Martin J Benoit, WFA * LOUISIANA INK ART
- The Drawing Process -

Here's the step-by-step process Louisiana artist Martin J Benoit uses to produce his beautiful pen-&-ink artwork.

It begins as an idea.

While traveling, looking through books, newspapers, magazines, or just while thinking, an idea will come along for a new drawing. If I see something that I think I might like to draw while traveling, I photograph it.

It could be years before I actually get to the work, but because I still have the photo I can do it even if the subject itself is gone. I may use a subject in the photo as part of the background and not as the focal point. I can even take a photo from modern times and set it in a scene from an earlier part of this century.

The subjects are collected for the drawing.

After the idea is formed, I collect the necessary elements for the work. This may be from photos I have taken, newspaper clippings, magazine articles, and such. I strive for accuracy in my work. One drawing took three years to track down the necessary components!

Most drawings are from my own photos; I use other sources for reference only. I change directions people are facing, use only a face or clothes, or use the buildings for background. I don't refer to other artist's work. Since an artist's work is not entirely true to nature, any imperfections will end up accented as a result. My own works are not perfect; just as perfect as I am able to make it.

This keeps the drawing I produce unique and avoids any copyright infringement problems.

The sketch is composed.

After determining the size of the drawing, I sketch an outline. A ruler, pencil, eraser, and calculator are used for this part. Because my work is very precise, exact calculations ensure that all the scene elements will be in agreement with one another when I am ready to apply the ink.

So, you can see, kids, math is important!

The inking is begun.

There are two times during a drawing that I get nervous. One is on the first ink line. I always wonder if I still have the talent the complete the task I have undertaken.

Ink lines are placed over the pencil sketches. Some are firm lines that will define a section. Others are dotted lines for sections that will interact with others. When the outline is completed, the pencil marks are erased and the next step begins.

The "fill-in" of the drawing.

This the most time consuming phase. I proceed to "fill-in" the drawing outline by working in sections. A specific area to complete is assigned as my day's work. One square inch sometimes requires an hour or more of inking to complete. The detail demands it.

If a section is completed ahead of schedule for the day, I give myself the option of stopping and admiring that day's work or to go ahead and do a bit more. It's doing a little bit more that gets you to your goals faster, so I usually opt for the bit more.

Completing the drawing.

I mentioned two times I get nervous during a drawing. The other time is when a drawing is nearly completed. I worry about a making a mistake before I can finish. By then, the drawing looks so beautiful that I don't think I could do it again!

I consider a drawing completed when the image on paper matches the one in my head as completely as I am able to do it.

The completion of a drawing is BLISS! That I have been able to take a blank, white piece of paper and transform it into a piece of art truly amazes me-every time. It makes me want to do more drawings. And the cycle begins anew.

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