One of the results of sketching constantly is that many of the sketches remain ink line drawings. My train might reach its destination, a companion may show up early or a waitress delivers my food. Sometimes I’ll add color at a later date. Sometimes I’ll leave it alone and other times I’ll turn the drawing into a temperature sketch by applying blue and brown inks with converted Elmer’s Watercolor Brushes. Doing temperature sketches expands the possibilities for strong design and inventive color choices.
I use four water brushes: One filled with full strength brown ink for dark value warm; one with diluted brown ink for medium value warm; one filled with full strength blue ink for dark value cool, one filled with diluted blue ink for medium value cool. For each shape within the drawing I have two choices to make. I decide if I want it to be warm or cool and if I want it to be dark or medium value. The light value shapes I leave white.
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Sketches: Drawn first in ink with fountain pen, ink washes added later.