Ian’s 100-Day Art Challenge: Faces, People, and Places

[Ian Coltman]

Day 64 | Tracey Dance – reference: Tracey

Using up excess paint from the last two… trying to capture more movement and gesture.

[Bryan Mccabe]

Really nice work. I like how your background adds to the sense of movement in this one.

[Ian Coltman]

Day 65 | Tracey  – reference: Tracey

Using up excess paint… same palette. I’m going to bring red into the next one. Trying to think more about Glenn Vilppu’s gestural techniques as I work… it will be a process.

[Ian Coltman]

Day 66 | Serge Studies – reference: Serge

Same palette leftovers with a cad red medium thrown in… also used a gel pen at the end.

Thinking more about rhythm and interior form driving outside contour. This is going to take some practice!

[Ian Coltman]

Day 67 | Hand pancake sketch – reference: Lamonte

I have enough difficulty drawing hands already. Smashing them together in a foreshortened perspective without an eraser was a bit over my head. At least I tried.

[Ian Coltman]

Day 67 | Lamonte – reference: Lamonte

Trying to engage the rhythm and dimensionality of the forms per Vilppu. Added Hooker’s Green into the CMYK mix for this one.

[Ian Coltman]

Day 68 | Nightshade Kwas  – reference: Kwas

My first fountain pen came yesterday – the Noodler’s Ahab. I also go some Nightshade ink for my first experiments.

I’m already noticing some clear advantages over ballpoint and pigment liner pens. The fountain pen supports my drawing angle more effectively and does not clog or damage as easily in mixed media applications.

Obviously, plenty of practice is ahead to achieve a more consistent stroke, but I am convinced that this is the right tool and I’m considering getting another one right away to carry a water/smear-resistant ink.

I’m considering trying a gestural layin with a photo blue or light pencil before using the pen.

[Ian Coltman]

Days 69-70 | John Lewis Sketch Composite  – reference: Google Images

 

 

I got the news late last night about Congressman John Lewis, so I thought I’d pay tribute to the great American hero with some sketches leading to a composition.

This is a sepia photoshop composite incorporating three separate ballpoint pen sketches.

• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Ian Coltman.
• This reply was modified 3 years, 9 months ago by Ian Coltman.

[erikdennes]

That is nice.  I like your pen work!!  Really nice composition.  One thing I did notice was on the largest portrait, the right eye looks a little too low.  If it is in photoshop you can move it around easily.  I am really digging this whole concept.

[Ian Coltman]

Days 71-72 | Pen, Ink, and Gel Pen Faces  – reference: Google Images

 

 

More practice with my new Ahab fountain pen. This thing drives a ton of ink which I am not used to coming from ballpoint, but it is really fun to use despite the challenges.

[Artemisia]

These look great! Love the technique and line work of the white pen!

[Ian Coltman]

Day 74 | Misty Grove Watercolor Sketch  – reference: Earthporn SubReddit image

 

I was going to do some plein-air painting at the park today but had to cancel last minute. I still wanted to paint a landscape, so I settled for a web image instead.

I hope to post more day 73-74 work tomorrow when it’s finished and I have better light for a photo.

[Christopher]

Hi Ian,

first of all I really like your watercolor and your ink work. I knew that you could use fountain pens for art but never really thought of getting one but for some reason I started researching about them after you started using one 😅

I ordered the rOtring art pen extra fine and black + brown Waterman ink. I always enjoyed working with ink but for me the typical fine liners like copic or micron didn’t work out. I don’t know what I did wrong but it always destroyed the nib to a point of there the ink flow was reduced before the pen was empty. Since than I regularly try out alternatives but until know I tried mostly ballpoint pens that also didn’t work out that well …

Sorry for the long text but I thought maybe you could relate 😅

Do you mind me asking what paper you are using? I found it to be really difficult to find a smooth paper for fountain pens that still is thick enough for the whash technique you are using. This beautiful Canson Scrapbook paper that Steve Huston suggested is sadly out of production.

Anyway keep up the good work 👍👋

[erikdennes]

Love the Larry David sketch.  I like the very controlled and precise line work on top of the random/uncontrolled wash.

[Ian Coltman]

Thanks for the encouragement, Christopher and Erik!

First of all, I recommend this Noodler Ink and Noodler Ahab pen highly, the pen has a variable line-weight flex-tip and presents a compelling alternative to Glenn Villpu’s Pilot Namiki Falcon – which costs 6x as much. Both of you should add this to your kit IMO… Noodler’s also has an impressment assortment of ink pigments for most fountain pens on their website.

I now realize that one fountain pen could never be enough… I have two more Ahabs and pigments on order along with the Falcon… God help me… I’ve got the fountain fever.

To answer your question Christopher, all of the following papers performed fine. The Strathmore 400 is generally better but is premium grade and more expensive.

Strathmore 400 series Bristol Vellum – (Days 71-72) 
Canson Mixed Media Sketchbook (98 lb)  – (Days 68, 74) 
Strathmore 400 series Drawing Paper

 

Also if you are looking for a substitute solution for the discontinued Steve Houston-recommended Canson sketchbook stock, I recommend Strathmore 400 Toned Tan Mixed Media Paper (Days 25-47 ballpoint pen/watercolor/gouache)

Cheers!

[Author]

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