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Ink & Imagination

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Lesson Plan

Ink Techniques Breakdown

Students will experiment with ink pens and brushes to produce high-contrast, textured illustrations, then apply peer feedback to refine and bolden their designs.

This lesson builds fine motor skills and visual awareness of contrast and texture, fostering creativity and collaborative critique in a supportive small-group setting.

Audience

7th Grade Group

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Hands-on experiments paired with peer review.

Materials

Ink Pens and Brushes, Black Ink Bottles, Mixed-Weight Drawing Paper Sheets, High-Contrast Illustration, Texture Swatch Station, Ink Pattern Templates, and Peer Critique Chat

Prep

Teacher Preparation

10 minutes

Step 1

Introduction & Demo

10 minutes

  • Present key ink techniques via High-Contrast Illustration
  • Demonstrate brush vs. pen strokes for bold lines and textures
  • Discuss contrast: light vs. dark areas and how to achieve them
  • Check for understanding; prompt students to identify examples

Step 2

Texture Exploration

10 minutes

  • Distribute Texture Swatch Station
  • Students rotate through swatch prompts, sampling different patterns (cross-hatch, stipple, dry-brush)
  • Encourage experimentation: vary pressure and speed
  • Circulate to support students who need extra guidance (differentiation)

Step 3

High-Contrast Sketching

15 minutes

  • Hand out paper and Ink Pattern Templates as optional guides
  • Students sketch a simple subject (e.g., leaf, silhouette) emphasizing bold blacks and white space
  • Incorporate at least two texture techniques from the swatch activity
  • Teacher circulates, offering one-on-one support and formative feedback

Step 4

Peer Critique

10 minutes

  • Students pair up and exchange illustrations
  • Using Peer Critique Chat, each student gives two compliments and one suggestion on contrast or texture
  • Encourage constructive language: “I like… because…” and “You could…”
  • Teacher models one critique cycle and monitors tone and depth

Step 5

Reflection & Cleanup

5 minutes

  • Reconvene as whole group; invite 2–3 volunteers to share what they learned about contrast or texture
  • Highlight notable techniques and improvements
  • Students tidy workstations and return materials
  • Collect illustrations for informal assessment of technique mastery and creativity
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Slide Deck

High-Contrast Ink Illustration Techniques

Explore how black and white areas play together to create striking images. Today we’ll learn key techniques and then try them ourselves!

Welcome students! Introduce today’s focus on creating bold, high-contrast ink illustrations. Explain how mastering contrast and texture will elevate their drawings.

What Is Contrast?

• Contrast is the difference between dark (ink) and light (paper).
• Strong contrast makes shapes pop and guides the viewer’s eye.
• Think of silhouettes, shadows, and bold outlines.

Define contrast clearly. Show real-world examples (comic art, calligraphy) and point out light vs. dark balance. Ask students for other examples they’ve seen.

Pens vs. Brushes

• Ink Pens: precise lines, control, consistent flow.
• Brushes: variable width, expressive marks, texture control.
• Combine both for dynamic effects.

Demonstrate side by side brush and pen strokes. Emphasize pressure variation: heavy pressure for thick strokes, light for thin. Invite a volunteer to try.

Mastering Texture

• Cross-hatching: layered lines for shading.
• Stippling: dot clusters for gradients.
• Dry-brush: rough, broken strokes for rough surfaces.
• Splatters & washes: for organic texture.

Show swatch examples of each texture technique. Encourage students to take mental notes before they rotate through the Texture Swatch Station.

Step-by-Step Demo

  1. Lightly draw your subject silhouette.
  2. Outline boldly with pen or brush.
  3. Fill dark areas completely.
  4. Add at least two textures from our swatch station.
  5. Refine edges and add white highlights.

Walk through each step slowly. Project a live demo as you sketch a simple leaf silhouette, then fill in textures.

Your Turn: Sketch with Contrast

• Choose a simple subject (leaf, silhouette, object).
• Emphasize bold black shapes and white space.
• Incorporate two or more texture techniques.
• Use either pens, brushes, or both.

Explain the sketching task clearly. Circulate to support students, reminding them of time and encouraging risk-taking with textures.

Reflect & Share

• What texture technique worked best for you?
• How did you balance black and white areas?
• What will you try differently next time?

Guide students through a quick peer-share. Prompt them to use “I like… because…” and “You could…” language. Collect feedback for closing.

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Activity

Texture Swatch Station

Overview: Students will rotate through five hands-on stations, sampling different ink texture techniques. Spend about 2 minutes at each station before rotating.

Stations:

  1. Cross-Hatching

    Materials: Ink pen

    Prompt: Draw a series of parallel lines. Layer another set at an angle to create shading. Vary line spacing and density to see how darkness changes.

  2. Stippling

    Materials: Ink pen

    Prompt: Create a tonal swatch using only dots. Start sparse for light areas and increase dot density for darker areas. Notice how clustering affects value.

  3. Dry-Brush

    Materials: Brush, black ink

    Prompt: Dip your brush lightly in ink and wipe off excess. Make broken, scratchy strokes to mimic rough textures. Experiment with pressure and speed.

  4. Splatter

    Materials: Brush, black ink

    Prompt: Load your brush with ink, then tap or flick it to splatter droplets on paper. Adjust distance and flick strength to control splatter size and density.

  5. Wash

    Materials: Brush, ink, water container

    Prompt: Dilute ink to create light washes and apply in smooth gradients. Layer multiple washes once dry to build richer tones.

Instructions:

  • Rotate every ~2 minutes until all stations are completed.
  • Focus on exploring mark-making and how each technique changes tonal contrast.
  • Take quick notes on what you observe at each station and consider which techniques you’ll use in your final sketch.
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lenny

Worksheet

Ink Pattern Templates

Use these simple silhouette outlines to practice your ink textures. Choose at least two techniques from the Texture Swatch Station and fill each shape with those textures. You may use pens, brushes, or both.

1. Leaf Silhouette

Which two texture techniques will you use? _______________ & _______________

(Draw and fill the leaf outline below with your chosen textures.)













2. Circle Silhouette

Which two texture techniques will you use? _______________ & _______________

(Draw and fill the circle outline below with your chosen textures.)













3. Abstract Shape

Which two texture techniques will you use? _______________ & _______________

(Draw and fill the abstract shape outline below with your chosen textures.)













Reflection

  1. Which texture technique felt most natural to apply?




  2. How did layering different textures change the overall look?






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Cool Down

Peer Critique Chat

Purpose: Wrap up today’s session by sharing feedback on contrast and texture with a partner. Use this structured chat to give two compliments and one constructive suggestion.

Instructions

  1. Pair up and place your illustrations face-up between you.
  2. Take turns reading and responding to the prompts below about your partner’s work.
  3. Speak clearly and use kind, specific language.
  4. After both partners have shared, discuss one way you’ll apply the feedback next time.

Partner A’s Feedback on Partner B

  1. I like how you used contrast in this area because…



  2. I admire your texture here because…



  3. One suggestion to make your contrast or texture even stronger is…






Partner B’s Feedback on Partner A

  1. I like how you used contrast in this area because…



  2. I admire your texture here because…



  3. One suggestion to make your contrast or texture even stronger is…






Reflection & Next Steps

Discuss with your partner:

  • Which piece of feedback will you try first in your next drawing?




  • How do you think this change will improve your use of contrast or texture?






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lenny