In December 2015 I am doing a series of blog posts all about using fountain pens for sketching – the most important aspects to consider and some personal preferences after years of using them.
Rather than doing in-depth studies and reviews, I want to create an overview with links to other information. So I plan to update these posts as I discover more information or do more detailed reviews myself.
Part 1: Introduction
Part 2. Why draw with a fountain pen?
Part 3. Using a fountain pen
Part 4. Choosing a fountain pen
Part 5. Basic fountain pens
Part 6. Fountain pens with variable lines 1
Part 7. Fountain pens with variable lines 2
And just for fun:
Behind the Scenes!
Once you have a fountain pen you will have to start drawing with it!
If you would like to learn the fundamentals and start urban sketching please check out my Foundations online course.
34 Comments
Hi Liz. I’ve recently discovered your blog and think it’s great. I was very interested in reading your fountain pen sketching series, but the link to Part 3 seems to be broken. Looking forward to reading it soon!
thanks Myra – just fixed the part 3 link!
Hi Liz, I have also recently discovered your blog and Instagram, and love all your work and tips! I have just begun my journey into sketching, exploring with ink and watercolours and find your work very inspiring! Thank you, God bless!
By the way, do you have recommendations re suppliers in Australia to buy fountain pens? I can’t seem to find to get the preppy pens for a starter
Hi Liz, I have been reading your blog and am a committed sketcher. Can you recommend a permanent black ink for in ink and watercolour wash, that is suitable for my new LAMY Safari fountain pen.
Hi Janes. Yes! Please go to sketching tools – fountain pens and look the article – using a fountain pen. I use De Atramentis document ink
Hi Liz, I have recently been introduced to your blog and would like to go through your Fountain Pen Sketching series but parts 1 and 3 are no longer available it seems. Is this a technical problem or have you removed them for some reason?
Thanks, love your work!
sorry Jacqueline, all the links to the FOuntain Pen series should be fixed now (I recently upgraded my site and a few links got lost in the process)
Go to this index for all links. https://lizsteel.com/fountainpensketching/
RE: Non Dry Highlighter Fountain Inks
Dear Sir/Madam,
We would like to introduce us as one of the manufacturer of special Non dry highlighter inks in Korea, which means no drying out even without cap for long time. These inks are very colorful, non dry, no clogging for long time under cap off and very suitable for fountain inks or fountain pen refill inks.
We also produce the wide range of Non dry inks and these water based inks can be applied in Highlighter marker Ink, Sign pen, Gel pen, Ballpoint pen, Several kinds of children inks, Many kinds of refill ink. This is non-toxic and washable type. We hope to establish business relation with your company.
Company name: PolyChem
Contact with: Mr. Alex Kim (Sales Manager)
Tel: 82-10-2876-2467
E-mail: [email protected]
Will appreciate your early reply!
Best regards,
Alex Kim
This series is amazing! I stumbled across your blog (after being enthralled with Jane Blundell’s for awhile) and have been loving all the information provided in your posts. I, too, love colors and have such a hard time narrowing down to just 12-14, especially when some of the colors I love aren’t the “right” colors according to some people. You’ve inspired me to keep sticking with what I like while still trying new things. I have hopefully also found a sketchbook I can enjoy after reading your reviews on Stillman & Birn! (Goodbye Canson Mixed Media and Strathmore Visual Journal.)
But, back to the pens… I’m just getting brave enough to start thinking about doing my sketches in ink but don’t care for the feel of micron/Sharpie pens. I with something with a little more personality that will dance across the page and thanks to this post I was able to pick out a couple of pens to try! I also grabbed some De A. documents ink to make sure my sketches stay put. (Maybe someday I’ll experiment with water-soluble inks, but not yet!) So, again, thank you for writing this wonderful resource to help pen noobs make informed shopping decisions.
Liz, I have a very old Koh-I-Noor Artpen with all that goes with it in new condition. Can you tell me what brands of ink, besides Rapidograph, I can use in it well?
Hi Julie, I am not familiar with that pen (and surprised that it uses rapidograph ink) so can’t really comment on the best ink. Have you searched online for options?
Hi Liz,
I have a rather odd request. But will you please continue using your Lamy Joy? (Odd request isn’t it?) I dont know why but i love seeing you draw with Lamy Joy that once you ever decide to change FP, i will feel weird :'(
Again it’s really up to you to change, though.
I meant to not dispose your Lamy Joy and if you ever lose your Lamy Joy, please at least use your black Lamy Joy.
I am so weird i know
It’s such a long pen, fascinating to watch it in action. The white ones are hard to find and expensive. I bought the black set and use the medium nib with Noodler’s Lexington Gray – marks like a pencil – fun to use. You have permission to buy one on sale when you find it.
Vanessa, I will still use it!!!! 🙂
Have fun Kirsta!!!!
The only downside to using is that when refilling your pen, no matter what ink gets on your fingers.
Not a real problem until you want to remove it like instantly and it doesn’t come off with soap and water, so my question is how do you remove the ink staining from your fingers please ?
My watercolours if I get any on my fingers comes off fairly easy with soap and water but Ink ????
Help
Lava Soap works really well. Available from Amazon if not in grocery store.
One of the best pens I’ve found for sketching using very fine lines in the Platinum #3776 with an UEF (ultra extra fine) point. It’s thinner than any other fountain pen and flows nicely with little scratching. I use Platinum Carbon ink in it which is permanent. The line is a comparable to a Micron ,005 or a bit thinner.
Thanks for sharing Phil. I’ll look it up!
I love fountain pens and have a mix of vintage and new. For anyone having issues with ink flow, try a TWISBI. The EF is not as fine as some of the Japanese pens but they have the best ink flow of anything out there.
thanks for sharing Teresa
Hi Liz,
Please, what model and size is the gold nib of your Lamy Joy pen: EF, F, M …?
Hi carolina – it was an EF but as so soft is now closer to a M when I use it with pressure.
love your sketching!
Thanks Esther!
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