How To Draw With Your Fountain Pen: Drawing The Head

[@UncleRicoOne]

This is by far one of the best tutorials for crosshatching that I have ever seen. Thank you for taking the time to effectively demonstrate your craft.

[@mkompan]

You're very welcome! Thanks for the kind words.

[@marcelle1161]

Thanks!

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@atelierthhun1165]

What a talented and inspirational tutor you are ! Even on first viewing I was able to identify the reasons why some of my drawings work and others fail. I especially appreciate the examples and suggestions for further practice. Many thanks for this excellent video.

[@mkompan]

You're welcome! I'm so glad that these longer videos are being watched and enjoyed. KZbin seems to reward short, fast paced content, and there's pressure to speed up the instruction with time lapse and lots of editing. That's detrimental to learning, and I think pacing the instruction as it would be in a classroom is the way to go.

[@atelierthhun1165]

I am in complete agreement with you. The longer format - all of which I watch several times - is not only something that I feel is genuinely educational but also is honest. To me it reinforces the truth that all good work comes as a result of hours of practice and learning from every study.

[@danielvirely3371]

Very usefull Thx

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@johnperez2374]

I am still new on the "I want to learn how to draw" curve,. After a year of trying just to be able to let my hand move with freedom, I think I am getting there. Now I am keen to learn how to make things on paper that resembles real life. You tutorials elsewhere on shading was a my first real AHA! moment. How you teach is what resonates with me. Thank you for the hard work you put into making these videos

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome John! I’m glad you’re finding these tutorials useful. A lot of people helped me along the way. This is my way of giving back.

[@jeanhanson8744]

I enjoyed this video so much that I watched it twice. I like to draw, but I’m not very good. I do get a likeness, but after I try to shade , it doesn’t look like the person anymore. I think I’ll try to render with pen and ink. I’ll for sure watch this video again for inspiration. I hope you make more of these. Thankyou for them. 👋

[@mkompan]

Thank you Jean! Instead of thinking of yourself as "not very good," think of yourself as a "work in progress." Every drawing you do is opportunity to make mistakes, learn from them, and apply those lessons to the next attempt. I have a bunch of videos on head drawing that you mind find useful on my channel. Check them out!

[@alevel79]

You just need to practice and practice and practice ✍️

[@alevel79]

@@mkompan ❤❤❤❤❤

[@AustintxweirdO78745RGC]

This is one of the best vids on hatching and cross hatching very well explained even with ballpoint pen or carving in metal I seen a lot of vids but this one is on a top shelf vid a must see thanks you sir god bless you and your viewers..

[@mkompan]

That's very high praise, thank you!

[@guillermocheca3122]

The tutorials are an absolute pleasure to watch. Thank you very much for this fantastic content!

[@mkompan]

Thank you for the kind words, Guillermo. I'm glad you found my channel and are finding my videos useful

[@billmccaffrey1977]

I like your approach to teaching. You always provide background to your methods.

[@mkompan]

Thanks Bill. More videos like this on the way.

[@jayfogelman]

One of the best tutorials I've seen.

[@mkompan]

Thanks!

[@karthikeyakaushik674]

Super stuff again! :D

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@franckalcidi599]

You would have to be the first artist I've come across on KZbin that explains the intricate details in how you do a drawing with a reference and ink. This is superb teaching and very clear and concise explanation. Thank you for sharing this invaluable technique. I'm getting into fountain pens and want to try this. I do a lot of stippling drawing but not enough cross hatching like this. I do illustrations (mostly fan art) using a brush or quill pen or digitally using Clip Studio Paint EX but I love how you've used the fountain pen to do your drawings.

[@mkompan]

Thank you fo the kind words Franck! It's gratifying to know that people think my videos have unique and useful content. More videos like this one coming son!

[@neilfernandes5056]

Very informative, Marc. Appreciate the time you put into this: Key Takeaways: 1. Value is the meat and potatoes. Lines only for sharper accents 2. Be a sculptor. Chisel away at the form. Change direction per the plane. 3. Lesser detail conveys distance 4. Strong lines have an ageing effect 5. Bad drawings are not a waste of time... As long as you learn from them!!

[@mkompan]

Thanks Neil! That’s a great summation of this lesson.

[@Lili-qy1ls]

just 10 minutes in but I have to tell you how much I enjoy every single tutorial of you. I paint a lot with gouache and oil and because of that I got into the bad habit of just not caring about precision in my underdrawings (because I can just paint over every mistake), so I am currently trying to relearn drawing. Your channel has been so helpful! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge!

[@mkompan]

Thank you for the compliments! The use of underdrawing varies greatly from artist to artist, but I've found that the people who are successful at starting with imprecise underdrawings honed that skill by drawing precisely.

[@inamorata966]

Another great video Marc. You make an important point at 51:43: artists should stop expecting proficiency if they have not put in the work and practiced. Dozens of crummy drawings will accompany a few good ones, but you gotta keep working. Everyday. Draw everyday and you WILL get better.

[@mkompan]

Thanks! That is a point that needs to be repeated to students many times.

[@7Katherine1]

Thank you again for another.wonderful tutorial. I learned so much I’ll be listening to this several times. I love the blend between the style of the technique and the suggestion of reality. Watching you work is so helpful.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome, Katherine. And thank you for your very kind compliments.

[@renskee.jellema8697]

Just found your tutorials! As a Dutch art historian, with a passion for drawing(s), I love your focus on the old masters. My tip: If possible go to a printroom and ask to see original unframed drawings. A so much better experience than in a hyped, 'once in a lifetime' crowded exhibition or looking at reproductions.

[@mkompan]

Thanks for your note! I was very pleasantly surprised at the positive response I've received by including old master examples in my instructional videos. I force my students to look at them but didn't realize there was so much interest among the general public. I'm currently planning and researching a series of videos on old master drawing technique such as metal point and natural quill pens. And thanks for that fantastic tip which I will pass to viewers of my channel. I live in Los Angeles and am not sure what kind of access the museums here provide, but back when I was studying at the Art Institute of Chicago, I would often visit their print room.

[@renskee.jellema8697]

Silverpoint on prepared paper is such a lovely and delicate way of drawing.

[@tejomayambharatam5637]

Wow it was a nice journey.

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@imjinaah]

5:59 thank you for confirming the mouth's alignment. I have recently started learning how to draw using the Loomis method and noticed this. I have watched a handful of tutorials and I think you are the first one to mention this detail. 👁️👄👁️

[@mkompan]

You’re very welcome. I have a number of videos where I explain my construction method in detail. You can find them if you look for “head construction” in my channel.

[@umakanthan53]

Clear and enlightening instructions from the perspective of a sincere learner. This video proves how meticulous and time consuming is pen and line drawing.

[@mkompan]

Thank you! The learning process is meticulous and time consuming indeed, but once you've mastered the process, it can be done very quickly and without much effort.

[@andika7912]

Wow! This video is awesome. Very instructive to me, especially on the head construction. I draw using ballpoint pen but I think I can try to adapt it. Thank you for sharing the lesson.

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome! I’m glad you found it helpful.

[@relaques666]

One of my favorite ways now to add color to sketches is using permanent black ink for eveything. Then adding a little water soluble ink from one of my other pens to give it shade and color! Pentel waterbrush is a gem.

[@mkompan]

Mine too! It’s pretty amazing what you can do with just a pen and a water-brush.

[@lindakacer6453]

Great teacher and great content.

[@mkompan]

Thank you again, Linda

[@mdz0739]

Excellent tutorial! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and techniques. Very helpful!

[@mkompan]

Thank you Michael!

[@Reflektorx]

Great channel, love it. You have a fantastic way of explaining things

[@mkompan]

Thank you! Glad you found my channel.

[@ovonijemojeime]

This is great 🎉

[@mkompan]

Thanks!

[@akosaeyw]

Very very informative... Thank you sir...

[@mkompan]

My pleasure!

[@thekevermelho]

Thank you so much.

[@mkompan]

You're welcome!

[@emoosavimehr]

Marc I am very grateful for your great videos. Thank you very much also for introducing me to Käthe Kollwitz. What a phenomenal legend.

[@mkompan]

My pleasure! Kollwitz is someone everyone needs to know, and I’m happy to have made the introduction.

[@marcingolab6227]

I've only watched two of your videos so far, but I think they're great! I will be applying these tips for the next couple of weeks to see if I can improve my meagre skills. Some of the other methods for drawing heads I've tried so far are good for creating a sketch from imagination, but your way of shaping the head looks much better for capturing a likeness, which is what I want to try.

[@mkompan]

Thank you so much. Every construction method has its pros and cons. It’s just a question of finding one that’s best for the kind of work being done.

[@skorzeny7377]

Great video! I think that pencil is a Kaweco but not sure, mind sharing the make and model?

[@mkompan]

Thank you! That is a Kaweco brass special, 2mm pencil. A fantastic pencil that I’ll have to make a video on at some point.

[@skorzeny7377]

@@mkompan wow, fast response, thanks! Im on the Kaweco website now, absolutely must have one of these for myself lol. Just subbed to your channel, really hope you get the time to make a video on this pencil, Kaweco just doesn't miss with their products. I would like to get into sketching in the imminent future, and really need some guidance, hoping to find some beginner tutorials/exercises and work my way up. Very happy to have landed here so keep up the great work!

[@Bitwise1024]

Brilliant. I haven't seen this topic covered before. Lots of information packed into this video, very helpful indeed. Liked and subbed. What an awesome discovery.

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@letmebehero3937]

thank you for the tutorial it's very useful

[@mkompan]

You’re welcome!

[@evangreitzer6259]

Very inspiring content, Mark. All I wanted out of a fountain pen was a versatile tool to replace my microns and you've sucked me down this rabbit hole of fountain pen sketching, ink wash and even tinkering with flex nib setups. It's awesome to find such thorough fountain pen content geared toward artists in the sea of typical fountain pen writing content. I was looking through your videos for some ideas of what inks to try. Maybe an ink recommendations video would make for good content. Personally, I'm interested in waterproof inks for my watercolor sketches, water-resistant inks (like the Noodler's Brown in your ink wash skull video), lightfast inks and then all those types of inks that could work with the ultra flex nib or further advice on how to shop for inks for specific purposes. Either way, I appreciate your content and look forward to more!

[@mkompan]

Thank you for the kind words, Evan! I do have a number of videos on inks. If you haven’t done so, check out my videos on waterproof inks, on shading inks, Lexington grey, DeAtramentis document brown and dark red, and white inks. But you’re right, a video that summarizes things and gives recommendations would be good. Thanks for your support and stay tuned.

[@madiko]

Amazing! I always wondered how to apply cross-contour hatching. The second part of your video was very inspiring and instructive. Thank you for sharing. I was at the point of giving up my approach of ink drawings. Now my motivation is back and I am confident to master it in the end. 💛

[@mkompan]

My pleasure! Glad this was helpful.

[@bobgold1000]

Thanks for a fantastic demo. I enjoyed your videos a lot and started to learn the techniques. I feel pen-and-ink drawing has its unique challenges simply I cannot make changes like pencil or charcoal drawings. But I love pen-and-ink because it gives people a classic look. One minor video suggestion - the focus must be set in auto so your hand gets in the way making focus hard. You remove Auto Focus and set it manually.

[@mkompan]

You're very welcome! I believe some of my older pen videos do have that pesky auto-focus problem, but this has been fixed in my more recent videos. That said, I'm planning on upgrading my recoding equipment soon.

[@relaques666]

Hello Marc! Big questions unrelated to the video: Do you use sketchbooks at all? I find it problematic to find a sketchbook reasonable enough for both watercolors and ink

[@mkompan]

I do use sketchbooks. My current favorite is the Talen's Art Creation Series. The paper is a slight cream color, and it's feathering and bleed proof. For mixed media paper, it takes watercolor reasonably well, but has a tendency to buckle under heavier applications. All in all, very good quality for the price, and is very good for sketching in pen and ink/watercolor.

[@relaques666]

@@mkompan You won't believe it but this is the exact same sketchbook I bought two days ago! It does buckle under heavy water action (I'm not very experienced with watercolors so I tend to overwork) but it is good for the price!

[@mkompan]

@@relaques666 ah, so we’re on the same page. :) For more finished stuff, the Hahnemuhle “academie aquarell” is pretty good, and also affordable.

[@laurenceb3515]

Hi Marc, I love your art so much!!! I checked online to look for your nib but there's so many, could you tell me which one exactly you're using?? There are many 14K in different sizes... Thanks a lot!!!!!

[@mkompan]

Thanks! This a 14k #5 Jowo nib with a semi-flex modification from FPnibs. Here I’m using it with an Opus 88 Picnic, which sadly has been discontinued. The Opus 88 Koloro is a similar pen that can use this nib. This set up is pricy but one of my favorites.

[@gabbygermain6345]

Awesome, just found you. Can't wait to study with you 👍😃

[@mkompan]

Thank you Gabby! 😀

[@recreepy]

You've truly impressed me-well done!

[@mkompan]

Thank you!

[@jomeson4081]

Random curiosity, do you not sharpen your 2mm lead?

[@mkompan]

Almost never. For sketching that blunt tip works just fine.

[@daytonagreg8765]

Just FYI Marc, that portrait looks nothing like the thumbnail. 😳😁 Is there a video drawing that thumbnail? Thanks. I love your instructions.

[@mkompan]

Gosh, and here I thought I got it exactly right. :) Sorry no demo for the bearded guy, but more demos to come.

[@pipisplashtown8239]

love your videos, for anyone like me set speed setting to .75 so you can follow along if you thinks he speaks too fast and remember to like and comment so he can get paid and make more videos👌

[@mkompan]

Thank you! I know I speak quickly, but I think as many people enjoy it as have asked me to slow down. Perhaps I need to make two versions. :)

[@clintondavis3363]

@@mkompan just keep your natural cadence. I often use the speed control to examine technique with artists - easy adjustment. Some people take too much time, so you can speed them up, especially if you are already “up-to-speed” with the instruction. 😉 Thank you got your tutelage - excellent and easy to follow, although it’s obvious that your mind and hand already know where they’re headed 😊whereas mine will stumble through.

[@mkompan]

@@clintondavis3363 Thanks for your comment! It is pretty easy for my viewers to slow my videos down, so I'm going to stick with my natural pace.

[@rafagarres324]

Hi.What ink brand are you using doig this drawing? Could you get the same efect and work the same way using a Platinum Carbon Black ink on that fountain pen?

[@mkompan]

I’m using Monteverdi Sepia, ink which transparent brown. Yes, the same principles and methods can be used with black ink.

[@cp3675]

What do you mean by 90 degrees? So the hatch has to be more vertical?

[@mkompan]

That's correct. Side facing places, should be rendered with angles that are closer to vertical. Top and bottom facing planes should be rendered with angles that are closer to horizontal.

[@Sahil99413]

Can you make a video drawing with cheaper pen like pilot kakuno or metropolitan please, just to see how far can those pen go

[@mkompan]

I have a metropolitan and will try doing something with it.

[@Sahil99413]

@@mkompan thankyou very much

[@akitoakito8790]

I LOVE YOU ❤❤❤❤

[@mkompan]

Haha. Thanks!

[@Yomi-san]

Shading to show shift in plane - massive penny drop moment TY.

[@mkompan]

Glad you found this useful!

[@moldingsaronarsoy]

❤

[@mkompan]

😀

[@bozoclown2098]

I saw R,Schmidt block in alike this.

[@mkompan]

This is my own method, but it’s not surprising that someone else came up with something similar.

[@saifuzzuhri6272]

Hello newbies! Just use pencil :D

[@mkompan]

@@saifuzzuhri6272 I’ll fight you. :)

[@MegaCocoa15]

Think taking your hands out of the picture would be helpful when you are just talking so the subjects can be seen. thanks!

[@mkompan]

Good idea. I’m relatively new to this and learning as I go. My newer videos have better angles, where this issue is resolved.

[@michaelleftwich8186]

The first drawing looked odd because the left side of his face is darker than his right side. Need to go over the right side a little more to catch up with the left side.

[@mkompan]

I’m always open to advice, but it would be nice to know who I’m taking it from. Where can I see your work?

[@tubecated_development]

Very enjoyable and informative - but you made her face more squat and wide?

[@mkompan]

Thank you. Small mistakes will happen when working without a pencil underdrawing, so the likeness is definitely not perfect.

[@alevel79]

Amazing lesson I wish I found this years ago 👏🏻🫶🏻

[@mkompan]

Thanks! :)

[@tamarahoward9993]

Thank you, so much

[@mkompan]

My pleasure!