Key Concepts & Supplies

~ grasp the fundamentals and the rest comes naturally ~

Key Concepts

Before taking your first class in Neurographica®, it will be helpful to be familiar with two simple concepts that are key to all Neurographica drawings. Please take a few minutes to watch these videos and practice these techniques.

Neurolines

A neuroline is a line that goes from one edge of the page to another edge. It appears free-flowing with gentle swoops and curves. In some ways it is easier to say what a neuroline is not:

It is not straight – which would represent tension.
It does not follow a repeating pattern, as the line should be moving where we do not expect it to go.
It does not create loops which would indicate a repeating pattern of thought.
It does not include sharp angled turns.

To the right are two helpful tools - a video of me drawing and discussing neurolines, and a photo of clouds.

The cloud drawing can be printed out, allowing you to trace the clouds for a good way to "feel your way" through a neuroline.

Rounding

Rounding is the process of creating curves at all intersections and sharp turns in our drawing.

It’s difficult to describe in words. The best way to learn how to round is to watch someone else do it. Here’s my short video tutorial.

In Neurographica®, intersections and angles can represent conflict or transition, and in our earliest drawings, the goal is to smooth out conflict.

Supplies - Recommended not Required

Neurographica® will be most effective if you can focus on what you’re doing while drawing, rather than on making your tools cooperate. While you can create a Neurographic drawing with a ballpoint pen and a napkin, the following are the supplies I recommend:

Paper - White

You don't need fancy paper for Neurographica®, but here's a little tip: smoother paper works like a charm (skip the rough watercolor stuff). It lets your markers and pencils slide effortlessly. Also, go for thicker paper; this way, your markers won't leak through, and you won't have any surprises with writing showing up on the other side. Last but not least, stick with white paper so your color choices aren't influenced by the paper's hue. Typically, students draw on 8.5x11 or A4 size sheets of paper, which can easily be cut down or taped together for various sized drawings.

My preferred paper is 67# Vellum Bristol. It is heavy enough to write on the back of the paper with a normal pen (that’s where I make my notes) and not see through if you post your drawing when you’re done. Neenah Vellum Bristol

Markers - Black

We'll use markers to draw and outline your artwork. If you're just starting out, I recommend using black ink because it's straightforward and looks great for most drawings. To make your work smoother, it's helpful to have at least three markers: a fine tip, a medium tip, and a bold tip. Many folks like using Sharpie markers because they're affordable and easy to find. However, I'm not a fan of Sharpies for two reasons: they have a strong odor that makes me feel dizzy, and their ink tends to bleed through many types of paper. If Sharpies are your preference, feel free to use them.

Personally, I prefer Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens. They are pricier, don't have a strong odor, and might be harder to come by, but they're totally worth it! You can usually find these pens at art supply and craft stores. The three pen sizes I use most often (and recommend) are:

Pitt Pen 1.5 or M nib for neuro lines
Pitt Pen F, S, or XS nib for rounding
Pitt Pen B nib or Pitt Pen Big Brush for field lines and affixing

You can purchase this set from Amazon which has the pens you need plus a few extra: Pitt Pen Set of 8

Or purchase from Dick Blick the exact sizes and quantities you need. You will use the 1.5 nib pen the most and the brush pen the least. Links:

Pitt Pen 1.5 Bullet Nib
Pitt Pen Fine Nib
Pitt Pen Brush Nib or even better the Pitt Artist Pen Big Brush from Amazon

In addition, you can make use of a black gel pen (1 mm nib), for your catharsis drawing – to save wear on the nibs of your markers. This is optional. You will draw over these pen lines with your marker later. I like this gel pen because it’s got a thicker point and is refillable. Signo Broad Point Gel Pens

Colored Pencils

The traditional method of coloring a Neurographica® drawing is with colored pencils. If you have them, I suggest you start with what you have. If you don’t have a set, you can get a small, inexpensive set of Crayola colored pencils just about anywhere, and Amazon sells many less expensive brands.

I’m a colored pencil fanatic! It was one of my first art tools when I started this journey over 10 years ago. My preferred brands are Faber-Castell Polychromos (a slightly harder lead) and Prismacolor Premiere (a softer lead). In the US, Prismacolor is a very popular and less expensive brand that is considered artist quality as well. The difference between artist-quality pencils and student-grade pencils is the amount of pigment and the light fastness. So, unless you’re planning to display your drawings, or save them in perpetuity, any colored pencil is fine.

You will typically use 3-5 colors in a drawing – so a small set of 12 to 24 colors will do nicely. I tend to use many shades of the same colors to add depth to my drawings, but again this is less likely in your early drawings unless you already have artistic training.

Here are links to Faber-Castell Polychromos on www.DickBlick.com, which also sells Polychromos and several other brands by the individual pencil.

Extra Fun Supplies

Once you're drawing regularly, you may find the addition of some of the supplies below a fun change of pace. I have provided links for products I can vouch for. There are many brands to choose from and many are available from various retailers. Links provided are for Amazon and Dick Blick – my go-to online art supply stores.

Alcohol markers: come in a huge variety of colors and blend well. These markers can be used instead of colored pencils for adding color to your drawing, or even instead of black markers for your neurolines. Copic is the gold standard in alcohol markers. I don’t use alcohol markers myself (due to the odor), so I have not included a link here. Alcohol markers are NOT the same as regular markers, which do not blend, bleed through paper readily, and often cover your neurolines. If you prefer to use markers, you might also want to invest in “Marker” paper.
Gel crayons: are very inexpensive and add a bold pop of color to a finished piece. They can be easily blended with your finger. Note – your marker will not cover gel crayons, so be sure your lines are completely done before adding these bright colors. This is the set I use: Mr. Pen Gel Crayons
Highlighters: are light enough to be used in place of colored pencils. They do not cover the black marker and can be applied quickly. The colors can then be shaded – if desired – with colored pencils on top. Note: yellow highlights smear black marker lines. Stabilo Boss Highlighter Set
Watercolor pencils: are very soft and can be used in place of colored pencils. It is not necessary to apply water after coloring, but if you want to do so, be sure to use watercolor paper. There are many brands offered at a lower price, however, I can only recommend the brand I’m familiar with: Faber-Castell Albrecht Durer Watercolor Pencils.
Blending tools are great for blending your colored pencil and giving your piece a smoother, more painterly look. Blender Pencil(blends the colors) and Copic Colorless Blender (melts the pencil) work differently, but both work on colored pencil drawings.