Started drawing with fountain pens this year and got hooked

[mouse2cat]

Hello guys! 

I am super new here. And new to the hobby. I started playing around with fountain pens this year after following some Urban Sketchers groups. And because of the whole pandemic lockdown. I needed something that wasn't on the computer. 

 

Started with a Lamy Safari, and then a Vista, and then I realized there were these totally waterproof fountain pen inks that can be used with watercolor.

So I picked up a bottle of Noodler's Lexington grey and have been combining fountain pen sketches with watercolor in my sketchbook. This realization was a game changer. Now my pens were drawing tools and not writing tools and I started to think about them entirely differently. 

Lexington Grey in the Lamy Vista. (love seeing that ink slosh around) 

 

 

So then I got deeper. I picked up a twsbi eco and and a twsbi mini and dug into the De Atramentis Document ink line. The twsbi mini is adorable as heck. And then watching some youtubers I picked up a salior fude nib and a duke fude 209. (these are very cheap pens but the bent tip is very unique for drawing)

This drawing was done woith a Twisbi Eco loaded up with Noodlers Rome Burning 

 

Then I learned that Kuretake makes a fountain BRUSH pen. Guys the Kuratake 40 has actual sable hairs AND it takes a platinum converter and can be loaded up with fountain pen ink. I am not sure if folks here would consider a fountain brush pen as a fountain pen. But It's fantastic. 

 

Just all kinds of pens going on here. Brush pens, fude pen, line pen. Actual watercolor. 

 

 

then my mother found some old school pens and mailed them to me. So now I have a Pelikan 120 with a blunt oblique nib and a Parker 45.

I was at my desk filling these pens with a syringe. At this point I realized I was in deep, and so here I am.

 

I'm hoping to learn more about pens and maybe invest in some next level drawing pens. Specifically I am interested in drawing on the go. So for me that means very functional pens that I can toss in my pencil pouch and draw with outside. I don't want to get mugged while drawing so they cant be too flashy.  I like colored pens because I am using a lot of different colored inks and it helps me keep track of what's in what pen.

 

Anyhow, you all seem like a friendly group so I'm happy to be here. 

[mizgeorge]

Hello and welcome

 

Some great pictures there - I'm sure you'll soon dig out the other artists on the board and compare notes!

[northstar]

Hello and welcome to FPN.

[OCArt]

[Helen350]

Lovely work!  Brought back memories of my mother's watercolors, and with fountain pen

inks!!! 

[PAKMAN]

Hello and Welcome to FPN!! So glad to have you as a member!! Beautiful drawings!

[Nurmister]

Hello, wonderful drawings. I love the gentle style.

 

As for a suggestion for an "on the go" pen, consider the Pilot vanishing point. It is a pen with a retractable nib, and can be had with two kinds of nibs -- a steel alloy or gold. The former is quite affordable, and can be had in discreet colors.

An even more inexpensive option is the Platinum curidas. However, I swear by Pilot for its quality and feel.

[mouse2cat]

Hi guys! thank you for the warm welcome. 

 

1 hour ago, Nurmister said:

Hello, wonderful drawings. I love the gentle style.

 

As for a suggestion for an "on the go" pen, consider the Pilot vanishing point. It is a pen with a retractable nib, and can be had with two kinds of nibs -- a steel alloy or gold. The former is quite affordable, and can be had in discreet colors.

An even more inexpensive option is the Platinum curidas. However, I swear by Pilot for its quality and feel.

 

Nurmister. The Pilot vanishing point is an interesting looking pen. I just thought it would dry up and leak everywhere to have a click style fountain pen, but it seems like it does have a little secret closure system. It seems like it is difficult to see the ink level in the vanishing point. Drawing is tricky because the watercolor paper absorbs a lot of ink so you can go through ink pretty fast. 

[Nurmister]

20 minutes ago, mouse2cat said:

Hi guys! thank you for the warm welcome. 

 

 

Nurmister. The Pilot vanishing point is an interesting looking pen. I just thought it would dry up and leak everywhere to have a click style fountain pen, but it seems like it does have a little secret closure system. It seems like it is difficult to see the ink level in the vanishing point. Drawing is tricky because the watercolor paper absorbs a lot of ink so you can go through ink pretty fast. 

 

I've had three vanishing points and have treated them roughly, and never had any leaking or drying problems. It is always reliable.

 

However, you make a great point regarding the ink capacity: it is quite small on this pen. Specifically, this pen uses the CON-40 converter. This converter has a similar "stated" capacity to those of other retractable pens, like the Platinum Curidas and Lamy dialog 3 (quite an expensive pen), but in reality, it's pretty much impossible to get the stated amount in. I only manage to get at best half of the capacity filled each time.

 

So in that case, I'd recommend the Platinum Curidas if you want the convenience of a retractable-nibbed pen -- the Lamy dialog is expensive and quite imbalanced in the hand. However, if you are willing not to use a converter, and instead use cartridges (and refill cartridges with syringes if you want to use your own bottled ink), then Pilot cartridges are just fine, they hold quite a bit of ink.

 

If snap-on caps are OK, there are a ton of great beginner pens perhaps you already know of that will serve you well. In particular, the Lamy Safari has a little hole through which you can see the ink level. Twisbi also makes many attractive piston-filled fountain pens with transparent bodies and great capacities. Feel free to look around and ask more questions, there are many pens that may suit your needs, including italic-nibbed pens, flex pens, etc.

 

There are more details here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgoH-Kvq3ds&ab_channel=JetPens

 

and here, Goulet pens is a great resource for all FP topics:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XNYYifSXWQ&ab_channel=TheGouletPenCompany

 

[Wahl]

[7is]

Thank you for the pictures and the story!. Hi!

[Bisquitlips]

Glad to have you with us!

 

[BRICKADILLO]

Hello mouse2cat,

 

All sounds great. I am using fountain pens for art too.

 

Are you able to share a link, amazon or otherwise to the Kuretake 40 brush pen you tried please? Sounds good, but I am a bit confused with what I find on Amazon when searching for Kuretake brush pens.

The ability to load up with ink, or washes of ink and water sounds good.

 

Regards,

BRICKADILLO

[Helen350]

Kuretake Water Brushes | JetPens

[mouse2cat]

4 hours ago, BRICKADILLO said:

Hello mouse2cat,

 

All sounds great. I am using fountain pens for art too.

 

Are you able to share a link, amazon or otherwise to the Kuretake 40 brush pen you tried please? Sounds good, but I am a bit confused with what I find on Amazon when searching for Kuretake brush pens.

The ability to load up with ink, or washes of ink and water sounds good.

 

Regards,

BRICKADILLO

 

Oh the Kuretake 40 is this guy here

https://www.jetpens.com/Kuretake-No.-40-Fountain-Brush-Pen-Bristles-Matte-Black/pd/3958

 

It takes a converter so you can use it to put any kind of fountain pen ink in it. 

 

I know artists who put ink in water brushes but they have synthetic bristles that wear down. While the 40 has real hair in the brush part. And you can replace the "nib" unit if they hairs wear down on you. 

 

[Catpaws]

That is really cool!

Beautiful art!

[AmericanMonk]

On 4/9/2021 at 9:59 PM, mouse2cat said:

I'm hoping to learn more about pens and maybe invest in some next level drawing pens. Specifically I am interested in drawing on the go. So for me that means very functional pens that I can toss in my pencil pouch and draw with outside. I don't want to get mugged while drawing so they cant be too flashy.  I like colored pens because I am using a lot of different colored inks and it helps me keep track of what's in what pen.

 

I'm surprised you didn't receive more suggestions, so I'll add my two cents (even though I suspect you've already come across these, and more, by now). With the exception of pen #2 they're all twist caps, which I consider vital when inking on the go.

1. Kaweco Sport. Relatively inexpensive, not flashy, a variety of materials and colors, small, and secure. I particularly like that it isn't round when posted. A reoccurring nightmare I have is when a pen rolls off the desk and lands nibplants onto the floor. A metal Sport might beat up your other pens in your pencil pouch, but it is small and secure enough for a pocket. Sadly, it is probably too small to beat away a mugger but you could get all stabby with it without it breaking. It can be finicky so even though it is first on this list it would also be first off of this list.
2. Nothing wrong with a Platinum Preppy! Inexpensive enough to be considered disposable, one can use just about any ink in it without concern that you might ruin it. It looks and feels like an art supply—no flashiness whatsoever—so it won't make you a target. The included cartridge is easy enough to refill, accepts Platinum's converters, and the nib and feed are easy enough to dismantle. The cap's spring-supported inner protector is helpful, so it claims, in preventing ink from drying out. I've never had a nib gum up with my sheening inks and—despite it being a snap cap—cap spray is minimal and I've never had one leak. I think Platinum is on to something with their caps. The barrel is mostly transparent so you'll always know your ink levels and whether or not the innards have taken damage or sprung a leak (which I've never experienced). The clip is a weak point and it definitely looks like an art supply, so I tend to prefer Platinum's Prefounte, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It isn't the smoothest experience but such a high value pen that a Preppy is a must try, IMHO. I tend to buy it when I'm $3 away from free shipping.
3. Noodler's Ahab. An all-around great value. The fit and finish are outstanding (it feels satisfying to use and maintain) and I love the feel of the material. I don't like vac-pump pens (especially when filling from bottles similar to Diamine's 30mL bottles) but the innards are easily removed, dismantled, cleaned/maintained, and filled by syringe (my preferred method) as desired. It's the only pen I own where I actually look forward to cleaning. The ink chamber is already plenty generously sized, but what might appeal most to you is the fact that you can easily alter the pen to be an eye-dropper pen. The barrel holds LOTS of ink, which is helpful because the pen can put down a lot of ink. I swapped the included nib and feed for a superflex nib/feed from Fountain Pen Revolution and have tons of fun with it. It won't replace a vintage wet noodle but the line variation and ink flow are plenty smooth. The biggest downside is not the smell (which I'd describe as "grossly enjoyable" and which diminishes over time) or lackluster appearance (IMHO, if you don't buy a clear demonstrator), but the push/pull vac-pump. If you have a hard start or otherwise just need to feed the nib a little bit, you'll find that there is a fine line between feeding the nib and squirting ink across the room. I tend to resort to gently shaking the pen like a pendulum if the ink is being stubborn, which means cleaning out the inside of the cap or always having some rag/paper towel on hand. If Noodler's would create a screw-type converter it would be an ideal pen.
4. Lastly, Shaeffer No Nonsense. I don't like to gush too much about them publicly. It is as vintage as I feel the need to get. I'm particularly fond of the Fine Italic nib. The converters are rare and more expensive than the pen, so you'll probably need to buy and refill their proprietary cartridges and refill them with a syringe. Luckily Shaeffer cartridges haven't changed much over the years and finding some is not difficult.

Honorable mention: Pilot Parallel. Not meant for drawing, but can be used for drawing in some circumstances. Good flow, easy cleaning, takes Pilot's converters. Faux Fraktur revs my engine.

 

Now that is has been almost a year since your original post, what does your sketchbook look like these days?

 

+1 one the Kuretake. Which pens have you purchased since your original post?

 

Maybe I got a bad bottle but I've struggled with Rome Burning's feathering. I want to love it but can't. I've noticed that a few of Noodler's eternals are ill behaved (feather and bleed). Do you have the same problem?

 

Lexington Grey is on my wishlist and a search for that ink is what brought me here. Have you found any favorite sketching inks?

[ParramattaPaul]

Beautiful.  I especially like the one of the daffodils.

[dipper]

3 hours ago, AmericanMonk said:

Noodler's Ahab. ...(clip).... there is a fine line between feeding the nib and squirting ink across the room.

Oh yes, I have been there!

 

Fixed...

 

When I fill the pen I pull the piston all the way up and then push it back in by about 1mm.

 

Later, if I want to push the piston slightly I resist the temptation. Instead, pull the piston up - using the little 1mm space created when filling. Then the piston will move down smoothly without any difficulty.

 

As the piston will now be 2mm or 3mm down the same pull-then-gently-push manoeuvre can be repeated indefinitely. 

[mouse2cat]

2 hours ago, AmericanMonk said:

 

I'm surprised you didn't receive more suggestions, so I'll add my two cents (even though I suspect you've already come across these, and more, by now). With the exception of pen #2 they're all twist caps, which I consider vital when inking on the go.

1. Kaweco Sport. Relatively inexpensive, not flashy, a variety of materials and colors, small, and secure. I particularly like that it isn't round when posted. A reoccurring nightmare I have is when a pen rolls off the desk and lands nibplants onto the floor. A metal Sport might beat up your other pens in your pencil pouch, but it is small and secure enough for a pocket. Sadly, it is probably too small to beat away a mugger but you could get all stabby with it without it breaking. It can be finicky so even though it is first on this list it would also be first off of this list.
2. Nothing wrong with a Platinum Preppy! Inexpensive enough to be considered disposable, one can use just about any ink in it without concern that you might ruin it. It looks and feels like an art supply—no flashiness whatsoever—so it won't make you a target. The included cartridge is easy enough to refill, accepts Platinum's converters, and the nib and feed are easy enough to dismantle. The cap's spring-supported inner protector is helpful, so it claims, in preventing ink from drying out. I've never had a nib gum up with my sheening inks and—despite it being a snap cap—cap spray is minimal and I've never had one leak. I think Platinum is on to something with their caps. The barrel is mostly transparent so you'll always know your ink levels and whether or not the innards have taken damage or sprung a leak (which I've never experienced). The clip is a weak point and it definitely looks like an art supply, so I tend to prefer Platinum's Prefounte, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. It isn't the smoothest experience but such a high value pen that a Preppy is a must try, IMHO. I tend to buy it when I'm $3 away from free shipping.
3. Noodler's Ahab. An all-around great value. The fit and finish are outstanding (it feels satisfying to use and maintain) and I love the feel of the material. I don't like vac-pump pens (especially when filling from bottles similar to Diamine's 30mL bottles) but the innards are easily removed, dismantled, cleaned/maintained, and filled by syringe (my preferred method) as desired. It's the only pen I own where I actually look forward to cleaning. The ink chamber is already plenty generously sized, but what might appeal most to you is the fact that you can easily alter the pen to be an eye-dropper pen. The barrel holds LOTS of ink, which is helpful because the pen can put down a lot of ink. I swapped the included nib and feed for a superflex nib/feed from Fountain Pen Revolution and have tons of fun with it. It won't replace a vintage wet noodle but the line variation and ink flow are plenty smooth. The biggest downside is not the smell (which I'd describe as "grossly enjoyable" and which diminishes over time) or lackluster appearance (IMHO, if you don't buy a clear demonstrator), but the push/pull vac-pump. If you have a hard start or otherwise just need to feed the nib a little bit, you'll find that there is a fine line between feeding the nib and squirting ink across the room. I tend to resort to gently shaking the pen like a pendulum if the ink is being stubborn, which means cleaning out the inside of the cap or always having some rag/paper towel on hand. If Noodler's would create a screw-type converter it would be an ideal pen.
4. Lastly, Shaeffer No Nonsense. I don't like to gush too much about them publicly. It is as vintage as I feel the need to get. I'm particularly fond of the Fine Italic nib. The converters are rare and more expensive than the pen, so you'll probably need to buy and refill their proprietary cartridges and refill them with a syringe. Luckily Shaeffer cartridges haven't changed much over the years and finding some is not difficult.

Honorable mention: Pilot Parallel. Not meant for drawing, but can be used for drawing in some circumstances. Good flow, easy cleaning, takes Pilot's converters. Faux Fraktur revs my engine.

 

Now that is has been almost a year since your original post, what does your sketchbook look like these days?

 

+1 one the Kuretake. Which pens have you purchased since your original post?

 

Maybe I got a bad bottle but I've struggled with Rome Burning's feathering. I want to love it but can't. I've noticed that a few of Noodler's eternals are ill behaved (feather and bleed). Do you have the same problem?

 

Lexington Grey is on my wishlist and a search for that ink is what brought me here. Have you found any favorite sketching inks?

 

What a lovely long thoughtful response. I have continued to sketch since I posted this. It was my resolution to sketch more so cheers to that. https://www.instagram.com/hannah.skoonberg/ 

 

I ended up getting samples of a bunch of the eternal noodlers inks so what I can say is that they vary a lot. With certain colors being more problematic and others being fine. Of the inks I have I had the most trouble with Rome burning because I am also annoyed by feathering. I found adding a little water to the ink helps with the feathering issue substantially. The other problem ink for me was Noodlers eel black. Beautiful but the dry time was impossible and because it is a lubricated ink I was getting a wetter line increasing the dry time even more. 

 

The best of the noodlers bulletproof/semibulletproof inks I tried were Lexington, Walnut, Redblack, el Lawrence and Zhivago. But even there I had issues I got a sample of Zhivago and liked it so I got a bottle and my bottle was a different color. 

 

Thank you for the sheaffer recommendation. I really like the look of that pen and I don't mind re-using a cartridge.