Why Pen and Ink...

I can only speak for myself, but the appeal of the ink is its finality - one has to, in general, know what one is doing when applying the ink, for ink is rather unforgiving - if you make a mistake, it has consequences... secondly, there is an appeal to the 'either/or' of the black and white - and the fun of seeing how much variety one can render out of those extremes [am speaking here, of course, with the basic black ink on white surface - colored paper and/or colored inks merely add more dimension to this]... in no ways am suggesting that stippling is the only, let alone the preferred, way of rendering - far better, actually, to combine as needs require whatever techniques fulfill the requisite need, as long as all fits in harmonious relationship [something sometimes overlooked in the quest for diversity]... too, there is an element yet in this day and age where pen and ink, especially if dramatically rendered, and even more so if rendered large, gives an elegance and grace to a wall, especially if framed in simplicity, that often is lacking in 'regular' paintings...