ART TIP: Making Your Own Drawing Sticks
Sunday, June 26, 2016
Just make a few long carves with the knife edge along the end you choose for the nib. Go slow, no hurry here, and get closer and closer to the opposite edge without weakening it. Look closely at the pics above for ideas about this. And after all they are just sticks, so don't worry if you munch a few.
I also, on this batch, sliced a slit down the end of the nib. Maybe 1/2 inch or so, depending on the stick. It helps the pen to hold more ink. My suggestion is to hold the nib front side down on the board, then slice thru that way.
Once you start drawing with your stick you will know what type of nib you enjoy the most. It's different for each of us artists.
You will need:
- cutting mat
- a very sharp new blade on your cutting knife
- very sharp scissors
- paints, any acrylic paint, paint pen if you like, craft paints are fine. I also used some of my black acrylic ink.
Make different nibs, that is, cut some off straight for more calligraphic effect, and a couple pointed nicely. I do refine my nib ends with a sanding sponge at end. And sometimes I sand slightly the branch so that it feels smooth to my hand.
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| Bottom left picture, this is the position to have the nib/stick in when SLICING a center line. Hope that makes sense! |
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| these are unfinished, but do have my favorite stripes and dots. i will get around to finishing these soon. you can see that i have already initiated one of them! |
Let me know how you like this project by commenting below. Thanks!
Blessings and Paint On!
~Joanie