The Chinese were the first people to develop art using ink and classic paintbrushes, and most of the artwork using ink and brush techniques contains Asian influence. In the West, most of the artwork using this method can be found in comic books. Brush and ink artwork is challenging and requires a lot of concentration, says the Asia Art website. There are some helpful techniques that artists may use to perfect this skill.
Ink and Wash
This technique doesn't involve a pen like other types of ink and brush artwork. An ink cake is combined with water in a dish or pallet. The brush is dipped into the ink and then moved across the paper for the desired coverage. Water may be added to the pallet to change the shade of the ink. The more water that is used, the lighter the tone of the ink. In this way, the artwork will have added depth and texture.
Brush Pen
This is more of a paintbrush that stores ink so it doesn't need to be dipped into an inkwell or onto a pallet. This technique of using a paintbrush creates vivid lines that can range from a very broad line to a tiny hairline, giving the artist more control. Using an ink pen does not give the diverse range of sizes in lines that the artist achieves using a brush pen.
Dotting
The dotting technique also gives artwork depth and texture as the dots are grouped together to form an object or landscape. Though you may think of dots as small, round objects, in ink and brush painting the dots come in many forms. Some of these dots resemble plants, leaves or even lines. One type of dot is known as "rat's foot." This technique is used often used to accent the artistic piece with a plant or another type of vegetation for the background.
Nib Dip or Fountain Pens
Most ink pens do not create expressive lines that are needed to create a painting that appears to be alive. However, there are flexible pens like the nib dip pens that can be used like brushes to create lines with various widths. Although artist Russell Stutler prefers a paintbrush, these flexible nib dip pens are just as satisfying to him as his coveted brush. Fountain pens can also achieve variations in lines, but the drawback is that they leave a raised pool of ink on the surface of the paper that can bleed out and cause smearing.
