Useful Tips for Drawing with Ball Pens

Fine drawings created from ball pens are simply magnificent. Unfortunately, many people don’t know how to go about creating the perfect images with ball points. It would probably be easier to learn with documented photos, close-up video capture, and narration, but the following tips can be just as useful to learn one or two things about the technique used.

First, artists should always have a variety of ball pens to create the details of fine drawings. So, one ballpoint can be used to fill areas, and another one for the half-tone detailed areas. Usually, the ink starts to flow out easily after using the pen for some time when filing areas, causing a build up to occur. This is not good for developing detailed areas since a blob of ink can appear on the paper without warning. On the other hand, the build ups may be advantageous for those looking to cover an area in that particular color.

Second, artists who want to create photo realistic effects should be willing to spend the extra time needed to work on a small area, beyond what it would normally take them on other effects. This particular task is time intensive, and artists should be well motivated to gather the needed energy. It would help a lot if the artist was able to create a vivid image in their mind.

Third, right-handed people should always start a drawing from the top left side. This is because the right arm will be brushing over the surface or paper as you work, and it could fade down or ware any ink already on the work surface under the arm. On the same principle, left people should start on the top right side, for the same reasons.

Fourth, it is recommended that artists start their drawing with the hardest or most critical part. For instance, eyes and central features draw a lot of attention, so they should be good starting points for a couple of reasons. If you leave it until you are done with other parts and make a serious error – it being the most challenging bit – you would have wasted a lot of time and effort to that point. However, if you make a mistake at the beginning, you can just start again without having advanced too much. Another reason to start with the hardest parts is to raise your confidence. You will appreciate your work as you proceed with the easier bits.

Fifth, avoid touching the paper or work surface as much as possible. Your hands and skin has natural oils that can easily transfer and be absorbed by the work paper, and over time, the buildup of grease and oils in the paper will impact the application of ball-point pen ink. So, only rest your hands on tissue or some other pieces of paper.

Last, but not least, choose your work surface carefully depending on the desired outcome. Many good artists use bleach white flat surface cards. Rough surfaced papers, like those intended for watercolor and charcoal artists, can interfere with the shading because of bumps in the paper, unless you are drawing something with that kind of texture, like brickwork. When doing solid colored drawings, you should consider card or thick paper that can absorb the pressure without damage.

There are many ball pen manufacturers, but if you use Elkos Pens, you won’t have to use any other pens for your art work. They are fine enough to allow sharp detailing, and loose enough to release ink at a steady rate when you need to fill certain areas. For more information on Elkos pens, visit www.elkospens.com.