Comments on: The Pen and Ink Experience – Ink Wash

By: matt

matt — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 13:12:41 +0000

In reply to Steve Isenberg. Hi Steve, The newer videos and lessons do have closed captioning. This course is one of the older ones.

By: Steve Isenberg

Steve Isenberg — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 17:12:47 +0000

Why are there no closed captions or subtitles on any of your videos?

By: Ed Tam

Ed Tam — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 18:56:57 +0000

Hi Matt,
So thinking about trying this method. I see there is a question above about brush care. But how to clean them? Just rinse and let dry?

Thanks your classes are helping a lot.

Ed from Iowa

By: Mark Browne

Mark Browne — Mon, 24 Sep 2018 21:13:51 +0000

Hi Mat

i have just joined and have a question… can i use a standard ink pot used for fountain dip pens?

By: matt

matt — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 13:22:27 +0000

In reply to Anne Lampman. Hi Anne, I try to keep them separate since the ink stains the brush. But if staining doesn't bother you, you can use them interchangeably.

By: Anne Lampman

Anne Lampman — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 06:25:40 +0000

Hi Matt:
Love your courses. I have a question about cleaning ink from the brush. Is it best to keep your good watercolor brushes for watercolor painting and some for ink. what’s the best way to clean the ink from the brush? thanks, Anne Vancouver, BC

By: Gary Cordrey

Gary Cordrey — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:47:38 +0000

That worked. I see what you mean now. Thanks.

By: matt

matt — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 15:18:14 +0000

In reply to Gary Cordrey. Hi Gary, Yes, very very little ink is required to produce the light values. If you use a plate or a palette, you may just put a small dot of ink to begin the mixing, and pull small bits of it into larger quantities of water.

By: Gary Cordrey

Gary Cordrey — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 22:01:01 +0000

I’m having trouble with the addition of water to the ink having much of an effect. The ink tends to take over. My first attempt at a tonal chart was almost all blacks. Then I tried a controlled experiment. I did different ratios of ink to water in each block, 1/1, 1/3, 1/5, … 1/15, with some difference but not much. I let them thoroughly dry. I kept going on up to 1/30 which of course was some lighter but what I’d consider a mid-tone, far from light. Adding this much water doesn’t seem to be what I see you doing in the video.

I’ve used graphite pencil and colored pencil and did OK with the earlier pen and ink lessons, but I’ve never done watercolors. Maybe I’m missing some technique from there. I’d appreciate any guidance you could offer.

Gary

By: matt

matt — Wed, 30 Dec 2015 14:02:36 +0000

In reply to Nigel Tan. Hi Nigel, The size of the brush you use is entirely up to you. Choose a brush that feels best to you in your hands.