Explore Pen and Ink Techniques by Studying the Masters by Chloe Gendron

This course shows a practical way to improve pen and ink work by studying master artists without turning the process into vague theory. Chloe Gendron gives you a repeatable method built around analysis, targeted exercises, and a custom study blueprint, so you can bring stronger decisions back into your own illustration workflow.

🎯 What you’ll learn

• Analyze master artworks to spot line, value, texture, and composition decisions worth borrowing.
• Choose the right artists and references based on your goals instead of copying at random.
• Turn observations into focused exercises and a personal study plan you can reuse on future projects.

✅ Requirements

• Skills: Basic drawing fundamentals, some comfort with observation and self-critique, and an interest in studying other artists closely.
• Tools: Pencil, eraser, sketching paper, and a small set of inking pens including one thicker tip; optional brush pen, dip pen, India ink, and inking paper.

📝 Description

A lot of artists know master studies are useful, but the hard part is knowing what to look for and what to do with what you find. That is where this course lands well. Instead of treating master studies like passive copying, Chloe frames them as a working tool for better decision-making, sharper observation, and more purposeful pen and ink practice.

The structure is clear and easy to follow. You start with your influences, your goals, and a quick self-assessment, then move into the fundamentals that actually matter when you study someone else’s work. From there, the course walks through examples using artists like Franklin Booth, Moebius, Bernie Wrightson, Montgomery Flagg, Miura, and Inoue, showing how to break apart style choices into things you can test yourself.

One of the strongest parts is the workbook angle. The class includes checklists, a study guide template, practice exercises, definitions, and a master artist list, which makes the whole process feel usable instead of inspirational-only. By the end, you are not just finishing one exercise—you are building a personal study system you can keep using to improve line work, value control, and your overall illustration thinking.

🧑‍🎓 Who this course is for

• Artists who already draw a bit and want a smarter way to improve their inking without guessing what to practice next.
• Illustrators, sketchbook artists, and comic art fans who want to learn from master artists and turn those observations into usable exercises.
• Traditional media learners who like structured teaching, downloadable resources, and a method they can reuse across different projects.

🧑‍🏫 About the Author

Chloe Gendron is a Canadian pen and ink illustrator and the founder of Longstride Illustration. Before moving into art full-time, she worked as a learning specialist, which shows in the way she teaches: clear structure, practical exercises, and a strong focus on process. She launched Longstride Illustration in 2022 after designing her own learning plan to return seriously to drawing, and she has since helped a large audience through courses, YouTube lessons, and her blog.

Her background is broader than a standard art bio. As a teenager, she was commissioned to illustrate the comic book Le Géant Beaupré, later worked in graphic design, completed a Master’s degree in Leadership & Training, and then returned to drawing after a long break. She is also a professional member of Speedball’s Artist Network, and her work has been featured by Inktober and in contemporary art gallery contexts, which gives her a solid mix of teaching credibility and hands-on studio practice.

🏁 Final Result

• A finished subject study based on a master artwork, plus a custom study blueprint you can use to guide future pen and ink practice and portfolio development.