Using a fountain pen for sketching?

[krz]

Here's my most recent miniature drawing: "Yo Ho Ho"

I wanted to try my new Contract Blue ink (the darker Blue in the waves), this was fun.

 

Drawn in the ACEO Art Card format 2.5" x 3.5".

 

Pens and Inks used:

Osmiroid 65 with sketch nib - Noodler's Black

Esterbrook LJ with 9048 nib - Noodler's Black

Hero Stainless with Ultra Fine nib - Noodler's Black

Duke Copper Temple Fine nib - Noodler's Habanero Orange

Duke Copper Temple Fine nib - Noodler's Shah's Rose Red

Penatia Madison - Noodler's Navajo Turquoise Blue

Penatia Madison - Noodler's Yellow

Krell Pen (make unknown but looks like it was made on Forbidden Planet) - Swishmix/Noodler's Seminole Sepia

Finally I used a Rapidograph 3 x 0 for the really super-duper fine Black lines.

 

If anyone knows of a traditional type fountain pen that can make a line as thin a real fine Rapidograph let me know. I'd rather do these with all fountain pens. /:)

[wimg]

Hi krz,

 

Regarding your question for super-fine fountain pen nibs: Richard Binder does XXXF and XXXXF nibs, also called needle-point and super-needle-point. The latter is a 0.004", hence a 0.1 mm point.

 

Here is the link to Richard Binder's Sales Page.

 

Click on "customized nibs", in the first line, third paragraph from the top under the heading "Customized Nibs & New Pens". I tried to put in a direct link, but it won't allow me.

 

Anyway, you then get a new screen, with "Customized Nibs & New Pens for Sale"as a header. Just scroll down a little, and you'll find the needle points, in steel, gold, and for several different pens.

 

HTH, warm regards, Wim

[krz]

Hi krz,

 

Regarding your question for super-fine fountain pen nibs: Richard Binder does XXXF and XXXXF nibs, also called needle-point and super-needle-point. The latter is a 0.004", hence a 0.1 mm point.

 

Here is the link to Richard Binder's Sales Page.

Thanks! That's pretty darn fine. I'll check it out.

 

All the best,

Edited February 20, 2006 by krz

[EdelmaK]

Here is another one of my quick sketches that I did on a long boring plane ride. The subject is not anything exciting, but I was really bored.

 

I continue to have great success with Danitrio Denshos with their flexi nibs. I grind a fine round nib into an italic XF which gives me great performance. I can use this same nib to write in all of my different hands as well as to sketch. By using Noodlers Black, I can then use an ink wash in a water brush to add highlights!

 

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

[TMLee]

I like pen and ink sketches too ...

 

sketches done way back during varsity lectures .... done with Osmiroid Sketch Nib ... Pelikan Brilliant black.

 

can't seem to find these sketch nibs (chisel edge with good flex) anymore.

 

the nib has been worn down to a wider width now.

 

 

 

[/img]http://images6.theimagehosting.com/boots.ff7.jpg

 

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/pipes.461.jpg

 

http://images6.theimagehosting.com/UHU.jpg

[/img]

[Dudley]

you guys have the most beautiful sketches!

[chupie]

Wooooow!

[jpolaski]

I have to agree with what krz said. I've found a bunch of Esterbrook nibs that are wonderful for sketching. Most of my work is rather comic book-esque, and the 9048 nib is great for line wieght variation... and a lot more portable than my previous solution, a dip pen, and india ink!

[rachel_clare]

I use pen and ink for sketching in art quite a bit, and enjoy using it particularily for landscapes. /:)

I use pen and ink in my moleskine pocket sketchbook and had no problems yet (touch wood)!!

[rachel_clare]

Here are some of my sketches for my latest project, Journeys.

(photo removed)

Please see further down the page for the smaller versions!!

Edited November 16, 2006 by rachel_clare

[rachel_clare]

and another (sorry they're so big). These the first one was a pretty quick sketch, and the second took longer, but i dont like some areas of it as they are a bit overworked. And the bottom right needs finishing!

 

(photo removed)

Please look further down for the smaller versions.

Edited November 16, 2006 by rachel_clare

[wdyasq]

3.2MB + in two posts! Dial-up users will remember this post.

 

Ron

[TMann]

rachel,

 

Great sketches! I have always enjoyed drawing, but I have never actually taken a formal art class in my life. Thus, I quickly gets bored with my limited range of subjects, and wander off into different hobbies. Your pictures, (and others like them,) are enough to make me want to give it a try again!

 

BTW, it is very easy to "downsize" a photo using most modern photo editing programs. There are two steps to doing this. First, you must make the picture "resolution" smaller. Usually it is best if you downsize the picture so that is is about 800 pixels in width. That way, it will fit onto a typical computer screen more easily. Second, you must "compress" the picture. Each program will do this in a different way, but it basically involves saving the picture as a "JPEG" or "JPG" file. The computer will usually ask you if you what "Quality" you want the photo to have: High, Medium or Low. By saving the photo at a low "quality", it will save it in a smaller file size.

 

Here are the two photos you uploaded, saved as much smaller files. On the computer screen, they look exactly the same, except they are much quicker to download.

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/post-12-1163630612.jpg

 

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b143/TRM2005/post-12-1163631085.jpg

 

Also, rachel, I apologize if this post has sounded at all critical; I didn't mean it as such! It has taken me a while to get this whole "internet-photo-file-compression" thing figured out. Let me know if you have any questions, and keep up the good work in with your drawing. You're inspiring me to get my pen and paper out again.

 

TMann

Edited November 16, 2006 by TMann

[rachel_clare]

Yeah, i definatly understand pens better than PCs Thankyou for taking the trouble to downsize my photos- ill remove the HUGE ones i posted!!

Rachel

 

P.S- Dial- up users i do apologise!!!

[Patrick Hand]

Usualy when I do pen and ink (cartooning or mascot renderings), I sketch first with a pencil and then ink it....then erase the pencil lines....

 

But for my Pyrate Journal, I wanted to play with using brown ink for the sketching, then going over it with black ink.... I am going for a "looser/quick" feel to the drawings....

 

 

http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b97/PatrickHand/Doglock.jpg

 

 

 

Ooops.... I use the same pen for writting and sketching in brown... a 1940s German Fountain Pen... for the black I use my old Parker....

Edited November 17, 2006 by Patrick Hand

[Leigh R]

I adore that Doglock Musket!

[Henrik]

Actually I used to do a lot af pencil sketching, but since I fell in love with the pen I had to try that out too.

I think, that when you use a pen, you migth loose som of the ligth and softness and there's no correcting anything so you often have to be creative with mistakes - but I like it very much- it's challenging.

I have a modest example of my own work: done with a sheaffer no nonse fine italic nib

 

best regards

Henrik

 

(I have no idea if the picture is oploaded , the prewiew didn't show anything)

Edited November 18, 2006 by Henrik

[born t]

I find fountain pen a wonderful medium. I like mixing line sketching with areal shading, and fountain pen can give me both. It is something that most media can't do. The picture below was drawn using 'The Burnham' with a flexible fine nib (pictured), in a mixture of Diamine's Red Monaco and Jet Black, and my finger.....

 

 

http://www.cantabgold.net/users/born/nat1.jpg

Edited November 19, 2006 by born t

[wdyasq]

Nice work born t

 

Ron

[Margana]

Born, when you lay in those "finger" washes, do you smear a line or dip your finger into the ink as you would a brush? You've achieved all sorts of variation that I would have thought possible with a single ink. Gorgeous work!

 

Henrik, your line drawings are very expressive and done with such certainty. Do you use a pencil first?