Fountain Pen
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I have recently started sketching again. Even got my daughter interested and we sketch together each night. I am most comfortable with fine point felt and technical pens. I was told I should try a fountain pen. Seeing as the price range is huge I wanted to get some ideas from the community as to which pens and which ink to try. I might also be adding color; either pens, watercolor or both.
Thanks for any insight. -
I only ever sketch with a fountain pen!
Sketching with a fountain pen (i find) is much nicer, i can be more fliud, and any mistakes (or unconscious descisions) are of course irreversible, which is great!
after trying many many different expensive fountain pens, i found these to be best:
the pilot V-pen, a disposable fountain.
Cheap too!
Pav
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Eric, The other rout is to get yourself a classic "fat" Mont Blanc, and you will thank yourself years later. You can not lend it to anyone, and not to drop it point first.
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Mont Blanc is the classic, best awesome fountain pen if you want to put the money into it. I've used a few and they really are great! Easily over $500USD.
I have a fountain pen that I really like that cost me $35. It is the Pilot Knight Collection Fountain Pen. I have the dark blue barrel and a red barrel one. I really like this pen. It is solid, not flimsy like so many others I've tested. If you can go to a store to test pens, see if they have that one on hand. Also I recommend the adapter to make it so it can suck up its own ink, instead of using refill cartridges, but that is just my preference.
And I like Noodlers Ink, Eel Black.
http://noodlersink.com/samples.htmlThey have great ink that is not going to corrode your pen nib away.
Chris
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looks like the concensus is with the expensive pens!
i had one of these for a while, until somone at uni pinched it, it was pretty good, in fact it was very good, the only reason i didn't replace it was for fear of loosing another one.
Pav
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Thanks for the advice so far guys.
What about nib sizes? -
not sure the V-pens have differing nib sizes, however my lamy did, it was a 'medium' and was a nice thickness, just right for some sketching, but also when the time came, not too large for writing.
weird question, and off topic i know, but does anyone notice a change in their handwriting after period without sketching?
it sounds weird, but i am convinced that my handwriting becomes sloppier and less artistic when i haven't sketched for a few days.Pav
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My handwriting is always horrible, nothing to do about it unfortunately.
For nib sizes, I prefer medium generally too I think. Go play with whatever they have available at a store. One thing that can be a proeblem is that some nibs are just not good at working on regular paper, and they want special paper. The pen I linked to is wonderful on all paper that I have tried it on. But I have a much more expensive Conklin pen (in the $100 range) that is absolutely impossible to use on regular paper. It just gums right up. It has a medium tip that I like a lot, but it always clogs on regular office paper, so I rarely use it.
Chris
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Bold tip, best for on the spot client sketches. Learn to draw upside down. Royal Blue ink, because it is a classic color, and a little harder to photo copy. This is one the few things I am a snob about:-)
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+1 for Mont Blanc Meisterstuck.
Back when I drew comics I had (and I still have it) a great pen called "artpen" which had a gold nib and was able to use thick indian ink. Super soft lines and blackest of black lines.
I tried searching all over the world for spare parts but it doesnt seem to exist anymore.
(It's in my treasury now.) -
Here you go Jan, the Mont Blanc Meisterstuck:
yours for only $18,800 USD
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Of course I see now that previous meisterstuck is child's play compared to this Meisterstuck which will cost you $195,000USD:
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How can you pass up a deal like that?...they're even offering free shipping!
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Eric,
What about staying completely digital and going with a larger Wacom tablet and Corel Painter or Photoshop? I still sketch alot by hand but find doing things digitally give me many more freedoms that would be impossible with traditional methods. Just a thought.
Scott
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Well I could certainly do that but there is something about pen to paper that cannot be matched by a stylus IMO. Plus it is not as easy to go to the park with your young'n and lay in the grass and sketch.
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Eric,
I also still love to have the pen/pencil in the hand for that "personal" capture. My primary weapons of choice are in the photo. Love the fat Mont Blanc (vintage 1982) but almost scared to carry it around. Some of the cheaper pens do a good job. I liked those Lamy pens, but haven't seen them around lately. Having a variety of points is good, and I have always been partial to chisel points. You can get a skinny or fat line on demand by rotating slightly. In the photo is an "Osmiroid" about 8 years old, Has a variety of nibs. I use three chisels, fine/med/bold. Also - like to dabble in pen/pencil sketches. Really like the FaberCastell solid graphite sticks.Nothing like the rich darks from a well pointed 3B or 6B. Must be carefull not to smudge however. and for ink color, I am partial to darker sepia tones. The Mont Blanc has never seen black ink.
Keep the sketching up and you never have to be afraid if you are caught away from the laptop.
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Reading this thread made me go and buy a fountain pen!
I have not used one in 23 years!I enjoy writing and I do sketch for work, so I'm looking forward to try it out.
I ordered a Lamy Safari in Black. Not expensive, but has some great reviews.
http://www.thepencompany.co.uk/product/lamy_safari_fountain_pen_-_blackReading up on fountain pens, it seems the ink used can make a big difference. If I enjoy using it, I may consider buying a converter and some good quality ink, instead of the cartridges.
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Glad this thread inspired you Dylan. Unfortunately for me there is not a place in town for me to try out a decent FP. I guess I will have to order.
Is filling a FP messy? Just curious.
Also, what is the best ink to use with watercolor or markers so it won't bleed?
I am assuming Noodler's Eel. -
Can be. If you upend, and shake it (or just leave it upended), it may (most likely) leak into the cap.
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I agree with you. A tablet PC maybe? but I still like to break out the crayons and markers with our 2 year old as much as she does.
Scott
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