Sketch Without a Net: Draw an Ink Portrait with Vin Ganapathy

This 30-minute lesson is a fast, loose, and fearless dive into perspective and composition, guided by artist Vin Ganapathy.

Working directly in pen, without the safety net of erasing, Vin draws a dramatic half-torso portrait from a low, dynamic angle that fills the page and challenges your instincts.

As you sketch along, you’ll learn how to break down a complex pose into basic shapes, use hatching and cross-hatching to model form, and control light and shadow with nothing but line.

Students have found this lesson both liberating and tough—a refreshing change of pace that sharpens spatial awareness and invites creative risk.

Whether you follow Vin with a Micron or experiment with your own tools, this is 30 minutes of drawing that will push your comfort zone and reward your effort with unexpected energy.

Ready to let your lines lead? Let's get started!