Tools my Father Used

I’ve drawn with pen and brush and ink since I started drawing. My father used a dip pen and ink for most his career as a cartoonist. It’s the tools I ‘inherited’ metaphorically. And literally. As my dad aged and stopped drawing his pens and nibs migrated into my life. And there they sat. Until a few months ago when I was struck by a desire to work in a more meditative manner again. (I can’t imagine why. World!?)

People ask what tools I use to do my large pen and inks and this is a short post about them.

When I was drawing political cartoons and comic strips (way back when) I often used a brush and ink. But a pen was always the most natural tool for me to draw with. The photos below document a few of my tools. And some of the inherited materials from my father.

Drawing with pen and ink is meditative, obsessive in the best way, and I find it relaxing. Especially once you let up on the ‘perfection’ addiction most of us creators suffer from. It is - what it is - in a way digital work can never be. Because digital work is truly ephemeral and can be wiped away with a single click. With these traditional drawing tools what your hand does, stays. What you didn’t expect to happen, happened and now you do your best.

You COULD insist on not using the digital editing tools when you draw digitally: Never use undo for instance. You can decide not to use the unique aspects the platform offers. That’s a game. I might try that, but it seems rather silly to deny the most important aspects of drawing digitally when I’d posit that those tools ARE the platform. And I still draw digitally everyday. I am not turning my back on digital illustration but I have come full circle to appreciate the things it can’t offer.

I’ve enjoyed filling my in between-deadline time with these drawings and I think there may just be a short graphic novel in my future that I draw traditionally. Take my breath away and live with imperfection.