Improve pen and ink technique in 3 simple exercises

[@longstrideillustration]

Let me know what other resources you have found useful for improving pen & ink drawing technique.

[@keyton_weissinger]

A longer version of your tracing video from IG would be lovely along with some sources you like for that (with more varied pen marks).

[@МарияПосылкина-б1о]

Thank you so much for Pinterest page!

[@Mixxie67]

I love the cat stealing focus at around 2:45. Thanks for the tips!

[@longstrideillustration]

And the cat loves the spotlight too! Glad that you enjoyed the tips!

[@peregrination3643]

Good to find a pen and ink KZbinr in a style close to what I want. There's so many watercolor people doing realistic nature subjects, sometimes graphite and colored pencil, but rarely do I find pen and ink. (I'm a complete sucker for old school natural history illustrations.)

[@longstrideillustration]

oh you know, I've always wanted to illustrate a map, like an ancient or fantasy world. You're giving me ideas for future content 🖋 Thanks for watching, I appreciate the kind words. 🙂

[@peregrination3643]

@@longstrideillustration Antique and fantasy maps are AWESOME. Agreed!

[@Michael-ns1ey]

This is gold star youtubing - thanks!

[@longstrideillustration]

very kind to say, thanks for watching!

[@baluray2]

Two great videos.. can't wait to see the next one. Thank you!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you, I appreciate the encouragement and am glad you enjoyed them!

[@Fabrizio.deitos-navalesi]

Excellent resources and tips for pen and inker of every levels. Thank you for putting the time and effort to create this.🙏🏼

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you for watching! I appreciate the kind words 🙂

[@NauticUrchin]

I recently got into drawing with dip pens and i find your videos very helpful! Thanks for that!

[@longstrideillustration]

You are so welcome! Happy inking 🖋

[@Rawrdoll]

I just turned on notifications, your videos are my current favorites on KZbin. Just what what I was looking for, now that I’m starting my pen and ink journey. ❤

[@longstrideillustration]

That makes me happy! Pen & Ink I feel is a very special medium 🙂

[@spktme]

Thank you for the videos and the pintrest board...they're full of information and resources! Much appreciated!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for leaving a comment Christina! Glad you found it helpful, that makes me happy when people find the info valuable 🙂

[@geckonia]

Your work is stunning! My favorite pen & ink artist from the past is Franklin Booth. I love his clouds.

[@longstrideillustration]

me too! Love Booth!

[@jbkhan1135]

These are really helpful suggestions, I'm going to give them a try! Thank you!

[@longstrideillustration]

Glad you like them! All the best 😀🖋

[@tarotaddicts4695]

Love these. Thank you!

[@aishaw132]

Love that you included other pen and inkers with credits. I love Alphonso Dunn's approach. You both have very similar approaches and is similar to my preferred natural style. New follower and excited❤

[@longstrideillustration]

Awesome! Glad to have you!

[@The_artistic_yogi]

I am new at drawing and considering pen and ink... You are a very clear and concise teacher. Love it!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you, and happy to hear you're considering pen & ink, it's a great medium.

[@danasterry4]

Thanks for another awesome video with great information. I enjoy The Virtual Instructor as well. Matt is a great teacher.

[@longstrideillustration]

I def enjoy Matt's content as well. I've taken a few of his courses on Udemy and am a fan.

[@rainstern]

Thanks for sharing 🙏

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@seanrapha6265]

Love your your art work ! Excited to see this video.. :)

[@longstrideillustration]

Awesome! Thanks for the support in my work and for your kind words 🙂

[@guiomardart]

bro-- your content is invaluable! I love how thorough and brief you are, as well as, clear examples and incredible resources 🤩🤩🥰🥰

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you! I appreciate that! "brief and thorough" is what I was going for 😀

[@notimetodrawtoday]

Tnx for sharing your knowledge!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for watching 🙂

[@the.y.method]

Fantastic help! Wow.

[@longstrideillustration]

Glad to hear it!

[@ShellyColours2]

Wow this is amazing.... Thank you!

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks! glad if it was helpful🙂

[@la_papetrie]

Thanks for sharing this is really helpful 🙏

[@longstrideillustration]

awesome! thank you

[@midnight_neko33]

Thbaks for share this kind of tips with us :3 please continue uploading more videos ❤

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you, I will😊

[@alannaramone3821]

Thank you so much for this and the pintrest stuff. Really helpful.❤

[@longstrideillustration]

I appreciate the note, thanks!

[@Jay-ql4gp]

I've often thought of creating texture sketchbooks full of various types of stone, wood, hair, etc. with notes to myslf on how I did it and any mistakes I made and why. And I still haven't done it.

[@longstrideillustration]

If I may say, it's worthwhile doing it. I refer back to my charts quite often when I'm working on a project as reference. Sometimes I can't quite recall how I did a particular texture, and the chart helps me remember.

[@tonyjones4556]

Loved the video and also your cute assistant..😸

[@keyton_weissinger]

This is very useful. Thank you. Question: In this video you use fine liner and dip pen. Just curious: Do you use both in your bird work or just dip pens? If only one or the other why or why not?

[@longstrideillustration]

I use all of them, pigment/fineliner technical pens, markers, dip pens, brushes, depending on the project. Dip pens have the cleanest outcome for reproduction, usually I can just scan the image, and it goes to vector cleanly. The technical pens I find are less opaque and need additional work in Photoshop after scanning because the lines are less sharp. Dip pens take longer upfront, technical pens take longer at the production stage, so there's compromise/advantage either way. The technical pens, markers & brush pens I prefer for quick sketching and doing subject studies. The dip pens & brushwork with ink I prefer for artwork that will be used to make prints/merch or for commercial illustration work. It's good to know how to use all of the tools, they produce different results and 'feel' differently.

[@estycki]

Three thumbs up, and kitty❣

[@buzzawuzza3743]

I'm making a lot of mud, or at least my fair share of mud but I'm going to get better. Thank you for your videos.

[@longstrideillustration]

Having the ability to see the mud means that you are already getting better! Noticing, observing, self-assessing, and gauging progress all come from experience and help us grow as artists 🙂

[@buzzawuzza3743]

@Chloe Gendron I will get there. I want my comics stories going forward to include elements of pen and ink, watercolors, collage and straight cartooning. Thank you for showing me the way.

[@keyton_weissinger]

Oh. One other question/suggestion. Can you please talk at some point about your exercise schedule? Do you do these types of things still or only when you were first learning, etc?

[@longstrideillustration]

For sure. I started a Playlist named " *Learning* " where I'll get more into 1) Master Studies, 2) Art Fundamentals for Pen & Ink, and 3) Practice exercises. Thanks for asking 🙂

[@ohheydamien]

Picked up this one book a while back-- Arthur L. Guptill's Rendering in Pen and Ink-- that I think is pretty known and has proven pretty helpful, too. I have also worked through that particular Alphonso Dunn video a few times myself! (And many, many others.) Personally, I feel a lot of the resources out there say more or less the same thing, with different presentation-- just a matter of finding "The One" that clicks with you! Granted, you're all far more advanced than I am, so maybe I'm still looking for "The One" that clicks with me... Meanwhile, practice, practice, practice!

[@longstrideillustration]

I have that Guptill book! It's very thorough and beautifully illustrated, thanks for mentioning it. For me "the one" that most inspired my inking style and desire to learn more was Bernie Wrightson's line work. Hope that you find yours that clicks.

[@ohheydamien]

@@longstrideillustration Love me some Bernie!

[@mariechevalier73]

3min52 I love this exercise it looks amazing! I can't find the video in the virtual instructor... Or is it an exercise you developed yourself?

[@longstrideillustration]

Hi! Glad you like it. Have you scrolled down to the Resource section in the description? I have linked the videos where I learned these exercises. Also Alphonso Dunn has an excellent workbook with many more exercises, you can find it on his website or Amazon, and it comes in a quality Kindle version.

[@SN-sz7kw]

Thank you!!!

[@longstrideillustration]

You're welcome!

[@KBUK029]

Thanks for share… I love your cat too😊

[@longstrideillustration]

Thank you! 😊 She gets into everything that one.

[@GodzillaGoesGaga]

When you started out with the exercises did you place measurement pips on your panel to guide you ? I have the hardest time with getting consistent distance and was wondering what the best way to practice (and burn it into my memory) is ?

[@longstrideillustration]

The very first time that I did this exercise, I used the ruler and measured but it somehow looked "off". It turns out better when I just "eyeball" the distances and thickness. And we do improve with practice. I wasn't convinced at first, that this exercise was beneficial but now I swear by it. If you keep your charts and compare them, you'll be able to track noticeable progress with time. Same goes for your art projects.

[@readthetype]

Where do you get that desk lamp with circular lightbulb and magnifying glass? Also, what are they called? I saw a carppy one at a local art supply store, but it used a regular bulb, not the “doughnut” kind.

[@longstrideillustration]

I saw a jewelry maker using one, so I did a search for "Magnifying lamp" and found one with an Adjustable Swing Arm. Got it on Amazon, there's lots.

[@dorothyminor7581]

Love your channel. Well done! New subscriber

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for joining in!

[@toshabeans]

Thank you for the great tips! I know you prefer a dip pen, and it looks like you use multiple pen types. Did you have suggestions to make the most out of, to care for, store-bought fine-liners? They're not cheap, can they be refilled? I have dip pens but I'm nervous with pets around to spill inks lol

[@longstrideillustration]

Thanks for watching! I do use fineliner pens as well. I store them flat or with the nib side down, away from the sun or heat. There's a trick to refilling Microns (see Walden Wong's video on that) and there are brands such as Copic and Rapidograph that are refillable, though I've not tried those myself.

[@nsmith2908]

Hi, What is that grey pad you are inking on?

[@longstrideillustration]

That's a cutting mat. I like to have a bit of padding between my drawing surface and the wood. A chipboard works as well but needs to be taped down, the cutting mat has grip and holds still when I rotate the paper while inking.

[@carrieanne869]

❤

[@pupawupagus]

your meow is a little stinker 😊 I have a 35 lb dog that walks over my work lol i work on the floor sometimes. he doesn’t walk around on the table. i mean he would if i let him thank you for the vid!

[@longstrideillustration]

I have two of those now as of this week and they're both supervising the art with a critical eye, and it doesn't matter where I work - they find a way into my stuff lol At least they weight less than 35 lb (but close).

[@pupawupagus]

@@longstrideillustration hehe but they sabotage your work on purpose!! sit on your drawing, meowing in your face, batting lens off the table. at least the little terrorist meows i’ve had. dogs just march through everything and knock shit over with tail intent vs actual damage is a good thought experiment🤔 thanks again for your vids!!

[@SonnyBurnett2012]

Which breed is your cat? Thx

[@longstrideillustration]

She's a British Blue Shorthair

[@SonnyBurnett2012]

@@longstrideillustration thank you