Pen art is something that can’t be erased, so once you mess up, it’s on that canvas forever. Trying to decipher whether a piece of art has been written with pens or not is tough, especially if you aren’t considered an expert on the subject.
Believe it or not, there are tons of people on the planet that can actually find the difference between a “pen painting” and a regular one (sometime the similarities can be quite scary, considering pens don’t drip as the paint normally would). Some of the best pen-using artists out there can make their work appear as if they used pastels, when they really only used pens (and nothing more).
A pen is much more than just a writing utensil, it’s a way to go about expressing your creativity. How many times have you had an unreliable pen die on you? Alright, now try and imagine that happening while you’re in the middle of a masterful drawing. You’re going to lose the flow that you initially had, as well as the spot that you were currently working on. Reliable pens are a must if you’re looking to get into “pen art”, because why would you settle for some of the low-quality stuff?
What’s the Difference?
Pen art is a lot more substantial than some other forms, especially when it comes to using pencil. It essentially means that you’ve got to get everything correct the first time through, or else you’re going to be left with a piece that has been tainted (in a sense). I know a lot of artists out there happen to be perfectionists, and if you’re using a pen, you’ve really got to be perfect.
Pens aren’t usually looked at as being the “go-to” tool for any artist, but with some practice (and a lot of patience), you’re going to be able to make use of pens in ways you never thought possible. Compare two pieces of art side by side, have one created with pen and another created by some other means. I like to use water colors, as a lot of high-quality pen artists have the ability to make their pieces look as if they made use of water colors in them. It’s a tricky thing to get the hang of, but it makes spotting the ink much tougher.
But enough about the experts; can you spot the difference? Take this quiz and test your skills!
Whether you’re looking to get into art, or simply just looking for pens to write down your notes with, online pen stores such as The Pen Warehouse are an excellent place to get started.
