Line and wash using a twigg
Over the last 18 month I have been
experimenting with sticks and twigs as a drawing tool. It was a revelation to
me, opening my eyes to a new approach to drawing, an approach which resulted in
a much more organic feel to work than could not be achieved with any of the
conventional tools.
Starting
with a 4 foot bamboo cane and working at arm’s length onto paper placed on the
floor, freed me up, allowing me to make big expressive gestures and fluid
strokes with the wet medium.
The fluid marks combined with the
inconsistency of the delivery of ink and the fragility of the stick produced an
expressive and natural look. Results like this can hard to achieve with a fixed
width drawing pen and drawings can sometimes look quite mechanical.
Varied Medium
Although my medium of choice for this
approach is Indian ink, any dry or wet medium can be used. Simply attach dry
mediums such as pencil, charcoal, pastel with masking tape to your stick or for
wet mediums such as inks and paints you can dip
When I am working with Indian ink I like to
have a brush on a stick as well as my drawing stick, this is to add some tonal
value to the drawing using dilute Indian Ink and staining the paper, although
you can use any medium to add tone I like the interaction between wet stain
(the tone) and drawn line.
Technique
I have used this technique for both life
drawing and still life. I find the whole process one that was very liberating.
Try to work so that all the movement is
coming from your shoulder or elbow and not from your wrist. Keep gravity on
your side and work so that your paper is low down allowing you to keep the ink
on the tip of your stick, as you gain confidence in the tools and materials you
can explore more conventional positions to work in. Use a stick longer than 12 inches, any shorter and it
becomes more like a brush or a pencil and your technique will develop working
from the wrist instead of the should making your drawing tight and more
controlled.
I urge everyone, If you have not tried it
give it a go, it will build you confidence and lead you to be more adventurous
in your approach to your art. I have used it a workshops as a warm and an
icebreaker, those who have tried it found it thoroughly engaging and enjoyable.
Branching out
I have now developed my technique and now
use a 12 inch long twisted old stick found in the woods on a walk one day.
Having got to grips with using Indian ink and watercolour wash I am now
focusing on using the same tool to apply oil and acrylic paint.
Give it a go and don’t worry about the
results, just enjoy the process, it takes practice but I am sure you will get
the hang of it and be inspired to explore even more.
