Vegetables and Fine Line Pen

By Susie Hartley

One of my preferred materials to teach in art class is the fine line pen.

Students consistently find these lessons engaging, as they have the opportunity to express their individual perspectives on composition. Each student demonstrates their distinctive use of tone, texture, and lighting, which enhances the character of the subject.

This week, we focused on vegetables, with a particular emphasis on onions and bell peppers.

Each group displayed a variety of vegetables, illuminated by desk lamps to enhance any shadows.

I organized a collection of fine line sketches and artist books for reference, enabling students to explore.

They began by sketching the forms in pencil, subsequently refining them with a fine line pen. I demonstrated techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching, and varying the speed of movement.

The students achieved outstanding results, which they all took home.