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

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.

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,

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

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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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

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.

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!

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

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

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.

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,

I do a little daubing with watercolour but I also like to do 'pen and wash' type stuff too. As a recent convert to FPs I've been using an old parker lady with a fine nib for this and noodlers black and eternal blue. Works great on watercolour paper and also allows me to slosh a lot of water about without the ink turning to a lot of mud. My son (art student) uses a parker vector and I have to say that I quite like that too. The nib is very stiff but for me, that's good. I've just gone and bought a whole load of them for very little money on ebay.

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. /:)

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

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

All the best,

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!

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.



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you guys have the most beautiful sketches!

Wooooow!

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!

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)!!

Here are some of my sketches for my latest project, Journeys.
(photo removed)
Please see further down the page for the smaller versions!!

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.

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

Ron

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.





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

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!!!

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....






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....

I adore that Doglock Musket!

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)

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.....

Nice work born t

Ron

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?

Wow ~~!

I just smeared the lines. But once my finger was inky enough, I didn't need a line to smear anymore!

It's been too long since I stopped in on this thread. Wonderful drawings!

My Burnham #47 has a very rigid nib. I think my other one is a #60 or #61 and has a little flex. Very well made pens.

Well, with my pen, I can't seem to get it to grip, it just slides, skips, so I can only use it one way, but I think my hand angle was wrong!

"born t" - I can't stop looking at your drawing/painting. Amazing. Love it.

I've been playing around by using a fountain pen with plain ol' fountain pen ink for lines, and then I go over it with a Niji waterbrush filled with water to lift ink off the lines, and smear/wash it around for tone. What you've done is with your finger is fantastic. I'd adopt that method, except that I'm looking for a portable, low prep technique that I can use on the go and keep my hands clean. But your drawing is what I aspire to.

On the topic of fountain pens and sketching - has anyone ever heard of, or used, an Ackerman Pump Pen? It's a pen body that can be used with various drawing nibs and even brush tips. I'm very intrigued - but a little skeptical - and like to hear about anyone's experience with it.

Thank you.

If you want to keep you hands clean, try a good quality sable brush with a bit of water

Windsor & Newton make such a brush. It may be a bit costly but is one of the best. No 2 is good for A5 sketches, and No 4 is good for A4s.

A contact lense tub can make a good water container.

The picture below was drawn using the above equipment, with just one tub of water.

Enjoy sketching and do post your works when you have time.

Wow! Love it!!

Funny - my wife is a Sinatra nut, and she has posters/pictures of him all over the house. Gotta show her your work!

Thanks so much for the tips.