Belem Tower, Lisbon, Portugal

Balaji

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This structure was built in the 16th century to protect Portugal from invaders advancing down the river. I made this 5" x 4" quick sketch in May 2024 using a Fude hard tip brush pen. And I added the washes today (Jan 2026).

Belem Tower, Lisbon, Portugal.png
 
I love your very light washes.

One question, after seeing your works, I decided today that adding washes to some old sketches was a great idea and gave it a shot. It suddenly stroke me that this time there was no bleeding of the black ink, as I remember there was when I made them two years ago. Have you also noticed that recent sketches are more prone to bleed when adding a wash than older ones?

Maybe it was only a matter of the ink I used: if it was oversaturated (as Noodler's seem to be) it might have taken much longer for all the pigment to finally bind the paper. Whatever the reason, I'm happy I did it, I now have one more trick to play with, and it wouldn't have happened if I hadn't tried to emulate you.
 
Thank you Txomsy. I am glad that you are joining this club and I look forward to seeing your ink and wash posts.

Some inks bleed if you apply a wash immediately, but the black ink gel that I use does not. Also, I do use Noodler's and that too does not bleed even when I add washes immediately. But then, I draw very fine ink lines first, while sketching with Noodler's (because I do it with a flex pen) and I lay down thicker lines only after adding the washes.

I also use a Fude hard tip brush pen with black ink and Staedler pigment liners. Those too do not bleed, even when I lay down washes immediately. I often use a Luxor chisel marker. That bleeds regardless of the number of years between doing the ink sketch and laying the colour washes.
 
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