How to Keep that Pen Dancing - Painting & Drawing Tips

How is it possible to really keep your pen dancing?

Many would say that only practice.  And then more practice will do it.  

Sketchbook Practice: Frames 

And yes this is true, practice helps. A lot.  But it is important that it is 'productive' practise. And practice you will enjoy.  In my last post I suggested a great activity to really have fun with your line work and add the splash of watercolour to produce a great painting.  I think you will find this activity just as enjoyable.  

More discussion and examples on my YouTube Video: More Ways to Keep Your Pen DANCING 

Before I get started I want to explain my interpretation of "Making your Pen Dance".  I am trying to encourage you to draw with your pen with confidence.  Making marks freely without feeling the need to draw everything first with a pencil.  When you trace a pencil line with a pen, your line looks contrived.  It lacks that life that a loose and lively line, has when drawn freely.  

Supplies: 

sketchbook, pencil, eraser and pens - I used only 2 - Black Permenant ink micron 03 & 05.  If you like coloured pens by all means use them.  I discovered long ago that I was really a black ink artist.  Although I did a number of drawings with coloured pen, I prefer the beauty of the black line.  

Dancing with Your Pen

1.Draw picture frames of varies sizes and shapes on your page. No ruler or pencil, just your 05 pen.  Yes, they will be a bit woobly and certainly not square but enjoy the wonkiness.  I like to go back and put a second line around them to make it look like a frame.  

A pile of Rocks - practise crosshatching shadows

2. Draw a pile of rocks from your imagination. Just pile the rocks up 2 or 3 on top of each other as you fill up one of your drawing boxes. Decide on a source of light and add some shadows. (I use my 03 for this)  Then add a few grasses around them.  

Drawing from your imaginations helps to move away from the idea of 'exactness'.  It allows you to draw lines confidently, not worrying about getting it right.  At the same time, begin to notice your lines.  When drawing the grasses you can see the power of a dot or squiggle.  They can suggest flowers or buds on your grasses.  Adding those shadows helps in practicing your crosshatching. 

 

Tree, stump & bushes - Don't forget a few shadows

3.  Trees and stumps can be fun. Draw bare trees, enjoy the mark making of the grain on the trunks.  It can be any design and still create lots of interest.  Pay attention as your pen tells you what interesting things it can suggest.  Don't forget to add a few shadows. 

Plants, leaves and mountains - Try different line work for shadows

4.  Plants, leaves and mountains puts you in the free flowing mode.  There a many things from nature you can draw from your imagination.  You do not need to outline first with a pencil.  Just start drawing.  

Don't forget a few flowers - make sure your petals are NOT perfect

5.  Graphic Flowers always bring a smile.  Simple clusters of flowers or even 1 big one can get your pen dancing.  By keeping the movement free and loose you end up with very lively petals.  It helps you embrace the wobbliness.  

 

I have suggested a few things that you can draw form your imagination.  I am sure it will inspire you to draw other things as well.  Be sure and make your frames different sizes and shapes.  This will inspire different compositions.  A collection of rock piles would look very different when you vary the sizes, shading and frame shape.

  

Of course you can draw other things, buildings, houses, food, and more.  My only caution is you may find you want to layout in pencil first.  That is a great stepping stone in mixing free hand drawing with layout lines.  But don't underestimate the value of freehand drawing.  It really builds confidence in your mark making.  

More discussion and examples on my YouTube Video: More Ways to Keep Your Pen DANCING 

Upcoming Events: 

4-Day Outdoor Sketching Art Retreat in the Shuswap with Wendy Mould, hosted by Joanne Dennis, June 12-15, 2026.   All inclusive: food, instruction, accommodations and drive from Lower Mainland.  $400-$750 depending on room choices.   https://www.joannedennis.ca/events-list/aventurasretreats/

Outdoor Sketching Mini-Adventure: 

Join Wendy for 2.5 hr in local North Langley parks.  Practical instructions in gettin your sketch on paper and bringing your memories to life.  Mediums: pencil, pen & watercolour. 
Dates: Wednesday or Thursday, June 24/25, July 22/23, or Wednesday, August 5 or Aug 12. It is best to go 10-12:30am as the light is good for shadows. 6-8:30pm also works for evening sketching.  Bring a lunch or small dinner to add to the adventure. 

Individual $85  Small group 2 or 3, $65 ea.  Payment is due once your dates have been confirmed.

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

How to Become Confident with Your Pen Work - Drawing & Painting Tips

Do you remember when you were learning to Ride a BIKE? 

It was hard.  And the ground was hard. Road Rash was not fun.  

Learning to draw confidently with a permanent ink pen is WAY easier!!

Pink Flower Puff - Sketchbook Activity - Freehand Line Work 

I love drawing with black ink. I love sharp crisp lines.  Although, I often use other colours, black is by far my favourite. Learning to draw with a pen, is all about mark making.  Pen work can be used to add mass, to create shapes, to produce texture and enhance the flow of your work.  

Creating interesting marks with your pen confidently is alot like learning to ride your bike.  Learning a few basics before 'going it alone' really helps.  

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There is further discussion on this topic on my YouTube post: Become Friends with Your Pen - The Line 
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Wendy's Drawing with Pen 101 

Start with Confident Line work that sweeps across the page. 

First your materials: 

- .05 or .08 Pigma Permanent Ink Pens.  
(If your book is smaller than 9 x 12, use the smaller pen.   I like black but they do come in other colours.  Steadler pens are a great brand as well and come in these sizes)

- Multi Media Sketchbook: They have smooth paper for drawing on and will take water if you want to add watercolour (I  use the Canson XL 9 x 12) 

- HB pencil, kneaded eraser and vinyl eraser

- 3 favourite watercolours and a brush

That's it!

Make some interesting shapes with your watercolours 

1.  Put a wash on your page: Paint 3 of your favourite colours on your page, making sure to make interesting shapes, keep the colours light, leave white spaces and take some of the colour out to the edges of the pages.  Let it dry completely.  

It is really hard to draw on plain white paper.  It kills your confidence.  Having colour on the page will really help you relax and just draw.  Try it.  

2.  Loosely Draw a Flower Vase: No perfection here.  Take a pencil and lightly draw a vase that is an interesting random shape. Don't worry about symmetry.  Once you have the shape, draw it in one long continuous line with your pen leaving the top open for the flowers that will cover part of it.  

Outline a design on the vase loosely with a pencil and then use your pen to draw it.  Don't trace over the pencil lines just use them as a guide.  Add the details as well - freehand.  

Flower 1: Draw an elongated shape with a center, echoing the shape

3. Draw your Flowers: For this project I will introduce you to 3 different flowers.  Each is to be done freehand with your pen.  The first one will be an odd loose shape and the other two will be circles.  Not perfect circles.  Just loose circles.  

Flower 2: small .5 inch circle with a small circle in the center.

Use a pencil to draw the flower's shape and centers.  For the little flowers (Flower 2)  use your pen to fill in all the details: 3 petals, darken the center and a few directional lines in each petal. For Flower 3 - The Carnation type flower, draw circles of wiggly lines.  The first circle is small, the center and then do several rows around it, to get the size you want.  

Flower 3: Circles of Wiggly Lines 

Draw loose flower circles behind and above your basic 3 flower shapes to fill your vase.  Be sure and have some peeking out from behind, some hanging over the edges and others reaching for the top.  

4.  Take a flower break: Draw lines from the top of your vase to the bottom leaving your design shape in the middle untouched.  Draw the lines freehand, sweeping down the page in a continuous manner.  They do not have to be an exact distance apart.  Let them follow the flow of the vase.  

Add a few embellishments as you fill up your Vase - WIP. 

5.  Add Embellishments: Add some darks using leafy branches, sweeping little lines with little black circles and longer droopy leaves.  I also grounded my vase by putting a lined mat under it.  

6.  Lightly paint your vase and mat: I painted my vase with a light wash of the pink, to make my flowers pop.  I also added a light shadow under the flowers that spilled over the edge of the vase.  I then painted the mat a slightly darker pink.  

Pink Flower Fluff - Sketchbook Activity - Freehand Line Work

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There is further discussion on this topic on my YouTube post: Become Friends with Your Pen - The Line 

Taking Registrations for my Spring/Summer Events: 

•  Join me in the Shuswap for a 4 Day Outdoor Sketching Art Retreat hosted by Joanne Denis, June 20-23, 2025.  I will be the instructor.  This is an all inclusive: food, instruction, accommodations and drive from Lower Mainland.  $350-$600 depending on the room choices.  www.aventurasbc.ca
  
  
• Come join me for An Adventure - Let's go Outdoor Sketching   2.5 hr $65.  This is small group instruction.  Contact me to set up a date. Location: Lower Mainland
  
  
• Save the Date:  next set of 3 Zoom classes Thursdays, October 9, 16 & 23.   Enhancing Your Drawing & Painting Skills.  New focus for each set of classes

Always  Available at Art by Wendy's Studio

Original work, Commissions, Private Drawing Lessons, Prints and Cards of her Work, 

Be sure to like and share my posts.  You won't miss a single post if you Follow by Email 

Have a great Artful Day,

  

Wendy