Using a fountain pen for sketching?

[TMann]

I have been trying for the past several months to get better at drawing. I started getting more interested in drawing after my kids started taking art classes on weekends. Most of the sketching that I've done has been with a pencil, but I've often admired the look of pen and ink drawings.

 

Do you any of you folks here ever use your pens for sketching? What sort of nib and ink do you use?

 

TMann

[southpaw]

Don't do much drawing now, but hope to get back to it next year and really plan on trying my FPs at it. Curious to see what the veterans say.

[EdelmaK]

As you can see from my earlier post, I use a FP for sketching. I am currently using a Danitrio raw ebonite Densho model but the key is the nib. I have one of Danitrio's excellent flex nibs which I have adjusted to write as an XF italic. This allows me to use the same nib to draw extremely fine lines like a technical pen as well as very broad lines when the nib is flexed! I have achived similar results with the Namiki Falcon. The key is to get a FP that can draw fine, consistent lines.

 

Good luck and just start drawing. The more practice the better!

[TMann]

As you can see from my earlier post, I use a FP for sketching. I am currently using a Danitrio raw ebonite Densho model but the key is the nib. I have one of Danitrio's excellent flex nibs which I have adjusted to write as an XF italic. This allows me to use the same nib to draw extremely fine lines like a technical pen as well as very broad lines when the nib is flexed! I have achived similar results with the Namiki Falcon. The key is to get a FP that can draw fine, consistent lines.

 

Good luck and just start drawing. The more practice the better!

Hi EdelmaK! I did indeed see the beautiful drawing you had done on your earlier thread. I almost posted my question on your thread, but then decided to just start a new one.

 

I haven't really ever done a "serious" drawing with a fountain pen, so I will have to play around with the pens that I have and see which one of them works best. I have a number of medium width nibs, several stubs, and a couple of fine nibs. However, only one of my pens would really qualify as a flexible nib, so I'll have to see how it works for drawing.

 

Thanks again for sharing your drawing with the rest of us. Keep it coming! I enjoy seeing other people's art work, and find that it's a good inspiration for me to keep at it!

 

TMann

[EdelmaK]

As you can see from my earlier post, I use a FP for sketching.  I am currently using a Danitrio raw ebonite Densho model but the key is the nib.  I have one of Danitrio's excellent flex nibs which I have adjusted to write as an XF italic.  This allows me to use the same nib to draw extremely fine lines like a technical pen as well as very broad lines when the nib is flexed!  I have achived similar results with the Namiki Falcon.  The key is to get a FP that can draw fine, consistent lines.

 

Good luck and just start drawing.  The more practice the better!

Hi EdelmaK! I did indeed see the beautiful drawing you had done on your earlier thread. I almost posted my question on your thread, but then decided to just start a new one.

 

I haven't really ever done a "serious" drawing with a fountain pen, so I will have to play around with the pens that I have and see which one of them works best. I have a number of medium width nibs, several stubs, and a couple of fine nibs. However, only one of my pens would really qualify as a flexible nib, so I'll have to see how it works for drawing.

 

Thanks again for sharing your drawing with the rest of us. Keep it coming! I enjoy seeing other people's art work, and find that it's a good inspiration for me to keep at it!

 

TMann

Thank you, TMann.

 

The practical reason for my use of a flex nib is that one pen allows me to create a variety of line widths. I imagine you could do the same if you used a variety of stiff nibs.

 

Good luck and keep sketching!

 

Regards,

[EdelmaK]

OK...you asked for more so here it is. Again this sketch was done with a Danitrio Raw Ebonite Densho with a fine, italic, flexi nib. I also used a Niji waterbrush. Ink of choice...Noodlers Black. Crane's Thesis Paper

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/edelmak/Bookstore1.jpg

[dslknight]

Very lovely drawing EdelmaK! Were you self-taught or did you take drawing classes?

[EdelmaK]

Very lovely drawing EdelmaK! Were you self-taught or did you take drawing classes?

Thank you....I am self-taught and have a long way to go. I only recently got back into sketching...or should I say illustrative journaling and need to work on my technique a great deal. But the best way to do it is to just keep sketching and experiment. I have found that keeping a journal ia a great way to practice as well as to keep a nice record of your work. It allows you to tell a story and see your progress.

 

Thanks again!

[Karin]

That is an amazing drawing. I've been inspired to at least try to have more shaded writing with my Kara Nuri medium flex. But I can't imagine doing what you did. I can't draw---that may have something to do with it

 

 

:bunny1:

[EdelmaK]

That is an amazing drawing. I've been inspired to at least try to have more shaded writing with my Kara Nuri medium flex. But I can't imagine doing what you did. I can't draw---that may have something to do with it

 

 

:bunny1:

Thanks, Karin.

 

I see you are also a Danitrio and Winedoc fan. They are outstanding FP's and Kevin is great to do business with. Since discovering Danitrios and Winedoc, the rest of the FP's in my collection have been seriously neglected!

[TMann]

OK...you asked for more so here it is.  Again this sketch was done with a Danitrio Raw Ebonite Densho with a fine, italic, flexi nib.  I also used a Niji waterbrush.  Ink of choice...Noodlers Black.  Crane's Thesis Paper

 

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y294/edelmak/Bookstore1.jpg

What is a Niji waterbrush? Is it a type of pen or something else? Is that you how were able to achieve the smooth, shaded sections?

 

TMann

 

Edit: Nevermind. I guess I should have done a quick websearch before asking my question!

Edited November 27, 2005 by TMann

[EdelmaK]

The Niji waterbrush is essentially a watercolor brush with a built-in water supply. Pentel also makes a good one. In my case I fill the waterbrush with an ink wash (a lot of water and a few drops of black fountain pen ink). This allows you to do additional shading with the wash! These brushes can be purchased at most art supply stores as well as many Japanese bookstores!

[JimStrutton]

Not drawing as such but certainly I use a Parker "51" or "61" with a fine nib for making technical sketches of networks, cable diagrams etc. I use either Quink Blue/Black or Permanent Black ink and use a medium nib pen to label components.

 

I might do a quick thumbnail drawing then expand that into a proper sketch for later use. I use a Rotring flow diagram template to get some of the shapes accurate on a Rotring A4 drawing board, all about 25 years old.

 

I have a CAD system, and things like Visio, but for a quick result, hand drawing is best, I let the Systems Engineers do the proper drawings to illustrate the as-built environment.

 

Pen drawings are so much more readable than pencil and they photocopy better. But I do sometimes do a rough layout in pencil then ink in the detail later. I used to use those expensive drawing fibre tip pens that they sell, but a fountain pen is so much better.

 

As to ink on the drawing instruments, any printers supplies seller can supply you with a liquid called Blanket Wash, used to clean up a print blanket on an offset printer, a little of that on a cloth or kitchen towel cleans up the rulers and drawing instruments a treat.

 

Jim

[Kees]

There is a series of Rotring ArtPens, which includes pens both for calligraphy and sketching. Nice pens of the “desktop type”, using special ink, but in need of regular flushing.

 

Strangely, they aren’t on the Rotring web site (are they discontinued?), but you can find them, for instance, here:

http://www.islandblue.com/catalogue.cfm?ma...&product_id=958

[tooloose-letrek]

Since Moleskine™ falsely advertises its legendary tradition of artists and writers who use their product (!) perhaps knowing what types of FPs some of those artists who actually used notebooks like the Moleskine would be useful. Matisse and Van Gogh used such notebooks. How could great artists like these only write (and not also draw) in a notebook?

 

Now the question is, how does one find out what type of pens Van Gogh or Matisse used? I bet artists in general used to use FPs.

 

On the typical income of an artist, I'd have to vote for the cheapest one. However, maybe Van Gogh's kind brother Theo sent him the pens along with money.

[EdelmaK]

Over the years I have tried really hard to use Moleskine notebooks. I really like their design and the features they offer and yes...I must admit that I like the whole story behind them be it accurate or not.

 

However, no matter how hard and often I have tried, I can not use them because the paper is just not fountain pen friendly! I find that the coating on the sketchbook paper tends to make fountain pen ink "bead" and my ink tends to smear even after it has dried. The paper in the other models I have found to be equally problematic. My FP ink tends to bleed through the paper and feather no matter what ink I use (and I have tried them all).

 

Therefore, I have given up and now use Japanese journals exclusively. I am particularly fond of two brands: DMC by Lihit Labs and Carnet. Both of these brands use fairly thin paper which keeps their journals thin (which I like) but no matter what ink or pen I use, the ink does not bleed or feather which is great. In addition, the bindings on these journals allow them to lie very flat (like the Moleskines) which is also important to me!

 

I do not know why but the Japanese manufacturers seem to produce the very best journals IMO!

 

The downside is that these journals are not cheap (similar in price point to Moleskines) and I can only find them outside of Japan, in specialty Japanese bookstores. Although I have tried, I can not seem to find an online retailer either!

 

I am always looking for the ideal FP-friendly journal and I doubt if I will ever find the truly "perfect" one!

[Titivillus]

However, no matter how hard and often I have tried, I can not use them because the paper is just not fountain pen friendly! The paper in the other models I have found to be equally problematic.  My FP ink tends to bleed through the paper and feather no matter what ink I use (and I have tried them all).

Whoa there Here is a post of a test I did with a bunch of FPs on Moleskine paper.

 

 

Moleskine test

 

Only the wet writing Marlen could be considered to feather. I think it is a function of nib size ink and pressure. Right now I am using a Sailor 203 asian fine with Noodler's air corp blue/black and the ink does not feather for me. The paper is rather thin and you can see partially through it and could be considered bleed through. I find that it gives a vintage look to the paper.

 

 

Kurt H

Edited December 4, 2005 by Tytyvyllus

[James Pickering]

Osmiroid FP with copperplate nib for line work -- Swan FP with #2 nib for lettering.

 

http://jp29.org/cal117.jpg

[Mike]

I've done a fair bit of sketching and mapping with an Esterbrook, 1550 fine nib, and black Noodlers or Skrip. Seems to be a good combination; works like a fine technical pen, only better.

[krz]

As usual, I'm a bit late to the party. I just stumbled upon this thread.

 

Great drawing EdelmaK!

 

James Pickering always amazes me too with his pen work.

 

I love the Osmiroid with a Sketch nib, which is my best all around sketcher. I use Noodler's Black in my sketching fountain pens and haven't gotten around to trying it in the Rapidograph yet.

 

I have an Esterbrook LJ with a 9048 F semi-flex that I just picked up, and it is just great for drawing too.

 

My best detail pen is a Stainless Steel Hero with an Utrafine nib. Then if I really want to go crazy I have a Rapidograph 3 x 0 super-duper fine (I don't use this very often).

 

For a good inexpensive pencil (it has to work good) I like the Staedtler 925 with .03 lead.

 

For a nice grey wash that I can carry around I like the Ackerman Artist's Brush Pen, ackerman.com I think. You can put ANY kind of ink, wash or watercolor you want in it. It has a pressure feed button on the side. I use a W & N Blue-Black and water wash.

 

For fatter lines or color fills I have a regiment of Rotring Cores that I use Winsor & Newton Calligraphy inks in. And various other fountain pens for Noodler's colors.

 

I've got an old pen (Merlin 33) with a Gold Welty's Fine nib on order I can't wait to try. I'll report on how well it draws.

 

I really need to spend more time in this forum and improve my writing skills.

 

All the best,

Edited February 16, 2006 by krz