koukla carolyn

Sanguine Leaf; Pitt pen in kraft paper sketchbook; 2008

I really admire someone who can handle a pen. The reason behind that is because it is so difficult to hide mistakes that one must have a clear vision and real drawing skills to be successful. For me, pen and ink is not easy but it does have a sort of meditative quality that makes it ideal for calming my nerves after a long day at work. In this sketch, the parallel lines that made up the shadow were tedious, but relaxing so I could let my mind wander. Another reason why pen and ink is very appealing to me now is that it is one of the cheapest mediums out there—perfect for recessions. It’s been a long time since I’ve done a serious pen and ink drawing, but I have been considering tackling something quite impressive in the near future. We’ll see if it ever works out.