasses many things--not just drawing and painting, but crafts, gifts, and artistic projects. Therefore, in addition to drawing, tracing, watercolor, sketch and Bristol sheets/pads, you will find Pure Paper (a wide assortment of wonderful decorative papers), handmade Thai Dye Papers, rubber stamping papers, Creative Greeting Cards, correspondence and photo cards, and more. And the Reserve Collection of Gift Box Assortments is comprised of elegant keepsake boxes that house a beautiful collection of pouchette, embossed photo frame and embossed border cards-- perfect gifts. For children, the Strathmore KIDS Series Papers are designed to stimulate creativity with unique textures and exciting colors. A selection of pads/papers makes an exceptional gift. www.strathmoreartist.com.

Kids' Korner

Painted Glass or Ceramic

Here's a great gift for anyone on your gift list and one that's easy and lots of fun to create. Virtually any ceramic or glass item can be decorated with special glass, oven-set paints available at art supply stores. Liquid and tube colors can be used to make original works of art that would delight any recipient. Liquid colors come in translucent or opaque, and tube colors make great textural additions or outlines for specific shapes and designs. Food service items such as plates, mugs, and bowls are low-acid, food-safe after oven tempering.

Materials you will need:

Items to be decorated (any ceramic or glass piece except high temp oven glass); your design; washable marker pen for design transfer or tape to attach the design inside a clear glass object; paint colors or tubes; foam plate (palette); brush (ox hair or sable work best and leave fewer brush lines); paper towels and water container for cleanup.

After you have drawn your design, transfer it to your mug, plate, or bowl with a water-based marking pen. Shake and stir paints to mix well. Dispense some of the paint onto a small foam plate. Apply paint to the design with a lightly filled paintbrush, using care that the design stays in place without excess fluid. Allow this initial shape to dry, and then add extra color or line with tube colors for definition. Allow to dry completely and then heat in a conventional oven to about 325 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. Remove and cool. The item is now ready to use and is dishwasher-safe.

Other items that can be decorated with great success include teapots or terra cotta planters. If a porous surface such as terra cotta is used, a sealing medium is advised. It coats the surface and allows the color to remain vivid rather than soak into the surface. Simply cover the design area with the sealer, and then proceed as above. Set in the oven and cool the same as with the glass and ceramic items above.

Special interest can be created with a hand-decorated clear glass holiday ornament. Create a design, perhaps using a stencil for easy duplication. Use any heavy paper to create a stencil or select a commercial design. Use a sponge brush or stenciling dauber to apply glass/ceramic paints. Sponge application is not heavy and may need to be applied twice, but the texture and blends of color are very attractive and make the extra step well worth the effort. In fact, sponges make excellent application tools. Allow each color to dry, and then lay on another tone or layer. The resulting color will be feathered and blended perfectly. Upon completion, allow the item to dry, then season in the oven at 325 degrees for about 20 minutes.

Site for Kids

The Web site for children at www.thecrayonhouse.com includes scads of coloring books that children can print out to color, including 22 for various holidays alone (including Christmas, Kwanzaa, and Chanukah). As a result of the tragic events of September 11, they have added an American flag that can be printed as well as one that can be downloaded and colored; and the category "Neighborhood Heroes" has been added to the Refrigerator Art section.

Handmade Holiday Gifts

Children ranging in age from 5 to 13 at any skill level will find hours of crafting fun in Kids 1st Christmas Crafts: 20 Quick and Easy Decorations and Gifts from Krause Publications. Made from supplies like felt, wire, polymer clay, paper and craft foam, the projects are easy to create and a joy to give as gifts. Complete, easy-to-follow instructions, patterns and supply lists are provided for each of the fun and festive projects, including a Santa banner, angel stocking, gift tags and greeting cards.

Publications Celebrated

"Cottontails and Corgis: The Children's Books of Beatrix Potter and Tasha Tudor" (Morgan Library, New York City, through January 27) celebrates the centenary of the publication of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. The exhibition comprises first and early editions of both Beatrix Potter's and Tasha Tudor's small books for children, along with watercolors, original manuscripts and artwork. Highlights include a sampling of Potter's letters, an early drawing for a Peter Rabbit race game, and miniature figurines of Potter characters, as well as manuscripts and artwork from Tudor's Corgiville Faire and The Great Corgiville Kidnapping.

Bigguns' Bits

Highlights from the 2001 Art Methods and Materials Show

Art material manufacturers, artists, and would-be artists, converged in Pasadena, CA, for the annual Art Methods and Materials Show from October 11 14. The reason for the artistic migration to Pasadena's Convention Center was two-fold: A bevy of world-class artists were teaching classes in their respective mediums, and the companies that manufacture and distribute the top brands of art supplies were selling their products at rock bottom prices. The host for the event was American Artist magazine, and personnel made sure that the show ran smoothly and all had a good time.

For the price of dinner for two, one could take a class from an expert in watercolor painting, airbrushing, oil painting, and mat cutting or color theory. If those areas did not interest you, dozens of other classes were available that covered pencil drawing, painting with acrylics, pastels or colored markers. Professional and amateur artists alike take advantage of the enormous amount of information to be gleaned at the convention. Teachers and artists from across the globe show up to brush up on or learn about the latest art techniques and materials.

Once their appetite for new knowledge had been sated in the workshops, the attendees browsed through the massive dealers' room in search of bargains. Paintbrushes, paints of all kinds, projectors, easels, markers, inks, airbrushes, compressors, and painting substrates from canvas to Claybord were all available at huge discounts to convention attendees. Many manufacturers' booths featured a huge selection of product to choose from and an artist demonstrating their use. These free demonstrations are a hidden bonus that can only be claimed by attending the show. Factory reps were on hand to answer any question posed and to hear direct feedback from the consumers.

I look forward to this annual event; it is unique because of its large scale and the opportunity it affords to be exposed to such a wide range of excellence in such a short span of days. Attending, even if it is only to experience the energy of other artists and to be exposed to new ideas and painting methods, would enrich any artist. Make plans now to attend the show in 2002. It happens every October around the middle of the month. Check out American Artist magazine or www.arttalk.com for details about next year's show.

Paint On,
Emerson R. Bigguns

History of Airbrush
Part 5 - Between the Wars

Man Ray, the American Dadaist, described the effect of the airbrush on him in his autobiography Self Portrait (1963): "I worked in gouache on tinted and white cardboards--the results were astonishing--they had a photographic quality, although the subjects were anything but figurative. Or rather, I'd start with a definite subject, something I had seen--nudes, an interior, a ballet with Spanish dancers, or even some odd miscellaneous object lying about which I used as a stencil, but the result was always a more abstract pattern. It was thrilling to paint a picture, hardly touching the surface--a purely cerebral act, as it were." That same magical effect captured the interest of many artists throughout the world, including Joseph Binder.

Posters were used to communicate with the general public at that time, and Joseph Binder became one of the most famous poster painters in the world. His work had a uniquely cubist style, and rather than being second to Picasso, he decided to become number one in poster art. And that he did with his travel posters, among others. Binder believed that for a quick and lasting impression in advertising art, the sales story had to be told pictorially. Artists from around the world visited him in Vienna, where he taught. One such artist was the American illustrator Otis Shepard, who visited in the late '20s and was immediately and deeply impacted by the artwork in Binder's studio. Shepard, who worked exclusively in airbrush technique, is known mostly for his Wrigley-Spearmint Gum illustrations, which reflect a direct influence of Binder.

After World War I, the advertising industry matured in the United States. The development of photo magazines provided an expanded venue for the pictorial advertisement of products and goods. The need for advertising art far outstripped the in-house capabilities and imagination of industries, and thus the development of the ad agency (Madison Avenue).

Because of this great need for illustrators, in 1933 Binder moved to New York City to work. It was here that his admirer and visitor, Otis Shepard, was established as one of the predominant illustrators in the U.S. Shepard, like Binder, approached his art based on the following theory: You had to eat, sleep, and drink the product to be able to represent it to the public. He believed that an illustration should have a simple language that could be understood by individuals at all levels of society. As the art director of Wrigley-Spearmint Gum, Shepard produced many years of work based on this philosophy.

This hard edge Art Deco image became predominant in 1930's illustration. Vogue magazine's art director, Mehemed Fehmy Agha, pioneered this new look along with other magazines such as Vanity Fair, Harper's Bazaar, and Fortune. The buying public was exposed to this simple, graceful style to which they quickly became enamored.

At the same time, some illustrators were taking the airbrush in a totally opposite direction--slick, sensual, soft-edge figurative painting that promoted and sold everything from swimsuits to wrenches. And, like the poster art, these too, stood on their own as paintings. The artists, e.g., George Petty and Alberto Vargas, will be addressed in the next installment of the history of airbrush.

Winterthur, DE -- Winterthur Museum -- Yuletide at Winterthur -- To Jan. 6 -- Tour Home for the Holidays and discover how the du Pont family celebrated Christmas at their country estate in the pre-World War II era. 800.448-3883.

Minneapolis, MN -- The Minneapolis Institute of Arts -- Holiday Traditions -- To Jan. 6 -- Period rooms, Decorative Arts Court and the Purcell-Cutts House are decorated for the winter holidays. Costumed docents provide tours several times per day, Tuesdays through Sundays. Reservations/Admission: 612.870.3131.

New York City -- Metropolitan Museum of Art -- Christmas Tree and Neapolitan Baroque Creche -- Through early Jan. -- This long-established yuletide tradition, with the brightly lit 20-foot blue spruce adorned with a collection of 18C. Neapolitan angels and cherubs with a group of realistic crèche figures flanking the Nativity scene at its base will once again delight holiday visitors in the Medieval Sculpture Hall. A spectacular lighting ceremony is scheduled for every Friday and Saturday evening at 7:00 p.m.

New Exhibition Scheduled--ARTtalk.com's Gallery at the Square in Beacon, NY, has announced the opening of A Show of Shows 1960-1975, Art Exhibition Posters and Catalogs on December 8 and continuing through January 13. This is an excellent opportunity to view the artwork of major contemporary artists whose works are included in many of the great art museums of the world, from Roy Lichtenstein to Alex Katz. The public is cordially invited to an opening reception on Saturday, Dec. 8, from 4-7 p.m.

Painting Declared Fake--An expert on Rembrandt Peale has determined that a painting of George Washington at Washington College in Chestertown, MD, is a fake. George Washington as Master Mason was a gift to the college in 1944.

Heroes Honored--Comic book artists and writers have compiled a 64-page poster collection to honor those who risked their lives to save others during the September 11th attacks. Heroes is available in stores and will benefit the Red Cross.

Fall Auction Results In--Sales started off well at Phillips' auction of mostly early 20th century French and German Art. Sixty-seven of 72 works sold, totaling over $86 million, a bit above the low estimate. At the contemporary art auction, 36 of 44 works found buyers. At Sotheby's sale of Impressionist and modern art, 25 of 38 works sold, totaling below the low estimate. Pissarro's La Rue Saint-Lazare set a record for the artist. At the contemporary art sale, 53 of 60 lots sold, and Lichtenstein's Ball of Twine starred at $4 million. And at Christies, paintings from the '20s and '30s brought in over $108 million for 49 works, with a record set for a sculpture by Picasso.

Designers Contribute--An idea on the Society of Craft Designers web site has resulted in a 24-page, 4-color book called United We Craft. Of those selected from the hundreds of designs submitted, Americans can make patriotic projects to display their national pride. Krause Publications has covered all production costs and will make a generous donation to the Red Cross on behalf of those involved in the project. On sale now.

Holiday Postage Stamps Available--The warmth and joy of the holiday season are captured on this year's Christmas and Holiday postage stamps. Depicted are Lorenzo Costa's Virgin and Child on the Christmas stamp and four different images that represent the rich folklore of Santa Claus on the Holiday stamps.

December Birthdays:
  2    Georges Seurat
  3    Gilbert Stuart
  7    Gian Lorenzo Bernini
12    Helen Frankenthaler
31    Henri Matisse

The staff at ARTtalk wishes you peace and joy this holiday season.

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Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 12 No. 2 -- December 2001