Line hierarchy
When sketching it’s an excellent idea to have a range of
pens, pencils and colouring media at your disposal because
the thickness of the lines in a sketch are extremely important.
There is a hierarchy associated with the line and its values
vary in sketching. A fine line can be used for shading
and detail and a thicker, heavier line will suggest form
and substance.
Different drawing media will affect the line hierarchy.
Fibre-point pens, which are available in a range of nib sizes,
are useful for capturing detail. Pencils can also supply a
range of line weights, as well as being available in soft (B)
and hard (H) leads. Using varied pencil types will allow a
range of differently styled sketches to be developed.
A 0.5mm propelling pencil, with a range of hard and soft
leads, is another versatile drawing tool.
Sketching with a black ink pen is an important skill to
develop because the contrast that the ink line, produce
against the paper, and the permanency of the line, produce
a ‘definite’ image.
One tool that probably isn’t necessary is an eraser. When
sketching, practice is all important and even the mistakes
can be beneficial, so it makes sense not to rub them out!
Remember, a sketchbook is a collection of drawings and
reflects the development of techniques and ideas.