How much is my pen and ink drawing worth?
Have you recently inherited or purchased a pen and ink drawing and want to know its value? Mearto provides quick and affordable online appraisals of pen and ink drawings. All you have to do is click on the “Start Appraisal” button above and follow the steps to send us information about and images of your pen and ink drawing. One of our qualified and experienced specialists will review and get back to you with a fair market and insurance value, typically within 48 hours.
Have questions about the valuation provided, or would you like some advice about selling your pen and ink drawing? We are here to help! Our platform allows you to chat back and forth with a specialist to ensure that all of your questions are answered.
What are the different pen and ink drawing techniques?
Pen and ink drawings are created by applying ink to a (usually) paper surface. Pen and ink drawings are usually characterized by the bold contrast of using black ink on white or lightly colored paper.
There are four traditional types of shading techniques that are used in pen and ink drawings:
Who are some notable artists that work in pen and ink?
Pen and ink drawing was a method historically used for artists to create studies for larger works however, in addition to being used and recognized as a medium for final masterpieces, artistic “studies” can also be considered finished and valuable works of art. Artists like Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Peter Paul Rubens, Vincent Van Gogh, Egon Shiele, and Kathe Kolwitz are all exceptional examples of pen and ink artists and have had their works in pen and ink highly valued.
What damage can occur with ink drawings and washes on paper?
Ink can be applied to paper in a variety of ways. When ink is applied to paper as an aqueous solution (meaning-waster or liquid base), if too much water or liquid ink is added to paper (depending on the thickness of the paper) the paper can shrink or pucker as the medium dries.
Ink drawings are also subject to smudging and damage from dirt, so it is important to ensure that the finished piece is varnished with a fixative (if the original artist did not do this, consult with a conservator). This finish also gives the drawing a uniform look.
Additionally, pen and ink drawings are susceptible to the following forms of damage: