Interesting thoughts on using the ink. I seem to go to my ink to 'save' my work, as you will notice in this weeks ITTPVaca. assignment. lol. Can one eat Persimmons? Reminds me of going to the dentist and they give you the Novocaine. ;-) Very nice. I think I like the one without the ink because you do such beautiful work. What paper did you decide on?

I prefer those without ink, Laure. They seem to have more body, the colors look more lively, the subtle shades of the watercolor seem to be more obvious. Like Clare, I usually go to ink to add more definition to a sketch. Your persimmons don't need that at all

I would ink the leaves but leave the rest uninked. I am not sure why, but the lower part of the fruit just seems more dimensional and real without the ink.

As I still think I'm a beginner in watercolour sketches, maybe my opinion is not important to you, but I definitely prefer the picture with out. the ink Like one of the comments ,I feel the ink adds interest around the leaves but not around the edge,

I love your persimmons. Ink or no ink? both have their merits-

When you have good lights and darks ink isn't really needed. I do like it both ways each having instances where that style shines. I go for more ink myself simply because I sometimes have trouble seeing my pencil lines. In this case I like it best without ink because you did create a lovely piece without the ink so why add it?

Love your persimmons, not sure they have them over here. I am a fiend for adding ink, it's like an addiction. I like your idea to wait until the end as there have been regrets over things that just didn't look right.
Lynne

I like the ones without ink. I do like to draw in ink tho. I don't feel constrained. It is just a different look.

I like both and perhaps it depends more on the subject. I think both though are lovely and I really can't say which I prefer. I too work in ink and watercolor a great deal. Often when I do I have to consider whether the ink can stand alone or does a touch of color warmed it. Always get such great food for thought when I visit you - thanks.

I like the addition of the ink on the leaves because it adds even more definition there, but not the outline of the persimmon itself.

Hi Laure ... I like the persimmons without the ink. I feel the ink around the fruit restricts the composition and detracts from the beauty of the fruit. Some very fine broken lines around the leaves to better describe them would enhance the painting. The colors are wonderful and alive! PS You said you were testing the paper. What kind and how did you rate it?

Beautiful work Laure... Your persimmons appear to be rising out of your paper. The colors are so vibrant and your transitions are so defined that you create the lines in watercolor that others use ink to accentuate. I enjoy viewing your work with examples of each, since both ways are equally pleasing to the viewer.

When using watercolors, my personal preference is to ink after the composition is dry. I think that is due to the fact that I only ink small areas that need a little extra emphasis. A lot of the time, I allow my lines to fade away and come back. Hopefully by doing the inking in that order, I can avoid the feeling that the piece is looking more like an animation cell... at least to me anyways. Ink is one of those mediums that can run the artist into trouble if overused. A little bit goes a long way for me. :)

I was just rummaging through my watercolors this morning while organizing my studio. You have inspired me to play around with them a little this afternoon!

Visiting your blog of the first time and love it. I work with various media too mostly graphite, ink, and color pencil but now I am inspired to break out my watercolors again. Your persimmons are beautiful. I like the addition of the ink and agree it is better to lay down the paint first. Thanks for sharing your painting techniques.