I am loving every moment of the lithographic rubbing ink that I’ve been using in these small 8″ x 10″ sketches. People always think that these drawings are charcoal drawings at first, when actually the behavior of the lithographic rubbing ink could not be more different from charcoal. I feel like the best way to describe it is to say that the rubbing ink is like drawing with tar: thick, greasy, and uncontrollably messy.
Another aspect that I like about the rubbing ink is that it doesn’t erase. Many people might see this as a major disadvantage, but what I enjoy about this quality is that I’ve forced to deal with and react to every mark that I make. With an eraser, there is too much indecision, too much back-and-forth with the material that holds me back from moving forward. When I’m working with the rubbing ink, every mark I put down is an instant commitment. You have no choice but to back up each mark with bold confidence.
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Clara Lieu 