One Toke Over the line

So...below are three recent line drawings i made in my new studio.  I used Sumi Ink, which originated in China over 3,000 years ago.  It has become a large part of Japanese and Korean culture in traditional painting.  Its a medium where you can get expressive imagery with splashes,  fluid runs and fast brush or pen work.  The beauty of the material is that you can also get really slow fine tuned lines as well.  I am experimenting a bit with it so here are some of the new works.  The top piece is in the beginning stages but I kind of like it as is.

Lizzy Weinberg 15"x22" sumi ink on Arches (early stages of painting)
1/2011

sketchbook studies with sumi ink 1/2011

"Day of the Dead Study" sumi ink on Arches 15"x22" 1/2011

Also included below are some ink drawings by different artists in their unique styles.  I think they all have a powerful impact.  1st John Singer Sargent's study of hands, created in 1908 showing that less is more.  He is most definatley a master in drawing the figure and shows only what is neccesarry.   The next piece is by Anastasia Demson.  The piece is balanced with concentrated areas and vignettes showing control and skill in her line work.   The last artist, Ralph Steadman, who has infamously illustrated Hunter S. Thompson many times and created the artwork for Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. Steadman  has a totally different way of using ink.  His pieces are loud and sinister and playful at the same time.  The man created his own font to show you  how unique and stylistic his ink work is.  I included a cool tribute video to Thompson with some of his coolest pieces.