Long, long ago
before there were Sharpies,
folks wrote and drew with these.
I do love the line quality I get with my pen and inks, but I've been thinking that I would like to try drawing with a real quill.
Coincidentally, Lil'White and Jenny have been dropping feathers willy-nilly all over the yard. So I collected a few and brought them inside.
On each feather shaft, I first gave a hasty slash with an Exacto knife
and then made a little slice down the center of the tip.
Could it really be that easy?
. . . . . . . . .
I went straight to the studio to give it a try.
Lil'White's flimsy fluff feather was pretty useless as a tool.
But Jenny's sturdy wing feather
provided for some interesting mark-making,
flourishing,
scratches and spatters.
That afternoon, I found a turkey tail feather in the woods.
Jackpot! Best quill yet!
. . . . . . . . . .
Lines.
Basic and beautiful.
Here are some lines for your inspiration:
Qur'an: you don't even need to understand the language to appreciate these rhythmic lines.
Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes: yes, his stories are entertaining. But his lines are astounding.
Saul Steinberg: line and wit in perfect balance. --- you can see the original image here at the Library of Congress CartoonAmerica exhibit.
Experiment and enjoy!