Pen drawings

I recently bought a couple of fine-nibbed drawing pens. I used to draw in pen a lot; there’s something quite liberating about it. Not being able to rub out your mistakes means you don’t have to be precious about the drawing… it’s going to be a sketch rather than a finished piece. And somehow, that makes me draw better. Small, quick portraits like these. Freer, more energetic. The last was particularly interesting to do because this is a relatively new face, one I’m not that familiar with. Surprising what a difference that makes. Surprising how the features of a familiar face flow from the pen so readily. Maybe it’s not surprising at all; I’ve just not thought about it before.