Ngaire,
I made one for you.

Allan

Thanks Allan for taking the time to make and post photos of a reed pen, I will have to find a swamp and try it myself. Would brown ink do instead to use? Do you have any original drawings using this method?

Allan, I forgot to ask you to translate the words for me. Is it a how-to?

Sorry, I should have told you. It

Allan,

What is the raw material for your thatched roof? I presume that it's harvested locally.

Mike,
It

Good examples Allan, I am starting to think you would use a reed pen like you were doing watercolour with each mark being placed appropriately whether on its points or dragged across for a thicker wash. Is this how you did it?

Ngaire,
I find it difficult to explain what I am trying to do with the reed pen and brush. The best analogy would be to compare with a charcoal drawing.

With the coal you will make lines that are varied in size and structure, they may be thin in one end and getting thicker in the other end, maybe even get lost in a dark shadow.
The coal may also be used at the side making values. The shapes of those dark areas are also part of the drawing.

In short I will say that it is a painterly way of drawing. Not just a line drawing or value thing, but the two cooperate.

The cat drawing is 8 x 12" and took about 5 min.

Finally finished Plate 2
 

Here is the next exercise - Plate 2. Due to a recent house move I haven't completed it as quickly as I would have liked. I noticed this time that my eye is already seeing better angles and I was able to place lines in a lot easier.

I have also included the original for reference.

Unfortunately my scanner cut off some of the drawings as it wasn't big enough to cope with the size. An A3 scanner is already on my wish list.