Howdy Y'all From Knoxville, Tn!

[cbreezy]

Hey, guys!
I'm a physics major (formerly an art major, also minoring in studio art and math) at the University of Tennessee who got into using lots of different pens as a sort of a coping mechanism since I'm still much more artistically-inclined than mathematically at the end of the day. I started out on... some decent Office Depot-level ball points I can't remember the name of, moved to Staedtler fineliners, built up a gorgeous palette of those but moved onto JetPens-type gel pens when I kept mashing the felt tips in and ruining them before they'd actually died, built up a gorgeous palette of those, made the mistake of throwing a Platinum Preppy in my cart one day, and, welp, downward spiral into fountain pens being my primary hobby. So here I am. (And I'm so glad to be here!)

Most of my pens are cheapo Chinese pens I got off of eBay, but my non-Chinese pen collection includes a couple Metros, a Lamy Safari F and Vista EF, Pilot Prera F, and two Kaweco Sport Skylines in M (I think? Or F). But my focus as a fountain pen enthusiast is on building the widest palette of colors possible for me to have on hand when I'm studying or in lecture (though homework is always in pencil!), so when it comes to pens, I'm much more quantity-over-quality oriented. As far as inks are concerned, my palette looks like a glorified, grown up version of the Crayola Bold Markers since I use all of my pens and inks at the same time, so, y'know, gotta make sure the colors all look good together, right?

I'm also very interested in getting into creating my own inks from scratch and have already gathered a lot of materials, just haven't been able to pull the trigger on buying the dyes since they're not the cheapest. I'd love to see a sort of homebrewed ink movement come about, inspired by Organics Studios, who was my inspiration to try it out myself. (OS Aristotle is one of my favorite inks, for sure.) But I'm personally very frustrated about the lack of literature out there about it and how to better take care of the quality control concerns (like with the Noodler's Baystate inks). I dunno. I'm all about the unusual ink colors. I'd love to be able to make my own. Kind of a dream job, not gonna lie. A current pet project of mine is also to start a pen review blog specifically focusing on cheapo Chinese pens and aimed at poor college kids like me. Unfortunately I did not get as far on that as I intended over my winter break, but hopefully it'll be up and running sooner than later.

Anyway, I'm also planning on going to the DC Pen Show this year (my own personal Bonnaroo! Or Dragon*Con! Except with less drugs and , so I'd love to make some friends on here to meet up with! :] So excited, y'all. I might also make it to the Atlanta Pen show but it's the weekend before the last week of my classes and school is #1, so chances are I'll be too slammed, but we'll see!

AHHHHHH SO EXCITED TO BE HERE SORRY THIS WAS SO LONG I JUST HAVE A LOT OF FEELINGS ABOUT PENS

PS: I run a tumblr of scans from my notebooks, if anybody's interested in seeing it. I hope me posting it here doesn't come across as tacky, it's just that this is the fpn! And my notes from school are so central to my pen life! :V

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you as a member!!

[william2001]

Welcome and feel free to ask us anything.

-William S. Park

[Sasha Royale]

[Kuscer]

Hi and welcome to FPN! I'm really glad to have you on board. Please feel free to ask us anything at any time. Enjoy the forum!

-SLJVC

[RMN]

Hi and welcome to FPN

 

 

I guess our ink-section will be of interest to you.

Enjoy

 

 

D.ick

[Clancy]

Greetings from northern California and a warm welcome to FPN. It's great to have you here with us.

[Wahl]

[notVirtuThe3rd]

Hi! Welcome to FPN.

I'm really glad you've joined us.

Enjoy!

Best wishes from Japan,

VirtuThe3rd

[mwpannell]

Your physics notes are lovely/fascinating! You should get a Hobonichi Cousin (A5) journal for use in the new year. I think you would love it and the two of you would become fast friends. As you have time, do post in the Inky Thoughts section. You would be right at home there I'm sure. And if you have some artwork (ink and wash? Besides the lovely physics notes) we'd love to see and be inspired.

 

Welcome aboard

Edited January 4, 2015 by mwpannell

[H1N]

Hello and welcome to FPN

[RWB]

Hello and welcome from the other end of the state. I was just in Knoxville this weekend visiting family.

[Art]

Hello

[Oslowe]

Welcome! I had seen your kind offer to help less gifted fellow students RT'd into my twitter TL by dozens of smart funny people I follow. Loved all your notes. I too am an artist, though of meager talents; but you would appreciate that all I paint are homages to Feynman diagrams and bongo drums.

 

You are clearly 'to the FPN forum born.' I would advise trying to be more outgoing... shine your light, break out of that shell, bless your heart. I'm 25 years in Tennessee and an East Kentucky GF. So I've eaten my share of 'kilt lettuce' and 'meat and three's where you really only get two. Again, welcome!

[ThomasB]

Hello and welcome from Baton Rouge, Louisiana...Enjoy your time here

 

Thomas

[xtemplarx]

FWIW, if you need local FP ink, Staples in Oak Ridge keeps the Parker Quink black in stock. Just bought a bottle today!