How to start using ink washes in your sketchbook, by KatieMaeve Art on YouTube. 31 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 31 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 45 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Fill the aquabrush barrel about two thirds with water and screw the tip back on. Squeeze gently until a drop forms at the tip.
Test the brush on scrap paper. A light squeeze gives a wet wash, a dry tip gives a scratchy line.
Draw the main shapes of your subject in pencil, keeping lines light. Check the proportions before adding any ink.
Load a little ink on the brush tip or mix ink and water in a small dish. Start with a weak mix and build up.
Lay a wash over the shadow areas first, working from light to dark. Let each layer dry before adding the next.
Blot the brush on a paper towel when the wash gets too wet. Keep the paper damp rather than soaked.
Go back in with the pencil to sharpen edges, add detail and deepen the darkest darks.
Let the page dry flat, then check the values from a distance and adjust any weak areas.
Tips and common mistakes
Fountain pen ink works better than India ink in an aquabrush because it does not dry inside the brush as easily.
Clean the brush by squeezing out dirty water after each session so ink does not set in the tip.
Keep washes thin at first. You can always add another layer, but you cannot take one away.
Work on dry paper for hard edges and damp paper for soft, blended edges.
Questions
Can I use normal watercolour brushes instead of an aquabrush?
Yes. A soft round brush and a jar of water do the same job. The aquabrush just carries water inside the handle, which is handy for sketching away from a sink.
Do I need special ink for ink washes?
India ink works, but fountain pen ink is easier on the brush because it dries more slowly. Test any ink on scrap paper first to see how it dilutes.
How do I stop the paper from buckling?
Use a sketchbook with heavier paper and keep the washes light. Too much water at once makes thin paper warp and cockle.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
