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Denise Cat

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Posted
The blue biro has now been started.
output

Tanja Gerster

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Posted
Interesting start Denise… I’m not a great fan of biro, I never use them for writing, so let’s see how you go with it. Irrespective of the implement, I don’t like cross hatching as a means of creating shading etc…( which you haven’t used), it doesn’t look good in my view, and was pretty much outlawed at my college…
Alan Bickley on 28/03/2026 16:18:35
@Alan: The translation is definitely failing here, so please excuse the question: what do you mean by saying that you don't like hatching, which is used to create shading, and that it was forbidden at your college? Aren't shadows always created (except with a brush) in some form of "hatching"? Hatching = a series of many strokes, just as an example. Sorry if I don't understand this... it's surely a language barrier. Denise, I find this extremely interesting, especially because it's done with a "Biro". We all know how "slippery" a pen can suddenly become, from one second to the next, especially when it picks up a fine hair or a tiny speck of fluff. I find it absolutely stunning so far and am eagerly awaiting the work in progress; good luck!!

Alan Bickley

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Tanja… hatching is fine, I’m talking about cross-hatching which are strokes combined which go in both directions…  Hatching is a series of parallel strokes which is what I always use… it just looks better in my opinion!

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by Alan Bickley

My Profile pic16

Lewis Cooper

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It’s going so well Denise.  I think all pen work is a lengthy business, when it’s just the pen.  That’s why pen and wash is popular I guess.  I wish I had the patience just to do penwork.  So I tend to do it small scale when I do it.
output

Tanja Gerster

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Tanja… hatching is fine, I’m talking about cross-hatching which are strokes combined which go in both directions…  Hatching is a series of parallel strokes which is what I always use… it just looks better in my opinion!
Alan Bickley on 29/03/2026 16:33:33
ahh, i understand now - thank you so much!! 
Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

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It's taking shape really well Denise. An interesting medium - I've seen it used on PAOTY to great effect and yours is working out well too. Look forward to seeing it develop. 

Edited
by Andrew Roles

Denise Cat

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Thanks Tanja, like Alan, I never use biro not even for writing. The ink flow isn't smooth. This is A3 size Lewis. I agree, biro work, I have found slow going. I think the blue will now go on quickly. Thanks for your input Andrew. It's an interesting project for me to try out.

Denise Cat

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I've worked on this a couple more hours today. Not sure what I think. I'm still figuring out shadows as I go along. Probably another 4 hours of work still to do I should imagine.
IMG_3630

Paul (Dixie) Dean

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Posted
It’s coming along beautifully Denise , the mix of the two colours are giving its a very nice purple touch , great fit the shadows etc. 
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Tanja Gerster

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That's really great Denise! I'm just thinking that ballpoint pens will easily last for the next 500 years.

Alan Bickley

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Nice work Denise… looks fairly accurate to the original charcoal drawing and goes to show what can be achieved using a biro! If I was to have a go at it, I’d probably work a lot looser and in my own style - more along the lines of Rembrandt… food for thought, maybe I’ll buy a couple of biro’s…

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by Alan Bickley

With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, Napa

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I don't know if biro ink has changed since I last used it, but .... I found it bled through the paper, especially the blue, developed a rather ugly sheen, and also faded - this was more true of the very cheap biros than of, e.g., Parker ball-points, but while such pens can be useful sketching tools, and reproduce well for prints,  I wouldn't use them for more considered work. But Denise likes to try everything - which is undoubtedly the best way to learn.  A late friend of mine used them, restricting himself to black: but then, he'd have drawn with the edge of a house-brick if he thought he could get a mark out of it.  Some of us are made of more conservative instincts   ...  I do have hundreds of inky doodles, though, populating various notepads, backs of envelopes, advertising material.... so I suppose I  DO use the biro.
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