I have been very unlucky with dip pens up to this point. I just could not use them. Either no flow of ink or too much ink on paper. Anyway few days ago I stopped by an arts shop and they had $2 dip nibs ("for detailed work). I tried today and ... it works.
Sort of... Very difficult to negotiate the upstroke and it requires a lot more attention and slower speed than a flex fountain pen. Here is an exemplar. The nib is a small steel dip nib on an oblique holder and the ink is an indigo from one of those generic glass pen sets. The paper is Ampad gold fibre - I think the nib would have performed better on a Clairefontaine or more smooth paper.



This links to a larger version (big file)

Beautiful - I started with dip pens, but never have I used an oblique holder - all the Spencerian masters use oblique holders... I should look for one.

AZ,
That's really elegant.
Thanks for sharing.

J

I think I'll write a few notes to friends with my dip pen now - you got me in a dip mood.

Wow. Nice looking writing though. Doesn't look like you had that much trouble. The oblique thing kind of scares me. I suppose it's like getting used to using a mouse, but it just *seems* like it would be hard to have the tip off to the side like that.

Thank you all for your kind words (remember that this is far from "real caligraphy" - check this link for a true calligraphy example).

Chupie, it took me 5-10 more times the time I would need to write this with an FP. I have also indicated few of the several places where the pen caught fibers and smeared. You can check the large size photo for a better view (of these problems).
The oblique holder seems weird but it is actually less difficult than it seems to be.

BTW, the nib by the way is 04 Hunt Finest Drawing.

Awesome as always AZ!!! Thanks for sharing.

Well, I think that to me, that is what makes this impressive. Anyone who can sit down and just fairly dash this off is impressive too.