Holding the Brush-1
Two shots of slightly different ways to hold the brush while inking...just from looking at these images, what do you think is the difference? Which position (if any) is superior, and why?
Followup thoughts posted soon...
posted by Paul Rivoche at 10:06 AM
17 Comments:
The first one has no finger support, which lends a measure of innacuracy but it's easier to move the brush/pen accross the page in energetic, sweeping paths. It would make bold, free-flowing lines. Your second hand-hold uses fingers on the media to help support and steady your work. This would be good for small, exacting details. Neither is superior in my opinion; they have different uses.
I hold it like the second pic mostly unless I'm doing really long lines. Another thing is I ink away from myself and in a slightly upwards direction and from thin to thick. Most people seem to ink towards themselves thin to thick, just wondering which if either is better.
I can't see how you can do the 'swoops' from thick to thin or have very much flow in the second position. Despite the lack of support I usually go with something similar to the first, you can get accuracy with practice, but you don't want to have to stop in the middle of a long curved line because you have to pivot at the fingers not the wrist . . . unless you drag your fingers along smoothly. I can't see any other major differences other than the second's angle is slightly higher . . . that's my two cents.
Well it's obvious...you're using the wrong hand mate! ;)
I'd say the top one is best for inking circles, and the bottom one for pulling long lines.
I'd also mention about holding your pencil too Paul. As it's easier to do gestural stuff holding the end of a pencil, makes you commit less to detail, and gets your arm in there...for another time though, I'm sure. :)
=s=
I prefer fingers supporting the hand... that way I get nice, clean, stable line weights... I use the no finger support when I am looking to do a rapid fire dirtier ink style, but for the most part I like the control the support brings...
I take back what I said. I actually do put my fingers down similarly, so I don't know what I am talking about, you can get long smooth lines as long as you move the arm and wrist more than pivoting on the fingers . . . or something.
I'd say the hand looks more relaxed in the top photo, which means less cramping. Which means good. They're very similar!
when i ink i tend to keep my brush hand off the page. if i put it down on the page i can only go so far (using my wrist) as opposed to using my whole arm.
everytime i've put my hand on the board while i ink i've smeared the page. :(
Marco, I ink with a cotton glove (with the thumb/index/middle fingers cut out) so my hand glides over the paper, my sticky skin doesnt rub on the surface... its helps a great deal...
sometimes I use a peice of vellum or whatever is laying around if my paws are too sweaty for maximum arm swing-age.
The second way works fot detail, but if I want longer sweeping strokes or an "improvisational" feel, I go with the first way. I guess I switch back and forth. The funny thing was, I had to pick up a brush and so some sample strokes before I knew how I actually do it. I honestly didn't know off the top of my head.
The second tech would be the best in my opinion because it enables to have a great feel and sense for where your going coming from and ending up at also it would probably reduce the chance to a shaky line which is the curse of clean up well just my thoughts don't know anything about inking art just love to draw and learn take care.
I gotta go with the second position, 'cause for me, I noticed that I ink more based on the 'feel' of the fingers touching the paper. I need those fingers to 1) provide stabilty as I arc my wrist and 2)gage how much pressure I'm putting on the brush. As a good friend once pointed out to me, when you ink with a brush, you don't 'feel' the brush touch the paper like you would with a pen, you 'feel' the pressure you put on your stabilizing fingers.
Just my 2 cents...great site here, Mr. Rivoche. I always enjoy your analysis and thoughts on art technique.
Please, tell me what kind of brush you are holding there. It looks like a fountain brush. Also, where'd you get it?
It's a Pentel Brush Pen... see this for example:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz228/90/
I bought mine at a local store but they seem fairly available.
Personally I like to keep the hand off the page.
It forces me to sort of think before I stroke - or at least slow down. Its also way less strain on the wrist.
Excuse me, can you tell me the name of that tool/brush you are using? (the one showing in the photographs)
It's seems like a mix between a brush and a marker, if it is, i could really use something like that, but i don't know how it is called.
Thanks.
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