“ it’s a bit of a naughty one and can be a bit of a thug”😂😂😂😂 I absolutely love that explanation so much, I haven’t even finished the video but thank you very much for sharing your incredible artwork and knowledge in such a wonderful way that is so approachable and helpful.😊
As usual, fun, informative and a tad hysterical. Love your style Doug. I love art and I love being reminded not to take it too damn seriously and get on with the fun.
Off to get me a Lami!Great in depth info..absolutely know nothing about fountain pens other than we had to write with them at school many moons ago..we even had ink wells in our desks,although we didn’t use them,just good old bottles of Quink and stacks of blotting paper!Drawing with fountain pens was unheard of in our art class,which is a shame but great we have artists like yourself to show us the way now!!Thanks Doug!❤
I have 11 fountain pens as part of my art kit. Each of 8 have different inks (water proof and water resistant) in various colours. Then I have 3 fude pens each with a favourite ink. I have around 60 different inks! I love picking out 2 or 3 inks and creating something with them...using glass dip pens.
@@dougjacksonart Platinum Carbon Black, J. Herbin's Lie De The (not waterproof and I love bleeding it into the sketch with water-fabulous effects for stonework and trees. Ferris wheel Press' April Showers (also not waterproof, but a lovely light grey with a hint of pale blue and shimmer). Fabulous for stonework and for under sketching.
🙋🏻 Fountain pen girl and later woman since I was a child -many decades ago. However, I am only daring to sketch and use water just now, sonthabks for the nudge. I have a small collection of inexpensive pens: Platinum Preppy, Kaweco, Waterman, Diplomat. Nothing fancy but I do use them all. I dont want them to feel precious and "save them" for something special. I only keep a handful of them inked at a time. I inherited a 1970s Parker 75 from my father, which he used daily for decades. This is a bit finnicky, depending on the paper, but it is so nice to write with it. I look forward to more videos from younusing fountain pens.
I absolutely loved your comment and attitude. You are so like me in regard to using what you have. They are just tools. That's why I wouldn't buy an expensive one. I don't even mind thier occasional tantrums. Keep playing and having fun. 😁😁
@@dougjacksonart Thanks for your reply. Yes they are tools, and fun tools too. I enjoy the tactile experience: paper meets nib that meets ink. All of that reacts to your hand. I appreciate using the senses to write (even if some inks indeed smell a bit funny 🤣!) Fountain pens, like the ones from the brands mentioned, are very reliable. Even the Preppy works like clockwork, even months after not using it. I forgot to mention the TWSBI Eco, probably my favourite, because it works like a charm, has lots of ink capacity and is very easy to clean. Quite a lot for only 36 €. Should I lose it, I will not struggle getting another one. If I want, I can get another one (why really?) without breaking the bank.
I just bought my first fountain pen a week ago. I am IN LOVE 😍. I am looking at sketching in a whole new way. I used to think of it as “support for my watercolor. I see now that it is so much more! Could you do a video on how to take care of our fountain pens? I want to not be afraid of the three I have before I move on to that splity apart nib pen. I’m so excited about this new relationship I want to marry my fountain pens already, but I want it to last. Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge. 🙏🏼
I would love to argue with you for the sake of a fun debate, but I love fountain pens as much as you do! ❤ So many pens, so many varieties of ink, so little time! The only challenge is inky fingers.
I made the mistake to buy a Lamy safari. And now I own more than one. Love greens so my first was a mint green. Than I spotted other shades of green 😮😮. So it’s 3 greens with a EF-M-B nib. A clear one because it’s fun and a bi-coloured one pink/purple. They are such nice value for money too. I use the platinum carbon ink. Love it ❤
Love fountain pens, but what about dip pens as well?!? I love them equally. With a Brause or similar nib can get such line variation, oh my! Easy to switch inks. And what about the romance.. . .the purity of the process. So good. But yes, much easier to take a fountain pen urban sketching haha. (If you haven’t already, would love to view a vid from you about pen maintenance). Cheers from Australia!
I will do a vid about pen maintenance soon. Dip pens I love but I always make too much mess with them so I've stuck with fountaining pens. I will get back to playing with dip pens though. Thanks for your super comment. 👌
I have loved fountain pens since my father gave me my first one when I was eight. I have several pens, different nibs, different inks. I live in an arid environment and ink dries out. It’s a lot of maintenance, but worth it.
That is peoples most common complaint is the drying. If you use them often it doesn't seem to be an issue but you are so right that your environment can make a huge difference. I wonder if some sort of air tight storage box would work?
Have you tried TWISBI? I find that the cap seal is fabulous. I have the ECO model (okay, I have six of them) and I can go months without using one. Pick it up and it's like I used it an hour ago. I find that my Lamy Al-Star and Safari will dry out. My Sailor pens are both fude nibs and I've had no issues with drying out.
What a lovely rant. I am just getting started in urban sketching and was using my faithful Kakuno fine point with Montblanc Permanent Grey but you have blown my mind. Had to pause the video and dig out my Sailor fude and the Noodler's Konrad. Still debating on which nib for my Lamy, I've got the 1.1 and the 1.5. Wonderful content. Long may you post.
Fun to watch … but dangerous to my bank account 😂. Which nib size is your favourite? I have extra fine and medium. Can’t decide if I want to try fine or broad or more of the same sizes but different inks. 😮
Hi Tracy. The preference of nibs also depending on the colour and type of ink. It's such a huge subject....where to begin. I like a bold nib for a bold coloured pen. Generally the lighter the ink the thinker the nib. Non soluble inks are thinker too so they will flow differently. Mostly I just like to mix it up and try different ones. 🤣🤣
I have just started watching your UA-cams and am looking forward to experimenting. One thing though, I couldn’t quite hear the names of the pens and nibs you were talking about, could you please tell me what they are - I did get the Lamy one thanks.
I have been on the fence about getting a fountain pen but after watching this absolutely a yes for me. The amount of times I will be able to use it to escape from prison or save myself from a bear attack will pay for itself. I am riding away on my unicorn now. BTW love your videos.
I love a fountain pen, and I have far too many. I've written with them since school, and I'm 73 & 3/4! However I'm new to waterproof ink. I got a Fude bent nib to try my hand at sketching. It gets clogged if i let it sit around. So do the Lamy, the see-thru one, and a chinese fp I put wp ink into. Clogged, no ink comes out, or it draws sceatchy. Inevitably I end up with blobs of ink when i squidge the cartridge, etc... Do you fill your pen only when you're going to use it? And then empty it? How do you clean the pen out? Ive always just taket if apart and held each part under a warm runnung tap. I worry about ruining my pens with this ink. Thank for your wonderful videos; I always enjoy them, you're very entertaining, and I love your style. Maggie (UK)
Hi Maggie I generally just run mynpens under a warm tap to clean or sometimes leave to soak in warm water. Try to store the pens lieing on there side too. As you are UK based it can't be the weather drying out the pens so it can only be the type of ink or lack not regular use? I generally make a few marks with pens every fortnight or so if there are not used more often. Ink wise I find Platinum CarbonBlack to be fine and it doesn't dry out particularly. Not like some other inks I've used.
@@dougjacksonart thank you, that's really helpful. It mightve been the 37° in Portugal a couple of weeks ago haha. I think I'll wash them out as you suggest, and get some of that ink. Thank you! Mx
😊 Why an I just finding your videos today? Oh my gosh! Where have you been? As I've been going thru the videos I was so happy to watch your fountain pen tutorials. I'm excited because I just started getting acquainted with them a few months ago and there really isn't many videos on how to use them. I have been watching Becky Cao for awhile and she is amazing! She got me started with F pens. But she uses waterproof ink...Noodlers. So I got that. But also had ordered some other inks before that not considering water solubility at all. But recently drew a silly portrait of my dog and a girls head and started dampening the page for water color. Like Becky does! And I was so disappointed that I had non waterproof ink in ny pen and turned them into goth girl and goth dog...anyway then to see your drawing with the ink and water and I just love it! So I now feel I didn't waste my money. 😊 So excited to try the technique for real. Thank you so much. I will be watching all your video's!
I too love fountain pens agree with about them being good for the environment. What nib size do you prefer while drawing with the Lamy Safari? I see that you have many Safaris, do have most nib sizes? Which nib size would be best for a rank beginner? Thanks!
I have a tried pretty much all the nib sizes and I'd recommend you start with a medium. I tend to use the wide nibs for A4 or larger sketches and fine nibs on smaller drawings. But wider nibs always put more ink down which is great for water soluble ink sketches. There is no substitute for trying, learning playing yourself as ultimately you'll find what's best for you.
Totally disagree with everything you said Doug, there, now Doug likes me LOL. Seriously, I love sketching with fountain pens and I'm getting a little bit of a problem as I now have 8 and can't stop thinking about buying more, HELP ME!!, another thing, never noticed it before but your right, a couple of mine smell a little like potatoes, Strange.
Hi Doug, fairly new in this sketching thing. Still learning about these fountain pens. I have a lamy safari that I like and a parker as well ( don't like it so much). I like using the blue ink and doing some sketching and wet the lines after. Really cool effects. But I'm struggling to find a good black waterproof ink for sketching.all ink I have is soluble and when wet the page it's a bloody mess. Any recommendations for waterproof ink for the fountains? Cheers
HI there and thanks for your question. I've been using Platinum Carbon Black for years in fountain pens. Noodlers also do some great waterproof inks. Never have any issues with bunged up pens yet after 5 years or so as long as you use them every couple of weeks.
I haven't used a fountain pen since I was at school 🤭 might give it a go tho, I love the thought of using unicorn blood tho would have to ask him nicely to give me a few mls 😜
I enjoyed that and agree with everything you said, Doug - except that I think the same things go for dip pens only more so. Granted, they're a brave choice for outdoors, but the big practical advantage is that you can use them with any liquid, including India ink, gouache, bleach and that unicorn blood. Beyond that, persevering with them is a weirdly satisfying, cross-grained sort of thing to do in a throwaway age.
Hi Doug, how often and how do you clean your fountain pens. I have 2 Lamy pens with de Atramentis ink, which is permanent, although it doesn't say that on the bottle. Every time I go to use the pens...nothing. I have washed them with Fountain Pen Flush, made in California. I have to use the pens like dip pens. I've given up drawing with them. Any advice? Thanks Lynn.
I use Platinum Carbon Black ink in many different pens and only ever have a problem if I let the pen sit for weeks at a time. Mostly by wetting the tip I can get it going again but if not I flush through with water then refill or store. I suspect it might be the ink in your case unless you are storing them for week without us?
I love fountain pens. (I used to do calligraphy with a dip pen.) I started urban sketching about 3 years ago using fineliners for the "convenience," but I thought I had to carry around a lot of different sizes and colors, and it just got unmanageable. Now I use a Lamy Safari with a fine nib and Platinum carbon ink, and a Twsbi for backup in case the Lamy runs out of ink on location. I can vary the linewidth using pressure or turning the nib over. I also have a Sailor Fude, but it still feels very awkward to use and probably won't be my regular pen. I like the fountain pens for all the reasons you gave, but especially for the environmental friendliness.
Thanks for your comment Sharon. I agree with all of that and especially going out with two or more pens so you don't have to worry about filling them. I also have an OPUS 88 eyedropper pen that has a huge capacity.
I've been writing with fountain pens for a few years now. I had to use one at school (shows how old I am), and went back to one to improve my handwriting. They're kind of addictive and I have about 20 now at different price levels but it's weird that the cheaper ones tend to be the most reliable. I've found the Lamy Safari to be pretty much the only pen that can take carbon ink without drying up if you don't use it every 10 minutes. My favourite writing pen is the Pilot Metropolitan, inexpensive and never lets you down. I've got a Noodlers stinker and a Pilot Falcon, both are supposedly flex but nowhere near the level of flex from dip pen nibs. But dip pens aren't very practical when on location.
HI Steve. I'm starting to wonder if Platinum ink drying up in pens is maybe due to your environment and regular use? I've used it in pretty much all of my pens and unless they are left for weeks never have any issues. Obviously I live in UK. Flex pens are a big bug bear for me. They are either too wet or dry or misbehave and leak. I've never found one I'm satisfied with despite modifying feeds and changing nibs. Maybe one day.
@@dougjacksonart Cheers Doug. I wonder if it's how I store them as well. I normally keep my pens vertically but I've made an effort with the Lamys (and carbon ink) to lay them down. It
Love using fount pens - BUT - they need more attention - if I don’t use one for a while I spend lots of time getting it back in working order - frustrating! I DO keep using & loving them tho ❤
I love fountain pens and always write with them. I was given a very nice one by my colleagues when I retired. I now have a Lamy that I use only for drawing, but the waterproof ink dries up really quickly and I haven't learnt how to deal with that yet.
What a lovely retirement gift. As long as I use my Lamy once every couple of weeks it's fine. I use Platinum Carbon Black ink and it's fine. Certainly used regular you shouldn't have issues 😀
I love drawing with both this types of pens! in fact, I made my own homemade ink and I'm going to draw with them. I'm making that video right now. If you wanna check it out, it will be soon on my channel. Love your work. Keep it up!
Anyone know why the ink in cartridges is always water soluble? Waiting until the ink runs out in multiple Lamys so I can refill with permanent ink. Just bought my sixth Lamy in about three months. Couldn't help myself. 😊
You can buy platinum carbon Black in cartridges but it's just easier to use a converter. If your worried about running out of ink just carry two pens...😁😁
@@dougjacksonart It's that Lamy pens come with a blue ink cartridge, and I don't want to swap to a converter until that's run out. Seems a waste. That said, it's taking bloody ages.
Permanent / document inks that don't clog fountain pens cost more to make. They're a specialty item. Plus water based inks are great for sketching / art when you have nothing but the pen and a water brush or a q-tip or a wet paper towel. They themselves become a watercolor.
I found myself nodding my head throughout your video, especially the variety of inks, and the romance parts! I've loved fountain pens most of my life. Having recently retired from full time work, am starting to indulge my urge to "make art." Taking a drawing class at a local art studio (i like pencils, too, but not as much as fountain pens). It's wonderful to see how you use all the nib options, too! Thank you for the inspiration!😊
Youre a big part of the reason I got one to draw with and now I literally never want to draw with anything else 😂 the feel and glide is unreal. Plus its nice to know I dont have to worry about buying a whole new pen when it goes dry.
@@dougjacksonart I took the pen out and it still stinks, it stinks after soda bath as well, at the smell sticks to my fingers, amazing. So thank you so much for the link! I think I’ll just buy a full pen with this nib from them
Nice sermon Doug, am already a convert and completely support your evangelism. Green Sailor fude was a turning point for me and remains my first love. Blue one not so much. Pilot parallel pen is the latest addition to the pen family, jury's still out on that one. And my Lamy may not be quite as appreciated as it should be 🫤
Thanks for sharing your current FP stable Jo. It seems your on a similar trajectory as me. I occasionally get an old empty pen out of the stable for a play too. Pilot pens are wonderful for text play too. 👍😄
I love my fountain pens, It started seriously with a Platinum Century 3776 Ultra Extra Fine as my birthday gift but these have since rocketed in price so I have just got a Platinum Preppy Extra Fine for an every day carry and both work perfect with their Platinum Carbon ink. I use the Platinum EF desk pen (cut down) filled with water soluble ink. I also just bought a mini Hongdian M2 in extra fine soft in the Space Grey and filled it as a perfect colour match with my Edelstein Moonstone ink. The slightly soft nib is so smooth and is more like a M/F than an extra fine (which I usually prefer), but with this ink it gives lovely shading when writing and the softer colour is more like a pencil line without the smudging/erasing when sketching, also it is mostly water resistant when dry on my moleskine watercolour journal 😁. I still have my 3 original Rotring Art pens EF for water soluble sketching with various colour standard ink cartridges but I find these too long and awkward for everyday carry. I have a Lamy safari in Fine but I find it too thick a line for my taste 🫤 and the jury is out on my Duke fude 🤔. I'm definitely on the slope into addiction 🫣.
Ohh Shirley you are deep into it now! The pens are just the gateway drug into the really addictive bit...THE INKS!!! It sounds like you have some interesting pens to play. I like look of the Hongdain M2 but didn't buy one as its a bit too close to my Kaweco Sport. Perfect small pen for an everyday carry. I tend to flip flop with nib sizes and it really depends (for me) on the size of the piece. Thanks for your super comment 👍
Bear attack….excellent excuse to get another fountain pen.
Ohh and wolves too 😂
😂😂😂
“ it’s a bit of a naughty one and can be a bit of a thug”😂😂😂😂 I absolutely love that explanation so much, I haven’t even finished the video but thank you very much for sharing your incredible artwork and knowledge in such a wonderful way that is so approachable and helpful.😊
You are very welcome Suzy.
As usual, fun, informative and a tad hysterical. Love your style Doug. I love art and I love being reminded not to take it too damn seriously and get on with the fun.
…andddd..another Lamy purchased, yellow with yellow ink to go with the blue for some green stuff
Cheers Peter and thanks for the positivity. We certainly all need more of that. 👍👍
Off to get me a Lami!Great in depth info..absolutely know nothing about fountain pens other than we had to write with them at school many moons ago..we even had ink wells in our desks,although we didn’t use them,just good old bottles of Quink and stacks of blotting paper!Drawing with fountain pens was unheard of in our art class,which is a shame but great we have artists like yourself to show us the way now!!Thanks Doug!❤
Glad it was helpful! Its such an easy and underappreciated technique.
Must be Germany? We used them in elementary school for cursive there but not in the US.
I just started using fountain pens and love them. Especially my 2 Lamy!
😁 You're in good company here. We all love our fountain pens too. 🤘🤘
I have 11 fountain pens as part of my art kit. Each of 8 have different inks (water proof and water resistant) in various colours. Then I have 3 fude pens each with a favourite ink. I have around 60 different inks! I love picking out 2 or 3 inks and creating something with them...using glass dip pens.
Wow. You are the first person to comment that has many more inks than me. What's your favourite three inks?
@@dougjacksonart Platinum Carbon Black, J. Herbin's Lie De The (not waterproof and I love bleeding it into the sketch with water-fabulous effects for stonework and trees. Ferris wheel Press' April Showers (also not waterproof, but a lovely light grey with a hint of pale blue and shimmer). Fabulous for stonework and for under sketching.
🙋🏻 Fountain pen girl and later woman since I was a child -many decades ago. However, I am only daring to sketch and use water just now, sonthabks for the nudge. I have a small collection of inexpensive pens: Platinum Preppy, Kaweco, Waterman, Diplomat. Nothing fancy but I do use them all. I dont want them to feel precious and "save them" for something special. I only keep a handful of them inked at a time. I inherited a 1970s Parker 75 from my father, which he used daily for decades. This is a bit finnicky, depending on the paper, but it is so nice to write with it. I look forward to more videos from younusing fountain pens.
I absolutely loved your comment and attitude. You are so like me in regard to using what you have. They are just tools. That's why I wouldn't buy an expensive one. I don't even mind thier occasional tantrums. Keep playing and having fun. 😁😁
@@dougjacksonart Thanks for your reply. Yes they are tools, and fun tools too. I enjoy the tactile experience: paper meets nib that meets ink. All of that reacts to your hand. I appreciate using the senses to write (even if some inks indeed smell a bit funny 🤣!) Fountain pens, like the ones from the brands mentioned, are very reliable. Even the Preppy works like clockwork, even months after not using it. I forgot to mention the TWSBI Eco, probably my favourite, because it works like a charm, has lots of ink capacity and is very easy to clean. Quite a lot for only 36 €. Should I lose it, I will not struggle getting another one. If I want, I can get another one (why really?) without breaking the bank.
😂 good info, gold sense of humor
Glad you enjoyed it
I just bought my first fountain pen a week ago. I am IN LOVE 😍. I am looking at sketching in a whole new way. I used to think of it as “support for my watercolor. I see now that it is so much more! Could you do a video on how to take care of our fountain pens? I want to not be afraid of the three I have before I move on to that splity apart nib pen.
I’m so excited about this new relationship I want to marry my fountain pens already, but I want it to last. Thanks for sharing all of your knowledge. 🙏🏼
🤣🤣🤣 you've got it bad. I know that feeling. Yes I'll do a tutorial on maintenance too. That's a great idea. 👍
I would love to argue with you for the sake of a fun debate, but I love fountain pens as much as you do! ❤ So many pens, so many varieties of ink, so little time! The only challenge is inky fingers.
Yes they do have their little tantrums occasionally. That's a weird part of their charm. Almost like humans.
I made the mistake to buy a Lamy safari. And now I own more than one. Love greens so my first was a mint green. Than I spotted other shades of green 😮😮. So it’s 3 greens with a EF-M-B nib. A clear one because it’s fun and a bi-coloured one pink/purple. They are such nice value for money too. I use the platinum carbon ink. Love it ❤
Platinum Carbon ink seems to be the way to go. I hear a lot of other people having problems with other inks. Those Lamys are addictive !
You’ve just hit public enemy No.1 in the World Unicorn Association 😂
OH NOOOOOO! (runs off to hide under the bed)
Love fountain pens, but what about dip pens as well?!? I love them equally. With a Brause or similar nib can get such line variation, oh my! Easy to switch inks. And what about the romance.. . .the purity of the process. So good. But yes, much easier to take a fountain pen urban sketching haha. (If you haven’t already, would love to view a vid from you about pen maintenance). Cheers from Australia!
I will do a vid about pen maintenance soon. Dip pens I love but I always make too much mess with them so I've stuck with fountaining pens. I will get back to playing with dip pens though.
Thanks for your super comment. 👌
I have loved fountain pens since my father gave me my first one when I was eight. I have several pens, different nibs, different inks. I live in an arid environment and ink dries out. It’s a lot of maintenance, but worth it.
That is peoples most common complaint is the drying. If you use them often it doesn't seem to be an issue but you are so right that your environment can make a huge difference. I wonder if some sort of air tight storage box would work?
Have you tried TWISBI? I find that the cap seal is fabulous. I have the ECO model (okay, I have six of them) and I can go months without using one. Pick it up and it's like I used it an hour ago. I find that my Lamy Al-Star and Safari will dry out. My Sailor pens are both fude nibs and I've had no issues with drying out.
What a lovely rant. I am just getting started in urban sketching and was using my faithful Kakuno fine point with Montblanc Permanent Grey but you have blown my mind. Had to pause the video and dig out my Sailor fude and the Noodler's Konrad. Still debating on which nib for my Lamy, I've got the 1.1 and the 1.5. Wonderful content. Long may you post.
Ahhh thanks for that.
I'm sold. As a newer sketcher, disposable pens are just about a criminal use of resources. Need to get an ink pen. 😂
Excellent, another convert... World domination, one pen at a time... 🤣🤣
Love your artwork! Love your videos! What kind of ink is that lovely water soluble blue you're using? I'd love to try this!
Thank you! Cheers! It's Lamy turquoise ink and one of my favorites. It's just such a happy colour. 😊
Fun to watch … but dangerous to my bank account 😂. Which nib size is your favourite? I have extra fine and medium. Can’t decide if I want to try fine or broad or more of the same sizes but different inks. 😮
Hi Tracy. The preference of nibs also depending on the colour and type of ink. It's such a huge subject....where to begin. I like a bold nib for a bold coloured pen. Generally the lighter the ink the thinker the nib. Non soluble inks are thinker too so they will flow differently. Mostly I just like to mix it up and try different ones. 🤣🤣
I have just started watching your UA-cams and am looking forward to experimenting. One thing though, I couldn’t quite hear the names of the pens and nibs you were talking about, could you please tell me what they are - I did get the Lamy one thanks.
The flex nib was a Noodlers Ahab pen. The fude nib was a sailor de Manon fude. I think that's it for that video. 😁👍👍
@@dougjacksonart Thanks so much 😍
I have been on the fence about getting a fountain pen but after watching this absolutely a yes for me. The amount of times I will be able to use it to escape from prison or save myself from a bear attack will pay for itself. I am riding away on my unicorn now. BTW love your videos.
Stay safe....always carry a pen!! 😂
I love a fountain pen, and I have far too many. I've written with them since school, and I'm 73 & 3/4! However I'm new to waterproof ink.
I got a Fude bent nib to try my hand at sketching. It gets clogged if i let it sit around. So do the Lamy, the see-thru one, and a chinese fp I put wp ink into. Clogged, no ink comes out, or it draws sceatchy. Inevitably I end up with blobs of ink when i squidge the cartridge, etc...
Do you fill your pen only when you're going to use it? And then empty it?
How do you clean the pen out? Ive always just taket if apart and held each part under a warm runnung tap.
I worry about ruining my pens with this ink.
Thank for your wonderful videos; I always enjoy them, you're very entertaining, and I love your style.
Maggie (UK)
Hi Maggie
I generally just run mynpens under a warm tap to clean or sometimes leave to soak in warm water. Try to store the pens lieing on there side too. As you are UK based it can't be the weather drying out the pens so it can only be the type of ink or lack not regular use? I generally make a few marks with pens every fortnight or so if there are not used more often. Ink wise I find Platinum CarbonBlack to be fine and it doesn't dry out particularly. Not like some other inks I've used.
@@dougjacksonart thank you, that's really helpful. It mightve been the 37° in Portugal a couple of weeks ago haha. I think I'll wash them out as you suggest, and get some of that ink. Thank you! Mx
Such a relief you have a weapon to use against all those wild bears in remote Britain. And I thought I came from the end of the world in NZ!
Well you could repel the Wetter invasion. Those insects are huge 🤣🤣
😊 Why an I just finding your videos today? Oh my gosh! Where have you been? As I've been going thru the videos I was so happy to watch your fountain pen tutorials. I'm excited because I just started getting acquainted with them a few months ago and there really isn't many videos on how to use them. I have been watching Becky Cao for awhile and she is amazing! She got me started with F pens. But she uses waterproof ink...Noodlers. So I got that. But also had ordered some other inks before that not considering water solubility at all. But recently drew a silly portrait of my dog and a girls head and started dampening the page for water color. Like Becky does! And I was so disappointed that I had non waterproof ink in ny pen and turned them into goth girl and goth dog...anyway then to see your drawing with the ink and water and I just love it! So I now feel I didn't waste my money. 😊 So excited to try the technique for real. Thank you so much. I will be watching all your video's!
Lovely to hear Pat. Thanks for taking the time to comment. It means a lot.
I too love fountain pens agree with about them being good for the environment. What nib size do you prefer while drawing with the Lamy Safari? I see that you have many Safaris, do have most nib sizes? Which nib size would be best for a rank beginner? Thanks!
I have a tried pretty much all the nib sizes and I'd recommend you start with a medium. I tend to use the wide nibs for A4 or larger sketches and fine nibs on smaller drawings. But wider nibs always put more ink down which is great for water soluble ink sketches. There is no substitute for trying, learning playing yourself as ultimately you'll find what's best for you.
@@dougjacksonart Many many thanks for your reply! Means a lot to me!
@@sudeepmukherjee4430 Anytime. I love the comments. 😊
Oh boy… down the rabbit hole I go!
Good luck. I'll see you there 👍 😉
I love sketching with ink and fountain pens. Also Pilot Parallel pens are great! Any tips how to get the finger and fingernails clean again fast?
I find drinking beer is the best method.. 😂👍 or wine
Totally disagree with everything you said Doug, there, now Doug likes me LOL. Seriously, I love sketching with fountain pens and I'm getting a little bit of a problem as I now have 8 and can't stop thinking about buying more, HELP ME!!, another thing, never noticed it before but your right, a couple of mine smell a little like potatoes, Strange.
Your right it's an addiction.. I have about 10 Lamys and about 10 other fountain pens...we need a support group. Nibs anonymous. 🤣🤣
Hi Doug, fairly new in this sketching thing. Still learning about these fountain pens. I have a lamy safari that I like and a parker as well ( don't like it so much). I like using the blue ink and doing some sketching and wet the lines after. Really cool effects. But I'm struggling to find a good black waterproof ink for sketching.all ink I have is soluble and when wet the page it's a bloody mess. Any recommendations for waterproof ink for the fountains?
Cheers
HI there and thanks for your question. I've been using Platinum Carbon Black for years in fountain pens. Noodlers also do some great waterproof inks. Never have any issues with bunged up pens yet after 5 years or so as long as you use them every couple of weeks.
@@dougjacksonart thank you. I'll have a look at those inks then.
I haven't used a fountain pen since I was at school 🤭 might give it a go tho, I love the thought of using unicorn blood tho would have to ask him nicely to give me a few mls 😜
You should never be afraid to ask !! 😂
I enjoyed that and agree with everything you said, Doug - except that I think the same things go for dip pens only more so. Granted, they're a brave choice for outdoors, but the big practical advantage is that you can use them with any liquid, including India ink, gouache, bleach and that unicorn blood. Beyond that, persevering with them is a weirdly satisfying, cross-grained sort of thing to do in a throwaway age.
Yes so true. I know a guys who just uses stick and spends hours searching and carving them. It's wonderfull.
Hi Doug, how often and how do you clean your fountain pens. I have 2 Lamy pens with de Atramentis ink, which is permanent, although it doesn't say that on the bottle. Every time I go to use the pens...nothing. I have washed them with Fountain Pen Flush, made in California. I have to use the pens like dip pens. I've given up drawing with them. Any advice? Thanks Lynn.
I use Platinum Carbon Black ink in many different pens and only ever have a problem if I let the pen sit for weeks at a time. Mostly by wetting the tip I can get it going again but if not I flush through with water then refill or store. I suspect it might be the ink in your case unless you are storing them for week without us?
@@dougjacksonart thanks Doug, I think I'll try changing the ink. Thanks again. Lynn
I love fountain pens. (I used to do calligraphy with a dip pen.) I started urban sketching about 3 years ago using fineliners for the "convenience," but I thought I had to carry around a lot of different sizes and colors, and it just got unmanageable. Now I use a Lamy Safari with a fine nib and Platinum carbon ink, and a Twsbi for backup in case the Lamy runs out of ink on location. I can vary the linewidth using pressure or turning the nib over. I also have a Sailor Fude, but it still feels very awkward to use and probably won't be my regular pen. I like the fountain pens for all the reasons you gave, but especially for the environmental friendliness.
Thanks for your comment Sharon. I agree with all of that and especially going out with two or more pens so you don't have to worry about filling them. I also have an OPUS 88 eyedropper pen that has a huge capacity.
I've been writing with fountain pens for a few years now. I had to use one at school (shows how old I am), and went back to one to improve my handwriting. They're kind of addictive and I have about 20 now at different price levels but it's weird that the cheaper ones tend to be the most reliable.
I've found the Lamy Safari to be pretty much the only pen that can take carbon ink without drying up if you don't use it every 10 minutes. My favourite writing pen is the Pilot Metropolitan, inexpensive and never lets you down. I've got a Noodlers stinker and a Pilot Falcon, both are supposedly flex but nowhere near the level of flex from dip pen nibs. But dip pens aren't very practical when on location.
That first paragraph describes me exactly. One pen wasn't enough. 😊
HI Steve. I'm starting to wonder if Platinum ink drying up in pens is maybe due to your environment and regular use? I've used it in pretty much all of my pens and unless they are left for weeks never have any issues. Obviously I live in UK. Flex pens are a big bug bear for me. They are either too wet or dry or misbehave and leak. I've never found one I'm satisfied with despite modifying feeds and changing nibs. Maybe one day.
😂👍
@@dougjacksonart Cheers Doug. I wonder if it's how I store them as well. I normally keep my pens vertically but I've made an effort with the Lamys (and carbon ink) to lay them down. It
@@stevevincent4962 You know I was thinking about that today too. Mine are always on thier side and I have no issues 👍
Will water Sauble ink come back after it dries like watercolor paint?
Yes it can be reactivated like watercolour. When in doubt experiment and play as every paper and ink will behave differently.
Love using fount pens - BUT - they need more attention - if I don’t use one for a while I spend lots of time getting it back in working order - frustrating! I DO keep using & loving them tho ❤
Totally agree! I'm currently in a bit of a sulk with some of mine. They are being neglected and going on strike!!!
I love fountain pens and always write with them. I was given a very nice one by my colleagues when I retired. I now have a Lamy that I use only for drawing, but the waterproof ink dries up really quickly and I haven't learnt how to deal with that yet.
What a lovely retirement gift. As long as I use my Lamy once every couple of weeks it's fine. I use Platinum Carbon Black ink and it's fine. Certainly used regular you shouldn't have issues 😀
I love drawing with both this types of pens! in fact, I made my own homemade ink and I'm going to draw with them. I'm making that video right now. If you wanna check it out, it will be soon on my channel.
Love your work. Keep it up!
Very Cool, what a skill! I've subscribed.
@@dougjacksonart oh thanks so much! Also did here! 🤗
Anyone know why the ink in cartridges is always water soluble? Waiting until the ink runs out in multiple Lamys so I can refill with permanent ink. Just bought my sixth Lamy in about three months. Couldn't help myself. 😊
You can buy platinum carbon Black in cartridges but it's just easier to use a converter. If your worried about running out of ink just carry two pens...😁😁
@@dougjacksonart It's that Lamy pens come with a blue ink cartridge, and I don't want to swap to a converter until that's run out. Seems a waste. That said, it's taking bloody ages.
Permanent / document inks that don't clog fountain pens cost more to make. They're a specialty item. Plus water based inks are great for sketching / art when you have nothing but the pen and a water brush or a q-tip or a wet paper towel. They themselves become a watercolor.
How many fountain pens do you own? I have 4. Your reasons are hilarious. All very true. Oh. Love that sepia ink too. I don’t have that yet. 😂
At present probably about 25... its a problem as I just keep getting more 😂😂
I found myself nodding my head throughout your video, especially the variety of inks, and the romance parts! I've loved fountain pens most of my life. Having recently retired from full time work, am starting to indulge my urge to "make art." Taking a drawing class at a local art studio (i like pencils, too, but not as much as fountain pens). It's wonderful to see how you use all the nib options, too! Thank you for the inspiration!😊
Youre a big part of the reason I got one to draw with and now I literally never want to draw with anything else 😂 the feel and glide is unreal. Plus its nice to know I dont have to worry about buying a whole new pen when it goes dry.
Thanks so much but don't blame me when you have twenty pens ....OK 😂👍
@@dougjacksonart i may or may not have my fourth coming in the mail right now LOL. I NEEDED a fude nib. The chromashading sailor inks demanded it.
@@JackTheVulture 🤣🤣 well done!!
Great T-shirt. Did you get your name in the "Aliens: Expanded" documentary? Bluray out in August. 👽👾
Sadly not. I loved all the movies and a big Sci-Fi nut!
your Ahab is seriously flexy! I probably need to find mine in its isolation caused by smell and try again
I didn't mention in the video but that nib I'd a Super Flex EF nib from here... fprevolutionusa.com/products/fpr-6-custom-ultra-flex-nib-chrome
@@dougjacksonart I took the pen out and it still stinks, it stinks after soda bath as well, at the smell sticks to my fingers, amazing. So thank you so much for the link! I think I’ll just buy a full pen with this nib from them
Fountain pens are also way more environmentally friendly than throw away plastic
I know. I don't like the disposable nature of our society. Completely unnecessary.
Mine smells like bacon...!
Ohh lucky you
Nice sermon Doug, am already a convert and completely support your evangelism.
Green Sailor fude was a turning point for me and remains my first love. Blue one not so much. Pilot parallel pen is the latest addition to the pen family, jury's still out on that one. And my Lamy may not be quite as appreciated as it should be 🫤
Thanks for sharing your current FP stable Jo. It seems your on a similar trajectory as me. I occasionally get an old empty pen out of the stable for a play too. Pilot pens are wonderful for text play too. 👍😄
I love my fountain pens, It started seriously with a Platinum Century 3776 Ultra Extra Fine as my birthday gift but these have since rocketed in price so I have just got a Platinum Preppy Extra Fine for an every day carry and both work perfect with their Platinum Carbon ink. I use the Platinum EF desk pen (cut down) filled with water soluble ink. I also just bought a mini Hongdian M2 in extra fine soft in the Space Grey and filled it as a perfect colour match with my Edelstein Moonstone ink. The slightly soft nib is so smooth and is more like a M/F than an extra fine (which I usually prefer), but with this ink it gives lovely shading when writing and the softer colour is more like a pencil line without the smudging/erasing when sketching, also it is mostly water resistant when dry on my moleskine watercolour journal 😁. I still have my 3 original Rotring Art pens EF for water soluble sketching with various colour standard ink cartridges but I find these too long and awkward for everyday carry. I have a Lamy safari in Fine but I find it too thick a line for my taste 🫤 and the jury is out on my Duke fude 🤔.
I'm definitely on the slope into addiction 🫣.
Ohh Shirley you are deep into it now! The pens are just the gateway drug into the really addictive bit...THE INKS!!! It sounds like you have some interesting pens to play. I like look of the Hongdain M2 but didn't buy one as its a bit too close to my Kaweco Sport. Perfect small pen for an everyday carry. I tend to flip flop with nib sizes and it really depends (for me) on the size of the piece. Thanks for your super comment 👍