Learning To Draw With Pen & Ink

[Sailor Kenshin]

Aaaand just to display BGG's waterproofery, I did a quick sketch with it, then applied a wash:

 

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5542/9240569538_a5f47e5f5d_z.jpg

Edited July 8, 2013 by Sailor Kenshin

[candidvn]

thank you Kenshin, it looks great

[notbob]

Nicely done, Sailor.

 

BTW, I finally know what "fude" is. I'll be ordering a couple in two wks.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Oooo, which ones are you getting?

 

thanks, everyone!

[notbob]

Oooo, which ones are you getting?

 

I'm going to buy a Pilot Profit and a low end Kuretake. I'd like a real sable Kuretake, but I tend to get carried away with the tools before I can justifiably wield them. I plan on using Sailor carbon black ink, in them. I ran across this fellow, Russ Stutler, who lives in Japan and is a rabid "urban sketcher" and has an entire online book and forum on the subject. It looks like great fun, while continuing the "pen and ink" tradition. I never considered a brush pen before, but I'm also learning watercolor painting and pen and ink and watercolors jes naturally complement one another.

 

I'm such an rank beginner at art, in general, I'm still learning to draw. Besides a plain ol' no. 2 pencil, I do a lot of my drawing with a pen and ink, even a gel pen. It demands a level of commitment I always feared, before. Now I embrace it, throwing away mounds of paper covered with horrible drawings. I even save cheap packing paper to draw on. Regardless, I'm having a ball. It's like I've gone crazy!

 

Here's the link to the online urban sketcher book:

http://www.stutler.cc/other/sketchbook/sketchbook_c_01.html

 

Any and all suggestions more than welcome.

[Sailor Kenshin]

<p>Ahhh, the actual brush version of a fude.  I do own a few of those, can't recall the model or make, but mainly use the metal-nib ones,  such as the Hero 86 (I THINK that's the right model) and 593.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>thanks for the link!</p>

<p> </p>

<p> </p>

<p>ps: I, too, would like recs for a black fountain pen ink as 'waterproof' as Noodler's Bad Green Gator.</p>

Edited July 9, 2013 by Sailor Kenshin

[notbob]

Ahhh, the actual brush version of a fude. I do own a few of those, can't recall the model or make, but mainly use the metal-nib ones

 

Yes, I've seen those, a model 86, but haven't tried one, yet. I figure I should learn how a brush stroke should look before I try and emulate one with a metal nib. My first fountain pen purchase was a Hero calligraphy set. Nice pens for the money. Sailor makes some really high-end fude nibs. Bring $$!

[Sailor Kenshin]

Does my edited post look as crazy to everyone else as it does to me? O_o

 

I'm reading the brush-pen section of the link now...he recommends Noodler's Black.

[inkstainedruth]

Lots of inspiration here.

Would it be possible to get a quick rundown on what pens/nibs folks like to use? My husband's niece (the one who got the Parker Vector set as a graduation present) asked me about good pens for doing drawing with, and back when I was studying art I wasn't using FPs at all (I did do a lot with Rapidographs back then). I have a Rotring Artpen with an EF nib myself (thanks, Uncle Red), currently lubed up with inexpensive Chinese non-shellac formula India ink (the brand is called "Pen & Ink") which works well enough but isn't particularly black).

I'm especially interested in peoples' opinions about nib widths and flex/non-flex.

Thanks in advance.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[muldi]

Ruth, My favorite sketching pens are my Rotring fine and extra fine art pens. But I use Platinum Carbon black ink. It is waterproof and can be used in a fountain pen.

I also use a couple of very cheap EF nibs---a Pilot penmanship for less than $10 and a Platinum desk pen with an EF nib. They are the finest EF nibs I've found that are not pricy. For a flex pen, I have an Noodler's Ahab flex pen. I didn't like it at first, but the more I use it, the more flex I can coax out of it.

Still, a good old dip pen flex nib gives the most variation for the least cost.

[notbob]

I started out using an Pilot 78G F w/ Zhivago. It's about a .4mm line. I've bought a couple fine hard tip disposable markers, one .1mm and the other .3mm. You can get 'em in waterproof ink. I don't like most dip pens cuz they don't hold FP ink fer spit. One exception is the Hiro Tape dip nibs which have reservoirs that will hold FP ink. Problem is, they're all right oblique. I bought the discs to grind 'em straight , but have had no time, caring for my Alzheimer mom preveting it. I agree with muldi, that Noodler flex pens are pretty good. I love my smaller Konrads, they having about a .3mm fine tip and can become pretty flexy over time.

 

In fact, I've often wondered if the much vaunted vintage flex pens are so flexible simply cuz they''ve been flexed for so long. Might not a new Noodler Konrad or Ahab be equally flexy, given half a dozen decades of use?

[muldi]

There is a pen called the 'Ackerman pump pen' that allows use with dip nibs attached to the pen body which holds any ink. I'm thinking of ordering one. There are some discussions about it on the forum. A great way to use a dip pen without having to constantly dip it! They have a website:

www.ackermanpens.com. You might want to check it out.

[notbob]

What I've gotten from numerous online discussions on Ackerman pens, is, they are of very good quality .....if you are willing to wait up to 6 mos to take delivery of one! It's merely a part-time side business and the pens get made when Ackerman gets a round tuit. Perhaps that has changed.

[candidvn]

The ackerman pens look interesting but 6 months for delivery? I can't wait.

[muldi]

Well, they are supposed to be improving their time for orders. I did write today, asking how long it would take. Will post when I get a reply..... Hmmm....wonder how long that will take!

[muldi]

Ackerman posts on FPN! Just found this post by C Ackerman.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/238380-ackerman-pens-pump-pen/?do=findComment&comment=2576327

[notbob]

Well, that's certainly encouraging. I may hafta break down and actually order one. I've always wanted to, but am way too impatient for dong delays. Thank you for that link, muldi.

[candidvn]

thank you Muldi. I am going to order 1 Ackerman pens.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Well... finished the teeny sketch book, and am auditioning another teeny sketchbook. The tinted sketch took around fifteen minutes.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/9275171401_09d078b872_z.jpg

 

 

 

and the sketchbook failed the fountain pen test. But I'll probably put it in my car to use with pencils.

[Sailor Kenshin]

Too late to edit my above post, but I'd like to add a link to something interesting.

 

Moonlight Chronicles, combination sketchbook/journal. A friend sent me one, and my collection is growing!