Fountain Pen
A fountain pen has a removable nib with a replaceable ink cartridge in the handle. They're clean, portable & reusable with a consistent pen line. There are a variety of nib sizes, styles, & ink cartridges colors. Fountain pen can be costly, and the consistent pen stroke lacks the expressive line quality found in a dip pen. Cleaning the Pen
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GraphicPens (Technical Pens or Drafting Pens) Graphic pens are constructed with a thin wire that gives them a fine tip. They come in a variety of sizes, and can be disposable or reusable. Graphic pens create consistent, straight lines. Some common brands are Rapidiograph, Staedtler, and some Sakura Pigma Micron. |
Dip Pen
A dip pen has a removable metal nib and handle, but no internal ink storage. The split in the nib has a reservoir that holds a small amount of ink so the pen is dipped in ink frequently. Gently tap the tip on scrap paper after dipping it to remove air bubbles and prevent ink blobs. The nibs are made of a flexible metal and come in different shapes and lengths. This allows the line quality to vary creating a calligraphic line (or a thick and thin line). The nibs are cleaned each time the pen is used. After rinsing off all of the ink, remove and completely dry the nib with a paper towel to prevent rusting. Tape the ink bottle to the table so it doesn't spill. Dip pens are relatively inexpensive, but aren't good for drawing on location. |
Ball Point Pens
Some artist use cheap ball point pens to create wonderful drawings. These pens are cost effective, available everywhere, and easy to use anywhere. The pens tips come in several different sizes. A downside of ball point pens is that they only come in a few colors. The ink can skip and periodically release ink blobs. Some inks will also fade overtime. |
Inks
Choose the type of ink recommended for the type of pen being used. Ink qualities to consider include waterproof, smear proof, fade proof, variable dry time, and how the ink interacts with other mediums.
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