I just received my new Renaissance Art journal. I'm happy with the leather cover, and the whole package feels like it will outlast many generations. The paper can hold up to light watercolor washes, making the journal ideal for sketches and illustrations. On the downside is the paper's considerable tooth, which makes the writing feel less than smooth with the nib skating over the surface without leaving a good, solid line of ink. None of my pens deliver sufficient ink flow to overcome this problem and the writing looks thin and uneven. Can anyone recommend a brand of pen/nib combination known for delivering heavy ink flow?

Thanks,
Aldo

I am curious about this as well. I would like to purchase one of the RenArt journals at some point, but not if it is too much trouble to write it.

I understand that some will be shocked by this question, but please take no offense: have you tested the journal using a rollerball while applying a bit more pressure? At home, I write mostly with fountain pens, but I do not carry FPs around in my school/work bag for various reasons. If a fine or medium rollerball writes well on a RenArt journal, I may still buy one.

No offense taken. I no longer own a rollerball but I think it may work better than a FP due to the higher pressure that can be applied. I understand that the ability of the paper to perform multiple functions calls for some compromises and I think that having a FP that delivers more ink flow than average may provide just what's needed to make the journal an outstanding combination.

Ink flow is at least partially dependent on the ink itself, so take that into account. It may also be dependent on the properties of the paper -- just because a paper is "toothy" does not mean it won't repel ink.

That said, here are my suggestions, based on the pens I own and use, for heavy ink flow (assuming you do NOT want a broad nib or a stub):
Lamy Safari/Vista w/medium nib (F nib might be ok too, I don't have one so don't know how much ink these will deliver)
Lamy Sport fountain pens and roller balls
The eyedropper pens that come as freebies with some Noodlers Inks do a pretty good job of supplying ink as fast as required

Otherwise, a nibmeister could likely adjust almost any nib (within limits) to provide as heavy a flow as the width of the nib tip can handle without blotting.

The Arches Text Wove is just one paper Arthur offers in RenArt's journals. It is the standard, but not the one you have to have. I feel it is more suited to watercolors, pencil, and other mediums besides fountain pens. You can substitute Frankfurt White or Frankfurt Creme for no additional cost, and fountain pens really like this paper. You can sub Zerkall Book Smooth, but it is premium paper and will cost more for less (it's much heavier, too, I believe). Arthur also has Biblos, which is similar to Arches but a much better, less toothy texture suited for fountain pens. He's looking at other papers, too. Several paper samples, including the Arches, Frankfurt and Zerkall, were all provided to Kadymae and she provided some very nice reviews of the various papers. My personal favorite is Frankfurt Creme. It's a lovely creamy/ivory color and my pens all seem to like it, though a medium nib prefers it over a fine, and freer flowing inks like it vs a drier ink. Zerkall Book Smooth is way smooth and many people really love this stuff, but it really is premium paper and priced accordingly (expensive). My standard for writing in my journal with the Frankfurt Creme is my Bexley America the Beautiful with a fine nib inked with free flowing Galileo Manuscript Brown. Very pleasing to me.

Contact RenArt for your available choices, then when you order, put your preferred paper in the special instructions.

Kiavonne, thank you for the comprehensive explanation. I have made contact with Arthur and he has offered to send me a sample of Frankfurt and Zerkall. Unfortunately those papers were not available at the time I ordered the journal. I happen to have Galileo Manuscript Brown ink and I'll load it in one of my pens to see how well it works with the Arches paper.

Excellent! Thank you.

I have one of these journal with the Arches Text Wove paper and have tried about 20 different pen and ink combinations. I am currently using a medium MB149 with MB Black and an Esterbrook 'J' with a 9788 nib and Penman Saphire without skipping or bleeding.

As I approach the end of the original 'refill' I have constructed a new paper insert modelled on the binding used in the original Ren Art insert. The new refill is constructed from 5 Apica notebooks bound togather

What a very clever thing to do Jim!

Thank you Playpen.

Of course my bookbinding skills are not a patch on those of Ren Art, but it seems to do the trick.

The Apica paper is great with all my fountain pens.