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Rendering in Pen and Ink: The Classic Book On Pen and Ink Techniques for Artists, Illustrators, Architects, and Designers
Arthur L. Guptill's classic Rendering in Pen and Ink has long been regarded as the most comprehensive book ever published on the subject of ink drawing. This is a book designed to delight and instruct anyone who draws with pen and ink, from the professional artist to the amateur and hobbyist. It is of particular interest to architects, interior designers, landscape architects, industrial designers, illustrators, and renderers.
Contents include a review of materials and tools of rendering; handling the pen and building tones; value studies; kinds of outline and their uses; drawing objects in light and shade; handling groups of objects; basic principles of composition; using photographs, study of the work of well-known artists; on-the-spot sketching; representing trees and other landscape features; drawing architectural details; methods of architectural rendering; examination of outstanding examples of architectural rendering; solving perspective and other rendering problems; handling interiors and their accessories; and finally, special methods of working with pen including its use in combination with other media.
The book is profusely illustrated with over 300 drawings that include the work of famous illustrators and renderers of architectural subjects such as Rockwell Kent, Charles Dana Gibson, James Montgomery Flagg, Willy Pogany, Reginald Birch, Harry Clarke, Edward Penfield, Joseph Clement Coll, F.L. Griggs, Samuel V. Chamberlain, Louis C. Rosenberg, John Floyd Yewell, Chester B. Price, Robert Lockwood, Ernest C. Peixotto, Harry C. Wilkinson, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, and Birch Burdette Long. Best of all, Arthur Guptill enriches the text with drawings of his own.
Contents include a review of materials and tools of rendering; handling the pen and building tones; value studies; kinds of outline and their uses; drawing objects in light and shade; handling groups of objects; basic principles of composition; using photographs, study of the work of well-known artists; on-the-spot sketching; representing trees and other landscape features; drawing architectural details; methods of architectural rendering; examination of outstanding examples of architectural rendering; solving perspective and other rendering problems; handling interiors and their accessories; and finally, special methods of working with pen including its use in combination with other media.
The book is profusely illustrated with over 300 drawings that include the work of famous illustrators and renderers of architectural subjects such as Rockwell Kent, Charles Dana Gibson, James Montgomery Flagg, Willy Pogany, Reginald Birch, Harry Clarke, Edward Penfield, Joseph Clement Coll, F.L. Griggs, Samuel V. Chamberlain, Louis C. Rosenberg, John Floyd Yewell, Chester B. Price, Robert Lockwood, Ernest C. Peixotto, Harry C. Wilkinson, Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue, and Birch Burdette Long. Best of all, Arthur Guptill enriches the text with drawings of his own.
256 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1976
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 5, 2012
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This is probably the ultimate book for learning pen and ink drawings. It was published in 1976 and has been reprinted since.
It's filled with easy-to-follow lessons that teaches how effects and textures can be created. There are lots of techniques to learn.
The pen used back then and featured in this book is the quill pen. Ballpoint pen users might not be able to replicate the quill pen effects, specifically the drawing of thin and thick lines by applying different pressure. Other than that, the techniques can be used with other pens.
There are lessons on tone building, working with light and shadow, sketching outdoors, drawing from photographs, composition and more. The examples included are mainly on still life, architecture and landscapes. They are beautiful and inspiring, from notable artists, and all come with commentary and analysis. Some of the work are really exquisite.
This book is recommended to anyone who loves this medium. Good for all skill levels.
September 12, 2012
Easily the best book on Pen and Ink techniques. Very thorough in its approach to both techniques and examples. All the illustrations are wonderfully rendered.
Shelved as 'blackflagged-dnf'
October 9, 2023the only reason this book didn't make me cry like a little girl is because I stopped reading it. DNF for now and I look forward to perusing it once I learn this language better.
July 19, 2013
This is the QUINTESSENTIAL book for learning how to draw with pen and ink. Yes, the text itself is quite old - but don't write off this book.
Various nibs are discussed as well as ink to use and other tools. You also get basic exercises on making lines and patterns. The book goes into detail to explain ways of rendering objects, arranging your compositions, light and shadow, and all the intermediate techniques that you need to render with a pen. There's also a superb selection of artwork from various pen & ink artists to see how others work.
The only problem with this book is the various pen nibs mentioned. The book recommends Gillott nibs like the 170, 303, and 404. If you live in the USA, Gillott pens are next to impossible to get; you'll mainly find Speedball and Hunt nibs in art supply stores.
Other than that one flaw, this is a book that is a must-have for anyone who wants to drawn with pen & ink.
Various nibs are discussed as well as ink to use and other tools. You also get basic exercises on making lines and patterns. The book goes into detail to explain ways of rendering objects, arranging your compositions, light and shadow, and all the intermediate techniques that you need to render with a pen. There's also a superb selection of artwork from various pen & ink artists to see how others work.
The only problem with this book is the various pen nibs mentioned. The book recommends Gillott nibs like the 170, 303, and 404. If you live in the USA, Gillott pens are next to impossible to get; you'll mainly find Speedball and Hunt nibs in art supply stores.
Other than that one flaw, this is a book that is a must-have for anyone who wants to drawn with pen & ink.
October 6, 2020
Great book on ink rendering techniques. Starting with basic mark making, everything is covered like tone building, light and shadow, textures, composition etc. The book is also filled with many useful pen and ink illustrations by masters.
January 25, 2019
Instant buy for me after I saw a friend's copy. Starting from the simplest elements, the book teaches with great care and attention to detail everything you need to become decent with a pen. It's not at all hand-wavy and motivational like a lot of the “You can draw now!� books, on the contrary, the author stresses all the time how careful and diligent you must be to succeed, which is refreshing and strangely comforting.
The book is focused mostly on drawing buildings, a bit of nature and interiors. The onus is on technique: what kind of strokes and manner you can use to draw a particular scene. It doesn't actually teach you to draw, but goes extremely deep into drawing with a pen.
The true value of this book is in practice and diligently following the numerous exercises.
The book is focused mostly on drawing buildings, a bit of nature and interiors. The onus is on technique: what kind of strokes and manner you can use to draw a particular scene. It doesn't actually teach you to draw, but goes extremely deep into drawing with a pen.
The true value of this book is in practice and diligently following the numerous exercises.
February 24, 2019
An amazing book. The best I have read for pen and Ink work. My progress as an artist was deeply enhanced by this book
October 29, 2019
HOLY SHIT
so I’ve spent the majority of this year working on my portfolio for a tattoo apprenticeship. I’m not gonna lie, while there are moments of true euphoria, improving your drawing and painting skills is hard. You start to realise how much practice everyone you admire has put in. It’s honestly not always an uplifting thought.
But a fun thing that does happen is that you start to zero in on what you really enjoy. Even if they’re aspects of drawing that you’re spectacularly weak in.
I love pen drawings. I spent most of my recent prop painting career in the world of washes, and colour and getting something to look just interesting and varied enough that the viewers eye only glances over it, before becoming reabsorbed in the Thor throwing his stupid hammer or whatever.
Pen drawing is not like that. It’s precise, it has something clear to say and if you practice it sings.
I’ve been cobbling together YouTube videos on the subject for months, I’ve learned snippets from other books, but this book? This is the granddaddy I’ve been PINING for.
Everything I’ve been trying to learn is in it, laid out clearly and concisely. I’ve been stuck in value painting for a few weeks- now I see there’s a whole bunch of stuff I should have tackled first. I’m just so happy I found this. I’ve read it through once, not really doing any of the excercises but I’m so looking forward to sinking my teeth into them tonight.
A plus book. A godsend. A literal blessing.
so I’ve spent the majority of this year working on my portfolio for a tattoo apprenticeship. I’m not gonna lie, while there are moments of true euphoria, improving your drawing and painting skills is hard. You start to realise how much practice everyone you admire has put in. It’s honestly not always an uplifting thought.
But a fun thing that does happen is that you start to zero in on what you really enjoy. Even if they’re aspects of drawing that you’re spectacularly weak in.
I love pen drawings. I spent most of my recent prop painting career in the world of washes, and colour and getting something to look just interesting and varied enough that the viewers eye only glances over it, before becoming reabsorbed in the Thor throwing his stupid hammer or whatever.
Pen drawing is not like that. It’s precise, it has something clear to say and if you practice it sings.
I’ve been cobbling together YouTube videos on the subject for months, I’ve learned snippets from other books, but this book? This is the granddaddy I’ve been PINING for.
Everything I’ve been trying to learn is in it, laid out clearly and concisely. I’ve been stuck in value painting for a few weeks- now I see there’s a whole bunch of stuff I should have tackled first. I’m just so happy I found this. I’ve read it through once, not really doing any of the excercises but I’m so looking forward to sinking my teeth into them tonight.
A plus book. A godsend. A literal blessing.
February 19, 2015
A comprehensive survey of traditional pen and ink illustration techniques featuring hundreds of works from 70+ artists. Heavy emphasis on architectural subjects. An excellent go-to reference for solving rendering problems when doing work in pen and ink.
December 18, 2024
Had to return this one after reaching the max renewal limit as well lol. This book is so, so, SO good. The incredible amount of knowledge here and the illustrations are inspiring, makes you want to grab a pen and just start going at it. Introduced me to a number of great artists. The only issue is the formatting with multiple columns of text and placement of example images that frankly made things challenging to read at times, but it's a book that's meant to be savored over time anyway, so I can stand to flip back and forth and use two bookmarks to hold my place. Definitely going to purchase this one for my own collection!
August 16, 2018
This is the best book on pen & ink technique ever written. It's comprehensive, easy-to-read, and filled with instructive and beautifully-drawn examples. I've been a professional artist for many years, and tutored a number of artists along the way, so I've read a LOT of books on art techniques. I believe that if you ever had to choose just ONE book on the subject of ink rendering, it would be this one.
Arthur Guptill's books on pencil, color, and oil painting are all exceptional as well. You can never go wrong with this author!
Arthur Guptill's books on pencil, color, and oil painting are all exceptional as well. You can never go wrong with this author!
April 17, 2022
Pen & Ink is my most favorite drawing medium so far and this is *the* book about it. A lot of examples, I am keeping this book on my table to reproduce some of them when I have a spare attention CPU to work on it.
April 29, 2022
Studied Arthur L. Guptill’s work when this book was first published,
a pleasure to have this edition on the shelf to consult at will.
This is a brilliant book for anyone into or interested in pen and ink,
the best book to have for complete coverage of the subject.
a pleasure to have this edition on the shelf to consult at will.
This is a brilliant book for anyone into or interested in pen and ink,
the best book to have for complete coverage of the subject.
December 8, 2020
I wanted to learn how to draw again. Learning wayyyy more with this book than I learned in college
December 24, 2021
Read in a day - a must-read for designers <3
Read
June 7, 2022I'm going to have to return to this one. It's been so long since I've opened it I might as well start over
September 7, 2022
THE go-to book on pen and ink illustration and techniques.
The bible for anyone meaning to teach themselves how to render in that medium.
The book is an utter blessing.
Buy it.
The bible for anyone meaning to teach themselves how to render in that medium.
The book is an utter blessing.
Buy it.
April 7, 2025
The air between us feels thick with unspoken desire. Let's see where it leads.
May 2, 2019
The illustrations in this book are absolutely gorgeous! There's nothing like learning to draw from master drawings! The book is lovely, detailed and enormously helpful. My only complaint is that the print is so fine that it becomes an immediate challenge to read. Nonetheless, I look forward to referring to this book to improve on my own drawing!
October 5, 2008
Some of the old art instruction books are still the best reference. Lovely basic techniques & lots of beautiful examples of pen an ink drawing from masters like Aubrey Beardsley, James Montgomery Flagg, Charles Dana Gibson etc...
December 5, 2008
This one looks like a great overview of materials and techniques for doing pen and ink drawings, or architectural drawings. I had to take it back before I finished reading the whole book, but my library has it, so it will be there as a handy reference.
January 11, 2012
Possibly the best book for learning to use pen and ink. Despite being first published in 1976, it is thorough, detailed, shows you how to execute various pen and ink techniques and gives many examples from other pen and ink artists' work. Highly recommended.
March 20, 2009
Very good collection of reference material for the hatching, great samples from various masters, some solid instructions on composition and techniques.
July 31, 2010
Worked with it too.
Currently reading
May 9, 2014i think it is so interested book for me.
June 30, 2015
The best book on "teaching to sketch" I've ever read. Must read for architects.
January 2, 2016
One of the best books ever written on the subject. An essential.
Want to read
August 22, 2015rendering in pen and ink / Arthur L Guptill
Currently reading
December 9, 2016Nice
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