Fountain Pen For Drawing Comics/manga

[Odinz]

Hi all, it has been a while since I last was here, I have been busy writing, writing with a fountain pen is a huge inspiration for me and though I bought a couple of different pens the once I bought from Teri does stand out, an imperial and a 300.

Even though this is not about me or my pens, I just want to note that the 827 Nos seconds from Teri really surprized me, and for those that remember me, it has the look I wanted, simmilar to the PFM,

so thank you all who helped me so much, and thank you all for making me a pen enthusiast(expensive pleasure, but worth it).

 

However, now I am here because of someonw else, this is a young person who is an amazing artist but still in school so not alot of money for the things that he wants to have.

He draws Japanese style comics(manga) and also a realistic drama comic, but he really wants to have a fountain pen to draw with and ink his pencil drawings with.

 

He told me that there were fountain pens that were highly praised among professional manga/comic artists and I thought that it would be a fun gift to buy things for him that would make his studio complete.

 

He is my little brother and I want to help nurture his talents and abilities, and I immediatly thought of asking here since this place is the one place where I can imagine that someone might know this.

 

So if someone does have any idea about these things and would be able to show me some directions for my eternally educating little brother I would be forever thankful, I hope that there is a possibility that I can give him something that he will treasure and that will last a long time.

 

I hope that I am not asking too much, since I have hardly contributed here in any helpful way yet, thanks again!

[myn]

I too am an artist but not "manga" - I do scenery in pointillism so I use a Platinum preppy converted to eyedropper costs about $5.00 at Goulet pens for the pen, o-rings and silicone and an esterbrook with a 2048 nib or other fine or ef nib. However here are a couple of leads for you that may point you in the right direction for you brother.

 

http://veronicahebs.blogspot.ca/2011/02/manga-pens-comic-art-supplies-review.html

 

http://www.indiamart.com/wancher/platinum.html

[Movis]

One thing you definitely want to look at is what ink you would use in it. You need something waterproof if you're coloring line art in with markers, or ink washes. If you don't color it in it won't matter as much. I would suggest Platinum Carbon Black, or Sailor Kiwa-Guro Nano Black. That's what I've heard most recommended for art purposes.

 

As far as pens go, you'd probably want a very fine point, so either an Asian Fine, or Extra Fine. Asian nibs run a whole size smaller than Western nibs of course. I would suggest looking at a Pilot 78G, if you wanted an entry level pen, or a Sailor EF, or Platinum. Those tend to be the finest line from what I understand.

[Odinz]

Thanks for the reply, looks interesting.

 

The reason he wants to use a fountain pen is because the ink flowing more freely and that makes a more expressive line.

I can agree to this from my own experience, and using a fountain pen would make him have more ways to use lines and things, and fit his style wich is growing a bit darker and more mature.

 

Out of curiosity, is there anywhere I can see your art?

 

 

Thank you for your reply.

 

I will also still be looking at more options and such, if anyone have some knowledge other than that of myn it would also be greatly appreciated because I like to know the options that are out there before i make up my mind on things, sadly I am not one of those that are able to find all they need on the internet by themselves so I have to ask others to share their knowledge.

[ObserveClosely]

Some ideas:

-- Best Portable Solution For Drawing With Ink?

-- Best nib for sketching?

-- Best Pen for Artists

[bbwriter]

There was a PBS program telling the story of a Spanish Comic Artist. He used dip pens. Also I have seen internet stories about Manga Artists that also used dip pens. No mention of the inks used, but India ink and dip pens go together.

[Odinz]

One thing you definitely want to look at is what ink you would use in it. You need something waterproof if you're coloring line art in with markers, or ink washes. If you don't color it in it won't matter as much. I would suggest Platinum Carbon Black, or Sailor Kiwa-Guro Nano Black. That's what I've heard most recommended for art purposes.

 

As far as pens go, you'd probably want a very fine point, so either an Asian Fine, or Extra Fine. Asian nibs run a whole size smaller than Western nibs of course. I would suggest looking at a Pilot 78G, if you wanted an entry level pen, or a Sailor EF, or Platinum. Those tend to be the finest line from what I understand.

 

 

Thank you for your reply Movis.

 

You are completely right, the ink is very important, so thank you alot for your suggestions.

 

I was hoping to buy him a pen that is a bit further up the ladder than an entry level pen, so that it not only is a fountain pen but a very nice fountain pen, one that shows that I appreciate his art and think that it is worthy of being drawn by a nice pen, so that is serves as a motivation as well as a tool for him to use.

Of course I am not looking to buy the most expensive pens on the market, but one that is nice and does handle some heavy usage.

 

About the nib sizes, that is excellent because I had completely forgotten about the difference in asian nibs to western nibs, it did not occur to me at all.

 

I have seen some Sailor pens, and they seem very nice.

 

Do you think that there will be a very big difference in the nibs of the pens that has been made for manga to the ones that have not?

 

I do imagine that a premium fountain pen will have a better quality nib and may be better all around because the some of the manga pens are very cheap so if there are any opinions on this it would be fantastic to hear them.

[Kyouju]

Hmm. If a dip pen is really out of the question, I think a non-vintage pen with a flex nib (e.g. Noodler's Konrad, Serwex, etc.) would not be a bad idea. A better source of dramatic line variation for stylised drawing might be a pen with a Fude nib, but this is not exactly ideal for most manga artists, given that it yields a less consistently inked line and can thus develop into a problem once the manga artist gets to the tone application stage.

 

This really depends on the style of drawing your brother prefers, however. I know quite a number of manga artists who get away with using only one pen with non-varying line thickness for all their line art.

 

At any rate, if your brother is able to vary the angle of his writing instrument without detriment to his drawing, requires a variety of line thicknesses for differentiation between main outlines and detail or hatched strokes (about F-BB), and tends to the more finished style as far as his line art goes, I would suggest that you spring for a Sailor with a Zoom nib.

[Uncle Red]

check this site out

 

http://www.jetpens.com/Comic-Manga-Pens/ct/845

[Ambien]

Usually, manga is drawn with dip pens with crow nibs or Zebra-G and pilot fountain pen ink. I recommend buying a set of nibs of various sizes and a nib holder. I don't I've tried drawing with my fountain pens, unless it's a sketch pen. Technical pens are also nice for line art due to the precise nature.

[paultyler_82]

For manga work I would highly recommend a dip pen. Specifically, I would recommend a Deleter nib holder and nibs. As for ink, go for whatever you want to go with. Deleter's inks are nice but any ink will work. Pigment and permanent inks can be used in a dip without clogging a feed beyond repair and if you want your works to last, these are the inks you should be using.