Creative Jumpstarts: Black Ink Sketch with Color Accent

In this jump start, I want you to divide the paper into four section, put out some permanent black ink, I use Higgins Eternal, and grab a large flexible round brush that makes a nice point and holds a lot of paint. Pick a theme, mine is pine trees, rocks and horizon, and without any preliminary drawing sketch the theme directly with the brush. In each section, try for a different feeling, and vary the placement of the major shapes. Remember to really try and focus on using the brush and running the ink in a very dark and creative fashion. If you practice this lesson enough times your brushwork will really improve and you will begin to develop a very simple and direct method for painting the objects you are interested in putting in your paintings.

As a follow-up to the first part of this jumpstart, choose one color to act as an accent for the sketch. I have used cobalt blue and really tried to just put the color in without making any attempt at producing finished paintings.