Lesson 0: Getting Started

I'm not here to try and teach you how to draw with ink. Thank goodness for that, as I'm a digital artist myself. I have chosen these kinds of pens however because they complement the lesson material and the concepts being covered, and more than anything, they help encourage the kinds of habits and respect for your linework that goes hand in hand with everything else I am trying to teach. I explain this in greater detail in this article, "Why Ink?".

They do that by producing a rich, dark line regardless of how much pressure you apply - their only dimension of variance is in the weight of the stroke. The 0.5 size for most brands is ideal, as it allows for a great range of weights. I do not want you to use different pens in the same drawing - don't go drawing in a 0.3 and then going over it with a 0.5 or anything like that. Ideally if you can, pick up the 0.5's in bulk.

Aside from that, the brands I've used include Staedtler Pigment Liners and Faber Castell PITT Artist Pens (their sizing is different, F is the equivalent to 0.5), but you're not limited to these. There are many other brands, ranging from Copic Multiliners to Sakura Microns and hell, even Sharpies (the Sharpie Ultrafines and the Sharpie Pens) will do.

Just make sure that when you're drawing with these, that you're not applying too much pressure. Students have a tendency of damaging their pen tips this way, which reduces the flow of ink and forces one to draw with the pen held at a higher angle to achieve the same rich marks. Most think that their pens have just died, but these things can actually last for a good while, even with all the drawing that we do for these lessons.

That said, do expect to end up buying quite a few if you're in it for the long haul, from lesson 1 to 7. Pens can get a little pricey, so find a brand with a price point and quality balance that works for you.

It's worth mentioning that since students sometimes have trouble finding fineliner pens at reasonable prices, Drawabox is now selling them in packs of 10 for $16.50 USD, with free shipping in the United States and other international options available as well. If you can get your hands on pens from local art supply stores (especially in person), then that may still be a better solution, but this is largely to provide an alternative to many of the less than ideal options out there.

Other tools

Certain lessons and exercises will require other tools as well, ranging from simple rulers (generally you can use any sort of straight edge) to ellipse guides and french curves in lessons 6 and 7.

Ellipse guides/templates come in sets and can get expensive, but you can usually shop around online and find them for cheaper on places like eBay. They are extremely useful, however I wouldn't recommend buying them until you've actually reached those lessons. Once you do, they are a sound investment.