Randall Stevens
San Antonio, TX
A Journey in Ink: How I Became a Technical Pen Artist From my earliest days, I’ve been captivated by the elegance of pen and ink. The detailed sketches of Leonardo da Vinci stirred something in me that words couldn’t explain. Even the closing credits of The Andy Griffith Show, with its simple pen drawing of a country road, would stop me in my tracks. I didn’t know why back then, but I was mesmerized by the honesty of line work—the way a pen could breathe life into paper.
That fascination followed me into a Technical & Trade high school, where I studied commercial art. I spent countless hours working with the classic crow quill pen, mastering its unpredictable charm, and battling the ever-present fear of spilling ink on a finished piece. That fear often made the process more stressful than joyful.
Years later, after retiring from the U.S. Army, I decided to rekindle that passion and enrolled in a local pen and ink art class. The first few sessions were familiar and refreshing, though the anxiety over ink spills came rushing back. Then, during one pivotal class, the instructor introduced us to something I’d never seen before: the Technical Pen. It felt like lightning struck. Suddenly, the medium that had always called to me became accessible, fluid, and precise. That moment changed everything. The fear disappeared, and with it came a new sense of freedom. I took to the technical pen like a dog with a brand-new bone—instinctive, exhilarating, and deeply satisfying.
A few years later, an art store invited me to teach a class on technical pen techniques. As students filled the seats on the first night, I felt a quiet surge of gratitude and pride. Sitting among them was the very instructor who had introduced me to the technical pen years earlier. The circle had completed itself. This website is the continuation of that journey.
Each piece of artwork you’ll find here was created with care, precision, and a love for the medium that’s only grown stronger over time.
I invite you to explore my gallery—see the stories told in ink, the places I’ve captured, and the moments I’ve preserved. And if one speaks to you and brings you the same joy I felt while creating it, I’d be honored to have it become a part of your space.