When I need new nibs I usually grab a Speedball set. Sketching set’s a favourite but I dig the mapping, artist’s and cartoonist’s sets, too, depending on what I think I might like to play with, or haven’t played with in a while.
Boy, for your first UA-cam post, very good! Succinct, examples, suggestions, no fluff or wasted time rambling -- very well done! Keep it up, and thanks for the many helpful points!
@@longstrideillustration I agree! I usually get frustrated and forward parts of the video; or just move on to another one. But 7 minutes went by in what seemed like 7 seconds, I was fully engrossed. Very to the point.
First post? 😳😳😳😳😳 You got 4.7k likes and a close amount of subscribers in 4 months, just thanks to this video, this is very impressive. Almost makes me believe in myself.
@@isisblackthrash9293 I watched a lot of Creator-tips videos on UA-cam before starting my channel ... and procrastinated for years lol. The best time to start a channel was 10 years ago and the next best time is today 😅
EXCELLENT video-you are a natural teacher. I haven't tried dip pens in a long time. When I did, I was disappointed-I now realize they have to be cleaned befor 1rst use!
Well done! I'm 85 & have been using these pens since my teens. Ink pen drawing is a wonderful way to explore one's inner Being. There ARE amazing things inside us, just Waiting to dribble out our Pens!
I’ve been using dip pens on and off for years but found them unreliable. There’s info in this video that I had no idea about and will undoubtedly make my experience better! And I work in an art supplies store, so I’m going to recommend your video to my customers.
Don't touch your paper or your nibs unless you wash your hands before. The oil from your skin will be absorbed into the paper or onto the nib and mess with ink flow. If you watch a lot of manga artists and calligraphers who use dip pens you'll see a good deal of them wear gloves to avoid this.
Hello Chloe not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but using a dip pen is kinder to the environment as no plastic being dumped. Also I saw somewhere to keep those little silicone things that draw moisture, like in pill bottles etc. put one in with your nibs to prevent rust. Great video, love your work. Thank you.
Loved your video. I am an 83 yr old mostly retired illustrator, designer, artist who has used dip pens for almost 60 years. I love the sensual quality of line. Love speedball 102 and 101 nibs. Still have a little cache of them that I hoard. Would love to hear your take on inks. That was always a problem for me as I was pretty isolated. I was always looking for a good, glob free, permanent sepia ink. Videos now make the networking available that we could only dream of.
Amazing! That's so inspiring to hear that you've kept your passion for the dip pens over the years. Ink, I imagine has changed. I haven't tested many different brands of Indian Ink nor different medium types. I stick to Speedball's Super Black pigment based Indian Ink because the viscosity seems to work for my style of detailed drawing. Maybe someone else in the comments can provide additional input with their views on a good glob free permanent sepia ink...
Me too! I think a lot of our generation were put off dip pens because of the quality of the pens and ink we were expected to use (especially at school and in public offices). Having your own pens and inks and keeping them clean, and modern drawing ink makes all the difference! Now I prefer them to Rotrings and fibretips. Especially for colour work (mostly I use sepia ink for vintage style mapwork.)
Maybe from De Atramentis Document Ink, or Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Inks? Most of these are waterproof. People use them in fountain pens, for sketching. I do not know if that says anything about their usefulness for dip pens. But those brands have other ranges, too.
I love dip pens. I have a large collection of vintage nibs and about 30 pens. Love them so much I've made my own inks, some with soot and an iron gal ink from oak gals I found while going through Oklahoma. I have to disagree with them not being travel friendly since I keep some with a couple of inks and cleaner in my truck. I'm an over the road truck driver and always bring LOTS of art supplies. Also love fountain pens too. Also, a great way to clean nibs and fountain pens is with an ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry. Best investment ever!!!
Awesome to hear! For sure, it is possible to travel with dip pens though, in the context of comparing that to the ease of packing fine liner or fountain pens, dip pens benefit from a bit more TLC and sounds like you've got your travel toolbox dialled in perfectly for it! 👍
@@katherinehodde3432I wish I knew the difference 😉. Sarcasm aside, I wish I knew is for situations like this and I wish I had known is for past tense situations. I wish I knew how to fold my shirt properly, or I wish I had known how to fold my shirt properly. Hope that makes sense
I love your video (and the kitty!), learned a lot. I'm more into watercolor and gouache but started with nib pens recently, and haven't been able to stop. I bought the same Speedball, is an excellent recommendation. I can't wait for your next videos 😊
Thanks for watching, I'm glad that the Speedball was a good choice for you as well, and that you like the kitty because she loves being the centre of attention and likely will make an appearance in future videos
This is first class in every way! Thorough, crystal clear, 'real'/authentic - and no background music to keep our attention focused on details shared by an excellent 'tutor' / guide. Thank you so much!
You know, many years ago I spent a lot of time drawing with dip pens. After many years not drawing I have started again. And the first use cleaning prep is news to me! Every day is a school day! Well done, Chloe! Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the UA-cam channel!
I couldn't figure out why new nibs where so capricious for the first hour or so of using them, I almost gave up until someone told me about the wax coating.
Thank you so much for this. It has been decades since using nibs and I've become reliant on pens, yet feel something is missing as I dive back into creative work. Your clarity and pracitcality has inspired me to replace old nibs, be disciplined about maintaining the toos in practice, and get moving again. Thx from Canada!
Thank you for the very informative video! I've never really tried these kinds of pens, but would like to try it at some point in the future. It looks like you can make very fine lines with these kinds of pens, where fineliner markers are easy the break and become unusable. I look forward to you making more videos!
They’re actually very travel friendly. There’s loads of cases you can get for them - even standard pencil cases and even toothbrush travel holders that fit in your pocket or bag and are stab proof 😂 Same with inks. There’s lots of ways to travel with different inks. I actually have my quick travel inks inside those tiny and cheap paint wells (the kinds you typically get in kids art kits from crayola or paint by number kits) and they don’t leak (unless I accidentally sit on them 😂) but I also keep them in a sandwich bag just incase (if accidental sittings 😂).
You are dedicated! I dare say comparatively speaking though, that grabbing a couple of Microns and a sketchbook is more likely to happen when on a quick trip to the coffee shop or the park for a pen & ink session 😄
Now in my 60s, l remember that first bottle of black ink, the sensual experience of the dip pen - compared to drawing with a ball point - WOW! Nice memories of being that kid who carried his sketch pad everywhere. I'm smiling! Thanks!
Great tips for newbies! I haven't used nibs in years, but I used to use them all the time. I would use them to do illustrations and to ink comic book pages, so I'd go through a single 102 per page! I always bought them by the box. I used 108, 107 and 102s, primarily. I switched to inking with Raphael Kolinsky Red Sable #3 and #2 brushes in the late '90s, and I honestly prefer it to nibs for doing the kind of work that I do. Like the nib, a brush is capable of producing a wide variety of lines from thin to thick, and lines that are short, long, curved or tapered. Also just like with nib, control is a major factor in success. I find that control comes down to also having confidence and familiarity with your inking tools. The more you use something like a brush or nib, the more comfortable you become with it, and you can start to draw with it. A mistake I often see is people slowly dragging nibs and brushes to try to match a pencil like. Slow movements often produce duller lines, and can lead to wobbles and so forth. With comic book type work, you don't want a dead, dull line, nor a mechanical line when it comes to inking organic things like people, trees, animals, etc. For buildings and cars, mechanical lines are appropriate, but for living things it's better to vary the line weights and have a more energetic line approach. A spontaneous line with energy in it is desired. Varied line weights also helps to with creating depth, dimension and weight. Traditionally inkers inked with either nib or with a brush, or some inkers used a combination of brush and nib together. This type of inking by-hand is still being done. I do it. However, in the industry of comics and illustration work, you see things changing. Many artists who do things by-hand today use disposable pens like Microns and Pitt Artist pens on most everything. I'm not a fan of this as a lot of the art now seems rather lifeless as a result. You do see the occasional brushpen being used every now and then. Nibs and brush inking, I don't see as often anymore. The learning curve seems to scare a lot of artists away, and they seem to prefer to like taking the shortcut way of doing things. Thus enter the Micron pen. Don't get me wrong. In the hands of an artist who's really accomplished, any tool will work just fine, but it's sad to see that so many artists are producing mechanical, dead figures in comics today. Digital inking is another commonplace method being used today. I've seen good and bad digital inks, and while I like a lot of it, the downside is that you don't have original art to keep or sell. The world is changing, and artists are changing too. I'm glad that a few of us who are still doing work by-hand are willing to share information with others. Thank you so very much for this video. I know it's going to be helpful to many artists who are at a crossroads in regards to inking.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experience. I'm of the same mind as your observations, happy that you found my channel! I will likely feature some brushwork in the future. It's wobbly now but improving with practice using the brushes 😀
Valuable information here for beginners Chloe. Maybe this year I won’t feel as intimidated and just jump into it and try!🤗 congratulations on your channel!🤗
Sorry for being late to the party but YT algorithm didn't recommend your video earlier. I'm drawing and painting with ink since childhood and for me, it was the other way around. I'm 57 in a couple of days and back in my youths nip and handle was the normal tool if you want to draw illustrations, comics and stuff like that. I was in my early twentieth purchasing my first ink pen with an ink cartridge. It was a pen made for technical drawings and it had two advantages over the classical nip. First, the ink was available in a waterproof version and second, the pen wasn't leaking or spilling ink all over my artworks. Until I bought this Pen's the risk of ruin the whole thing because I accidentally took to much ink on the nip was unavoidable. Nowadays I work with a graphics tablet and a program named Krita. My hand isn't as sturdy as is used to be and I'm very great full for this little gismos like stroke stabilizer. But sometimes I grab me some paper, ink and a ink pen like the ones you showed in the video and do some scribblings. I always liked the smell of ink and paper. Greetings from Germany.
Greetings, and thanks for watching Marco. I'm sort of late to the party as well, my Channel is new and just beginning to mingle on the Home page. Glad to hear that you found tools that work well to create drawings with, enjoy 😀
Wow that was a very nice video! You condensed pretty much all the most meaningful information in a few minutes, bravo! I'll share my own (hopefully useful) tips : 1 I also clean the nib, before dipping it again in ink, but in plain rubbing alcohol, instead of water (I did a small research and apparently that is what is used to melt shellac, which is the binder of the ink, so, in theory, it should work the best for cleaning) 2 After use, I clean the nib again with rubbing alcohol, then I apply a thin layer of lean oil (linseed or almond, I've also used baby oil 😂) using a puff of cotton. Then I close the nibs inside a tin box together with one of those silica gels (up cycled from some electronics packaging). Never had rust this way! 3 Before use, I clean the nib again with white vinegar (learned this from Shane Patrick White) 4 To make the ink a bit more flowing, it is better to use a few drops of Windex, or similar, instead of distilled water (again learned this from the master SPW) Again great video and congratulations for your progress so far! PS I want to steal your cat!
You are so welcome! I do sometimes use a single nib for an entire project (no.512 is my go-to), however it is also great to have more nib options for a wider range of line weights.
I wish I had seen this video before I started messing around with dip pens but it's still helpful, even now and I can't wait to try out your nib recommendations! To anyone considering trying dip pens for drawing, i HIGHLY recommend it. There's just something about the quality of the lines and the richness of the ink that makes it a really beautiful medium.
Excellent video. I often use toothpaste and an old toothbrush to clean nibs. As for writing/drawing, try licking the nib before dipping in the ink- the protein in the saliva improves the ink flow. And I also tend to apply the ink onto the pen with a brush (refillable brush pen), this way I have more control over the amount of ink and avoid the dreaded ink drops.
This is the very best 'How-to' video that I have ever watched! It's additionally helpful for me since I'm very keen to become proficient with dip pens in life drawings from photographs. Very many thanks!
This was exactly the info I needed!!! I've got the speedball drawing set and have tried the 102 and the 512 but I don't have smooth paper yet . I've got a couple sketches ready to ink but to scared to ruin them 🤣 . Love your work and thanks for doing what you do !! I'm studying you intently and hope to get some drawing done soon !!!
Thanks Steven! I hear you, I was nervous about starting with dip pens, I don't know why it seemed so scary. But all the prep-tests really helped build confidence in the tool and now it's just a lovely instrument to use. Keep me posted on how your works turn out.
You know🤔 You could always use a light box or the light of a window or carbon transfer paper to copy Your drawing onto another paper & then ink the copied drawing. Happy inking 😊
Great to hear! The Blog post, if you hadn't seen it, has additional info as well: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
I've been practicing using dip pens with the Hunt 102 and Guillott 303 nibs (good for drawing, imo, but need a lot of practice). I got some good suggestions on how to practice more efficiently and how to take better care if them. Great video! P.s. I've heard Alex toth used a filed down speedball b-8 to ink some of his comics. Give it a try!
I've heard that as well, some of the comic veterans like to sharpen their nibs to extend their life. But I'm not sure this is a necessary practice for the rest of us mortals. Because speed and quantity matters in that line of work, the nibs really get a "Beast Master" workout ... I'm not as demanding of my nibs and so they keep unscathed and well for a long time with regular maintenance 🙂
Thanks for your insights! I just started inking my drawings in the past few months with a G-Pen nib and didn't really have instructions, so I just jumped right in. I've been washing my nibs with water and wiping clean with a paper towel, but so far haven't had any problems. The alcohol/dish soap method is something I may try though, just to be sure I'm getting it thoroughly clean. Thanks again!
Great tips! I have some nibs but am new to illustration so i really appreciate tips from a "pro" ☺ I'm curious about how you find the glass dip pens, if you've tried them. They're very pretty but i wonder if that's all they offer. Will be looking forward to learning more on your channel ❤
Hi! I've not used the glass dip pens. If you find some resources on these, let us know -- a few people have asked in this comment chain about the glass pens :)
Enjoyed the experience very much. Also a fellow artist that's a little rusty with a view to getting back into the swing of things. I have a great selection of vintage nibs 'William Mitchell's' and make up my own ink from powder. Nice artwork!! 👍
I've only recently started but boy, what a plethora of information and variation of choice. Thank you for sharing your knowledge as it narrows what to look for in a nib and holder.
The entire concept of the learning curve is more of a myth than reality, just a buzzword. By the way, we started school, learned to write with dip pens only, and used them for writing for four years or so. It would be too hard to intimidate most of us with such a thing. I always liked to draw with them.
My school desk had an inkwell that was filled from a big bottle of ink kept by the teacher! Public buildings like post offices supplied dip pens (usually chained to the counter, and with crossed nibs that were impossible to write legibly with). Steep learning curve when you're eight!
@@InaMacallanWe had to buy it all, ink, pens, and nibs, but it was probably the cheapest stuff, and I don't remember any problems with their quality (you had to know what model to buy, but this experience comes with trying), in contrast to fountain pens - those could be as bad as you can imagine. Yes, post offices and other public places like that provided them. Did you use such a thing as a non-spill inkwell? It was a must in our schools.
Learning curve isn't a buzzword, it's a reference to necessary experience. Just because you have experience doesn't mean there isn't a learning curve, you just think you're exceptional because it's normal for YOU.
@@moodist1er "Learning curve isn't a buzzword..." Sorry, not convincing. You refer to necessary experience, not to curve. You don't explain why the curve is important, you only mention experience. Nobody argues against importance of experience or against existing of some curve someone may want to depict. I only say that the notion of the curve is not very constructive. When people mention the curve, they say that the steepness of the curve is a problem. This is wrong, counterproductive attitude. When someone tries to learn something, this person needs to focus on final results of learning, not trying to complain about "difficulties"; with the right attitude, it just doesn't matter. The learning curve is just a pseudo-scientific excuse for making bad decisions. How many people who referred to the notion of this curve can depict a particular instance of the curve based on real measurements and explain how the measurements are done and why they can be considered valid? I'll answer: almost nobody. This is yet another relatively new management trend, pure blah-blah aimed to damage business. Stopping buzzing about the learning curve is the real way to make work better. Good luck!
I just purchased the same dip pen you have so I'm glad I picked a good one. It hasn't arrived yet so I'm glad I now know how to take of the nibs. Thank you
Thank you! I've been curious about trying a dip pen, and wouldn't have known where to start without your help. Not sure I'll follow through yet - my hands have a slight tremor - but I now have a good idea of what to look for at my local art store. I appreciate your generosity!
You're welcome. I hope it works out for you. There's a bit more information in my blog about choosing nibs for your drawing approach that might give more 'food for thought': longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Thank you for this advice. I have an eclectic collection of nibs acquired over 60 years, but should investigate what is available now, especially for mapping which is my main use.
Oh my goodness; thanks so much for this. I am a fountain pen lover and have considered willy-nilly getting into dip pens and now I see it's quite an undertaking. Thanks!
genuinely great video with lots of good information. looking forward to watching some more from you. i started with dip pens and never really found a good reason to use anything else. found i liked speedball for nibs, handles, and ink as it's the best value and has been consistent over many decades. for years, i stuck to crow quill nibs since i was doing a lot of fine stippling and liked the smaller crow quill handle (as i tended to "crab up" my drawing grip); but over time, i fell into using either the imperial or the ball with the simple standard handle (one size fits all). you are so right when you intimated that doing penwork needn't be expensive...
Glad it was helpful! I go into more details in this blog article, if you'd like more info on drawing inks: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Nice, I started few weeks ago with felt pens and I bought my first dip pen yesterday. Thanks, will follow all your stuffs. Nice seing your cats all around, love it
Excellent video, and very helpful. I found that plain old cleaning ammonia will also clean pen nibs quite well. And it isn't flammable, as alcohol is, if any of your viewers is concerned about that.
Thank you for this informative video. I look forward to more videos by you about your art process using dip pens. I subbed you so as to see that process.
Wonderful video. I realize I've been dipping my pens too far past the eyelet, which causes me to lay down inconsistent amounts of ink with the strokes. Really enjoyed this, thank you!
Wonderful post! I am researching dipping pens on behalf of my 11 year old grandson. He loves drawing and saw dipping pens being used when someone was drawing comics and/or anime. Not as simple as it looks... oh but he would LOVE to learn this method of drawing! I think I will research a nice calligraphy pen (with cartridges) before we head down this particular path of dipping inks and a variety of nibs (he's not quite into all the cleaning that would be involved). I do see this in his future and he has a keen eye and patience when it comes to drawing. Thank you very much for the wonderful overview and the sharing of hints and tips for the beginner.
Thanks for watching the video. That's great that your grandson is excited about inking comics. It's a good choice to try a fountain pen first before going the dip pen route. He may also enjoy drawing in ink using watercolor brushes. Brushes require less maintenance than nibs and what many famous comic artists use. Some masters, like Alex Ross, are also painters and do amazing covers in oil paints, so using a brush to draw comics is a natural transition - if this is what your grandson aspires to continue with.
Thank you for the info about the oil on the nib. I didn’t know this for years, and couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I read that ammonia will clean them, but I’ll try your method. Thanks!
This is my first time learning about dip pens! such a great presentation. Thank you for sharing the video! I will try with your method and will see how this goes.
Glad it was helpful! Have fun. There's additional info and resources on my blog as well: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Just start to draw with dip pens and ink. I have been drawing most of my life and don't know why I haven't used dip pens until now. I really enjoyed this video and I just subscribed to your channel.
When I think of dip pens, I think of *(SPLIKT)*, the tip catches and spatters ink in tiny droplets over the pristine paper (and across one's drawing!) I experimented with dip pens, but always came back to the red sable #2 brush for inking.
I really needed this info, since I have started using dip pens for my Pen and ink Illustrations more frequently than Micron pens. The smallest nib there is excellent for details on faces for Scratchboard style portraiture on small scale. I only have two currently working; a Tachikawa pen nib holder with PG-6B-C-K nib and a glass dip pen, but I am hoping to gain more tomorrow and replace the little one I had that was rusted through, and pen cleaner I didn't have.
@Chloe Gendron The Glass Dip Pens have a wider and rounded nib but create the best borderline work. They are also quite easy in the hand, but you do need to be careful not to dip it too far in the ink well, or you'll have large drops of ink running off it.
I had no clue there was a coating on the nib. That makes SOOOO much sense why ink doesn't stick to my nibs. Thank you! Have you ever tried kakimori dip pens/nibs?
I've just caught the dip pen fever. Ty so much for the video. I want to be as prepared as possible when I can finally afford to gather my tools. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Be safe
That's great to hear that you've caught the dip pen fever, that's how I describe it as well. I saw a video of Inoue Takehiko inking his Vagabond Manga and was immediately hooked. I'll be putting together a pen and ink holiday gift guide soon on my blog. In the meantime, there's more info on my website for tools and materials to help inform your purchase decisions: longstrideillustration.com/tools/ All the best to you as well.
WOW,, Your drawings are absolutely amazing & breathtaking, I can't say enough about them. They're fantastic, Thank you for sharing them & your knowledge of dip pins❣️👍
A treasured school memory the distinct smell of Scriptol ink, these amazing dark lines, and the incredible fine lines one can make with the smallest nibs!
Bless you. Bless you dear lady. I’ve been eyeing the callig / dip pen section from every art store I enter and have been dying to get into it.. but of course… just like you mention .. but intimidating. I just recently bought and used(less than 5mins ago) an inexpensive callig pen and I’m pretty sure the feeing I’m going after is the dip pen and you just helped me save a ton of time researching through UA-cam and websites all this info. I have a feeling your about to get mucho $tips$ cuz I’d do it if I could. Thank you again.
I like the Hunt 99 nib - - it's super flexible and you can go from a fine line, to a broad, brush-like line, in one stroke. you can even go back and forth, thin... thick... thin... in one stroke. It takes a while to get a feel for the nib, but I like it. It's similar to both the Gillott 303 and 170. Occasionally, when I want a more stable line, I'll use a G pen, or an old Esterbrook nib. If I need super tight control and a fine line for tight detail, I might use the Hunt 107. Some days, I can do it all with the Hunt 99, but some days the feel just isn't there and I turn to other nibs. It's weird with pens how sometimes you just can do magic with them, the lines flowing perfectly, and some days... it's just a lot harder. Even the air's humidity can effect the paper and the ink flow. I like Speedball Super Black and buy it in the big jug, like you showed.
I needed this information. I just bought a simple dip pen and ink to play with. I hoped to see if it suits my simple, beginner style. Pen and ink does add an extra dimension to watercolor.
Thanks, really enjoyed this. Altho I've been using dip pen/ink for a very long time, there's always something new to learn, and your post has some great info I'd not thought of. Cheers!
Fun to find you! I have been trying to learn pen and ink, bought a set of 3 ( had to on amazon...rose something on a recommendation) I draw and paint, used to do etchings-so I LOVE line! A la Durer, etc. You have mastered this beautifully. Very grateful for your tips. Kudos to you on this new channel.
Oh that’s great, I’m happy there are so many fans of pen & ink finding my videos, I’m getting lots of ideas and new tips from the comments, UA-cam is fun so far 🖋😀
That's great to hear! There's a bit more info on recommended nibs for different drawing approaches on my website: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/ Happy inking!
Let me know which nibs you have tried and how you liked them so far
i dont own one looking to buy one btw good quality for first video
@@gheeroast7712 Kind of you to say that my first video is good quality, I'm learning all the things. Best of luck with your nib shopping!
When I need new nibs I usually grab a Speedball set. Sketching set’s a favourite but I dig the mapping, artist’s and cartoonist’s sets, too, depending on what I think I might like to play with, or haven’t played with in a while.
I *have* been using (and enjoying) the Hunt 22b a lot lately…
Tachikawa and deleter nibs have been working great for me
Boy, for your first UA-cam post, very good! Succinct, examples, suggestions, no fluff or wasted time rambling -- very well done! Keep it up, and thanks for the many helpful points!
Thank you for the encouraging words! Much appreciated and glad it was helpful 🙂
@@longstrideillustration I agree! I usually get frustrated and forward parts of the video; or just move on to another one. But 7 minutes went by in what seemed like 7 seconds, I was fully engrossed. Very to the point.
@@monsoon1548 That makes me happy! Thank you! I aimed to make the sort of video I prefer to watch, so I'm glad to hear that others enjoy it as well
First post? 😳😳😳😳😳
You got 4.7k likes and a close amount of subscribers in 4 months, just thanks to this video, this is very impressive. Almost makes me believe in myself.
@@isisblackthrash9293 I watched a lot of Creator-tips videos on UA-cam before starting my channel ... and procrastinated for years lol. The best time to start a channel was 10 years ago and the next best time is today 😅
EXCELLENT video-you are a natural teacher. I haven't tried dip pens in a long time. When I did, I was disappointed-I now realize they have to be cleaned befor 1rst use!
Glad it was helpful! Dip pens are great once we figure out all their charming little capricious ticks.
Well done! I'm 85 & have been using these pens since my teens. Ink pen drawing is a wonderful way to explore one's inner Being. There ARE amazing things inside us, just Waiting to dribble out our Pens!
'forgot to add: there is no 'wrong' way to draw & no gremlin-critic over you. Simply enjoy!
I’ve been using dip pens on and off for years but found them unreliable.
There’s info in this video that I had no idea about and will undoubtedly make my experience better!
And I work in an art supplies store, so I’m going to recommend your video to my customers.
That's awesome, thank you. Working in an art supply store must be awesome btw.
Don't touch your paper or your nibs unless you wash your hands before. The oil from your skin will be absorbed into the paper or onto the nib and mess with ink flow. If you watch a lot of manga artists and calligraphers who use dip pens you'll see a good deal of them wear gloves to avoid this.
well shit
Hello Chloe not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but using a dip pen is kinder to the environment as no plastic being dumped. Also I saw somewhere to keep those little silicone things that draw moisture, like in pill bottles etc. put one in with your nibs to prevent rust. Great video, love your work. Thank you.
That actually is an excellent idea, thank you for sharing! 💖
I agree! Great idea with the little silicone pouch, thank you for sharing 😀
You can also use a few grains of rice to keep they dry.
Bro who even cares about that.
ikr@@sssreggiN
Very helpful for someone who was gifted her first dip fountain pen this Xmas. Thank you 🙏
Loved your video. I am an 83 yr old mostly retired illustrator, designer, artist who has used dip pens for almost 60 years. I love the sensual quality of line. Love speedball 102 and 101 nibs. Still have a little cache of them that I hoard. Would love to hear your take on inks. That was always a problem for me as I was pretty isolated. I was always looking for a good, glob free, permanent sepia ink. Videos now make the networking available that we could only dream of.
Amazing! That's so inspiring to hear that you've kept your passion for the dip pens over the years. Ink, I imagine has changed. I haven't tested many different brands of Indian Ink nor different medium types. I stick to Speedball's Super Black pigment based Indian Ink because the viscosity seems to work for my style of detailed drawing. Maybe someone else in the comments can provide additional input with their views on a good glob free permanent sepia ink...
Me too! I think a lot of our generation were put off dip pens because of the quality of the pens and ink we were expected to use (especially at school and in public offices). Having your own pens and inks and keeping them clean, and modern drawing ink makes all the difference! Now I prefer them to Rotrings and fibretips. Especially for colour work (mostly I use sepia ink for vintage style mapwork.)
@@InaMacallan That's great, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this!
Maybe from De Atramentis Document Ink, or Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Inks? Most of these are waterproof.
People use them in fountain pens, for sketching. I do not know if that says anything about their usefulness for dip pens. But those brands have other ranges, too.
I love dip pens. I have a large collection of vintage nibs and about 30 pens. Love them so much I've made my own inks, some with soot and an iron gal ink from oak gals I found while going through Oklahoma. I have to disagree with them not being travel friendly since I keep some with a couple of inks and cleaner in my truck. I'm an over the road truck driver and always bring LOTS of art supplies. Also love fountain pens too. Also, a great way to clean nibs and fountain pens is with an ultrasonic cleaner for jewelry. Best investment ever!!!
Awesome to hear! For sure, it is possible to travel with dip pens though, in the context of comparing that to the ease of packing fine liner or fountain pens, dip pens benefit from a bit more TLC and sounds like you've got your travel toolbox dialled in perfectly for it! 👍
That is an amazing idea for a small ultrasonic cleaner, I'm getting one right now for just this!
Thanks! This is one of the best tutorials I’ve ever watched! As an instructional designer, I really admire your approach.
Wow, thank you so much for the kind words and the Super Thanks! That's my first one and it made my day!
I always get so happy when I see people say "I wish I had known" instead of the "I wish I knew", which is so wrong. Props for that.
What's wrong about saying "I wish I knew"?
@@katherinehodde3432I wish I knew the difference 😉. Sarcasm aside, I wish I knew is for situations like this and I wish I had known is for past tense situations. I wish I knew how to fold my shirt properly, or I wish I had known how to fold my shirt properly. Hope that makes sense
@@katherinehodde3432as the op explained "I wish I knew" refers to the present tense
Beautiful introduction to a medium I just began playing with. Just what I needed. Thank you Chloe!
I love your video (and the kitty!), learned a lot. I'm more into watercolor and gouache but started with nib pens recently, and haven't been able to stop. I bought the same Speedball, is an excellent recommendation. I can't wait for your next videos 😊
Thanks for watching, I'm glad that the Speedball was a good choice for you as well, and that you like the kitty because she loves being the centre of attention and likely will make an appearance in future videos
Beauty
This is first class in every way! Thorough, crystal clear, 'real'/authentic - and no background music to keep our attention focused on details shared by an excellent 'tutor' / guide. Thank you so much!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very much appreciate the advice Chloe. You’re a gem to the writing and drawing community.
Thank you! Glad to hear it.🙂
You know, many years ago I spent a lot of time drawing with dip pens. After many years not drawing I have started again. And the first use cleaning prep is news to me! Every day is a school day!
Well done, Chloe! Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the UA-cam channel!
I couldn't figure out why new nibs where so capricious for the first hour or so of using them, I almost gave up until someone told me about the wax coating.
Thank you so much for this. It has been decades since using nibs and I've become reliant on pens, yet feel something is missing as I dive back into creative work. Your clarity and pracitcality has inspired me to replace old nibs, be disciplined about maintaining the toos in practice, and get moving again. Thx from Canada!
You're so welcome! Glad to hear that you're inspired to give those dip pens another whirl!
Wow!!! You actually answered all my questions in one video. So much information, well presented and thought out. Thank you! 💗
Thank you for the very informative video! I've never really tried these kinds of pens, but would like to try it at some point in the future. It looks like you can make very fine lines with these kinds of pens, where fineliner markers are easy the break and become unusable. I look forward to you making more videos!
For sure, even the larger nibs can create a fine line with a gentle touch. And thank you, I aim to publish every second Wednesday.
This was an excellent introduction to dip pens. I would think there will be a few more pens sold every time this video is viewed.
They’re actually very travel friendly. There’s loads of cases you can get for them - even standard pencil cases and even toothbrush travel holders that fit in your pocket or bag and are stab proof 😂 Same with inks. There’s lots of ways to travel with different inks. I actually have my quick travel inks inside those tiny and cheap paint wells (the kinds you typically get in kids art kits from crayola or paint by number kits) and they don’t leak (unless I accidentally sit on them 😂) but I also keep them in a sandwich bag just incase (if accidental sittings 😂).
You are dedicated! I dare say comparatively speaking though, that grabbing a couple of Microns and a sketchbook is more likely to happen when on a quick trip to the coffee shop or the park for a pen & ink session 😄
I use a film canister to travel with mine.
Now in my 60s, l remember that first bottle of black ink, the sensual experience of the dip pen - compared to drawing with a ball point - WOW! Nice memories of being that kid who carried his sketch pad everywhere. I'm smiling! Thanks!
So happy to hear this brought back good memories, carrying a sketchpad around is the best 🙂
Great tips for newbies! I haven't used nibs in years, but I used to use them all the time. I would use them to do illustrations and to ink comic book pages, so I'd go through a single 102 per page! I always bought them by the box. I used 108, 107 and 102s, primarily. I switched to inking with Raphael Kolinsky Red Sable #3 and #2 brushes in the late '90s, and I honestly prefer it to nibs for doing the kind of work that I do. Like the nib, a brush is capable of producing a wide variety of lines from thin to thick, and lines that are short, long, curved or tapered. Also just like with nib, control is a major factor in success. I find that control comes down to also having confidence and familiarity with your inking tools. The more you use something like a brush or nib, the more comfortable you become with it, and you can start to draw with it. A mistake I often see is people slowly dragging nibs and brushes to try to match a pencil like. Slow movements often produce duller lines, and can lead to wobbles and so forth. With comic book type work, you don't want a dead, dull line, nor a mechanical line when it comes to inking organic things like people, trees, animals, etc. For buildings and cars, mechanical lines are appropriate, but for living things it's better to vary the line weights and have a more energetic line approach. A spontaneous line with energy in it is desired. Varied line weights also helps to with creating depth, dimension and weight.
Traditionally inkers inked with either nib or with a brush, or some inkers used a combination of brush and nib together. This type of inking by-hand is still being done. I do it. However, in the industry of comics and illustration work, you see things changing. Many artists who do things by-hand today use disposable pens like Microns and Pitt Artist pens on most everything. I'm not a fan of this as a lot of the art now seems rather lifeless as a result. You do see the occasional brushpen being used every now and then. Nibs and brush inking, I don't see as often anymore. The learning curve seems to scare a lot of artists away, and they seem to prefer to like taking the shortcut way of doing things. Thus enter the Micron pen. Don't get me wrong. In the hands of an artist who's really accomplished, any tool will work just fine, but it's sad to see that so many artists are producing mechanical, dead figures in comics today.
Digital inking is another commonplace method being used today. I've seen good and bad digital inks, and while I like a lot of it, the downside is that you don't have original art to keep or sell.
The world is changing, and artists are changing too. I'm glad that a few of us who are still doing work by-hand are willing to share information with others. Thank you so very much for this video. I know it's going to be helpful to many artists who are at a crossroads in regards to inking.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and experience. I'm of the same mind as your observations, happy that you found my channel! I will likely feature some brushwork in the future. It's wobbly now but improving with practice using the brushes 😀
Valuable information here for beginners Chloe. Maybe this year I won’t feel as intimidated and just jump into it and try!🤗 congratulations on your channel!🤗
Thanks Laura! Really appreciate you checking out my channel. For sure, jump in :)
Thank you chloe! So informative and exactly what i was looking for, so excited to begin!
You're welcome, glad to hear it!
Enjoyed this immensely! Thanks for sharing your skills!🙏
My pleasure! Thanks for watching :)
I have been a calligrapher for 30 years. I learned a few things! Thanks!
That's great! Thanks for watching 🙂🖋
Sorry for being late to the party but YT algorithm didn't recommend your video earlier.
I'm drawing and painting with ink since childhood and for me, it was the other way around. I'm 57 in a couple of days and back in my youths nip and handle was the normal tool if you want to draw illustrations, comics and stuff like that.
I was in my early twentieth purchasing my first ink pen with an ink cartridge. It was a pen made for technical drawings and it had two advantages over the classical nip. First, the ink was available in a waterproof version and second, the pen wasn't leaking or spilling ink all over my artworks. Until I bought this Pen's the risk of ruin the whole thing because I accidentally took to much ink on the nip was unavoidable.
Nowadays I work with a graphics tablet and a program named Krita. My hand isn't as sturdy as is used to be and I'm very great full for this little gismos like stroke stabilizer.
But sometimes I grab me some paper, ink and a ink pen like the ones you showed in the video and do some scribblings. I always liked the smell of ink and paper.
Greetings from Germany.
Greetings, and thanks for watching Marco. I'm sort of late to the party as well, my Channel is new and just beginning to mingle on the Home page. Glad to hear that you found tools that work well to create drawings with, enjoy 😀
Wow that was a very nice video!
You condensed pretty much all the most meaningful information in a few minutes, bravo!
I'll share my own (hopefully useful) tips :
1 I also clean the nib, before dipping it again in ink, but in plain rubbing alcohol, instead of water (I did a small research and apparently that is what is used to melt shellac, which is the binder of the ink, so, in theory, it should work the best for cleaning)
2 After use, I clean the nib again with rubbing alcohol, then I apply a thin layer of lean oil (linseed or almond, I've also used baby oil 😂) using a puff of cotton.
Then I close the nibs inside a tin box together with one of those silica gels (up cycled from some electronics packaging). Never had rust this way!
3 Before use, I clean the nib again with white vinegar (learned this from Shane Patrick White)
4 To make the ink a bit more flowing, it is better to use a few drops of Windex, or similar, instead of distilled water (again learned this from the master SPW)
Again great video and congratulations for your progress so far!
PS I want to steal your cat!
Awesome tips! Thank you for sharing 👍
Thank you for sharing your tips, very useful! I now just want to buy more nibs (as I just have just one)! The cleaning tips are awesome too! 🙏🙏
You are so welcome! I do sometimes use a single nib for an entire project (no.512 is my go-to), however it is also great to have more nib options for a wider range of line weights.
I wish I had seen this video before I started messing around with dip pens but it's still helpful, even now and I can't wait to try out your nib recommendations! To anyone considering trying dip pens for drawing, i HIGHLY recommend it. There's just something about the quality of the lines and the richness of the ink that makes it a really beautiful medium.
I'm so glad that you're excited to use dip pens again, and I agree with you - the lines and satisfaction from using dip pens - are a beautiful thing!
Excellent video. I often use toothpaste and an old toothbrush to clean nibs. As for writing/drawing, try licking the nib before dipping in the ink- the protein in the saliva improves the ink flow. And I also tend to apply the ink onto the pen with a brush (refillable brush pen), this way I have more control over the amount of ink and avoid the dreaded ink drops.
This is the very best 'How-to' video that I have ever watched!
It's additionally helpful for me since I'm very keen to become proficient with dip pens in life drawings from photographs.
Very many thanks!
You're very welcome! Thank you for the kind words and all the best with your dip pen and ink projects!
This was exactly the info I needed!!! I've got the speedball drawing set and have tried the 102 and the 512 but I don't have smooth paper yet . I've got a couple sketches ready to ink but to scared to ruin them 🤣 . Love your work and thanks for doing what you do !! I'm studying you intently and hope to get some drawing done soon !!!
Thanks Steven! I hear you, I was nervous about starting with dip pens, I don't know why it seemed so scary. But all the prep-tests really helped build confidence in the tool and now it's just a lovely instrument to use. Keep me posted on how your works turn out.
You know🤔 You could always use a light box or the light of a window or carbon transfer paper to copy Your drawing onto another paper & then ink the copied drawing. Happy inking 😊
As an intermediate skill level dip pen user, I found this video very helpful and informative. Thank you.
Great to hear! The Blog post, if you hadn't seen it, has additional info as well: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
I've been practicing using dip pens with the Hunt 102 and Guillott 303 nibs (good for drawing, imo, but need a lot of practice). I got some good suggestions on how to practice more efficiently and how to take better care if them. Great video!
P.s. I've heard Alex toth used a filed down speedball b-8 to ink some of his comics. Give it a try!
I've heard that as well, some of the comic veterans like to sharpen their nibs to extend their life. But I'm not sure this is a necessary practice for the rest of us mortals. Because speed and quantity matters in that line of work, the nibs really get a "Beast Master" workout ... I'm not as demanding of my nibs and so they keep unscathed and well for a long time with regular maintenance 🙂
Thanks for your insights! I just started inking my drawings in the past few months with a G-Pen nib and didn't really have instructions, so I just jumped right in. I've been washing my nibs with water and wiping clean with a paper towel, but so far haven't had any problems. The alcohol/dish soap method is something I may try though, just to be sure I'm getting it thoroughly clean. Thanks again!
wonderful! Happy inking 🖋🙂
Great tips! I have some nibs but am new to illustration so i really appreciate tips from a "pro" ☺ I'm curious about how you find the glass dip pens, if you've tried them. They're very pretty but i wonder if that's all they offer. Will be looking forward to learning more on your channel ❤
Hi! I've not used the glass dip pens. If you find some resources on these, let us know -- a few people have asked in this comment chain about the glass pens :)
As someone new to fountain pens, thank you for this excellent video
Enjoyed the experience very much. Also a fellow artist that's a little rusty with a view to getting back into the swing of things. I have a great selection of vintage nibs 'William Mitchell's' and make up my own ink from powder.
Nice artwork!! 👍
Very cool!
I've only recently started but boy, what a plethora of information and variation of choice.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge as it narrows what to look for in a nib and holder.
Glad it was helpful! I wish yo the best with your inking projects!
The entire concept of the learning curve is more of a myth than reality, just a buzzword. By the way, we started school, learned to write with dip pens only, and used them for writing for four years or so. It would be too hard to intimidate most of us with such a thing. I always liked to draw with them.
My school desk had an inkwell that was filled from a big bottle of ink kept by the teacher! Public buildings like post offices supplied dip pens (usually chained to the counter, and with crossed nibs that were impossible to write legibly with). Steep learning curve when you're eight!
@@InaMacallanWe had to buy it all, ink, pens, and nibs, but it was probably the cheapest stuff, and I don't remember any problems with their quality (you had to know what model to buy, but this experience comes with trying), in contrast to fountain pens - those could be as bad as you can imagine. Yes, post offices and other public places like that provided them. Did you use such a thing as a non-spill inkwell? It was a must in our schools.
Learning curve isn't a buzzword, it's a reference to necessary experience. Just because you have experience doesn't mean there isn't a learning curve, you just think you're exceptional because it's normal for YOU.
@@moodist1er "Learning curve isn't a buzzword..." Sorry, not convincing. You refer to necessary experience, not to curve. You don't explain why the curve is important, you only mention experience. Nobody argues against importance of experience or against existing of some curve someone may want to depict. I only say that the notion of the curve is not very constructive. When people mention the curve, they say that the steepness of the curve is a problem. This is wrong, counterproductive attitude. When someone tries to learn something, this person needs to focus on final results of learning, not trying to complain about "difficulties"; with the right attitude, it just doesn't matter. The learning curve is just a pseudo-scientific excuse for making bad decisions. How many people who referred to the notion of this curve can depict a particular instance of the curve based on real measurements and explain how the measurements are done and why they can be considered valid? I'll answer: almost nobody. This is yet another relatively new management trend, pure blah-blah aimed to damage business. Stopping buzzing about the learning curve is the real way to make work better. Good luck!
@@Micro-Moo delusional nonsense from someone who is probably never wrong 🤣. I'm glad I don't know you, dood.
So glad i found this gold mine of a channel, very informative and relaxing.
That's a nice compliment, I enjoy a relaxed atmosphere for sure. Thanks for watching!
Your artwork - drawing - is really amazing! Beautiful work.
So kind to say, thank you very much 🙂
@@longstrideillustration Neglected to mention that the video itself is very informative, helpful and well done. 🙂
I just purchased the same dip pen you have so I'm glad I picked a good one. It hasn't arrived yet so I'm glad I now know how to take of the nibs. Thank you
All the best with your dip pen and ink projects!
@@longstrideillustration Thank you!
I’ve seen hundreds of videos on nibs and dip pens, yours is the best .👍🏼
Yay! Thank you!It was my first UA-cam video, so it's super rewarding to hear that you though well of it.
Thanks, Chloe! Great intro to dip pens. Looking forward to future vids!!
Thank you! I'm already working on the next one. I aim to publish every second Wednesday
Excellent video! Thanks for sharing your process, especially how you clean a new nib. The nibs I usually use are G pen, Maru, and blue pumpkin
Excellent choice of nibs :) Glad that you enjoyed the video Ben
Brilliant, your presentation and explanation is Spot On. I've been using dip pens for many years now.
Thanks for watching and for the kind words! Glad to hear that you are enjoying dip pen drawing for many years 👍
Thank you! I've been curious about trying a dip pen, and wouldn't have known where to start without your help. Not sure I'll follow through yet - my hands have a slight tremor - but I now have a good idea of what to look for at my local art store. I appreciate your generosity!
You're welcome. I hope it works out for you. There's a bit more information in my blog about choosing nibs for your drawing approach that might give more 'food for thought': longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
An art I have never tried. It is beautiful. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thanks for the kind words and for watching!
Good overview! Liked the outline of pros/cons and cleaning tips.
Glad you enjoyed it! Happy inking 🖋🙂
Thank you for this advice. I have an eclectic collection of nibs acquired over 60 years, but should investigate what is available now, especially for mapping which is my main use.
Lately, I've particularly enjoyed the soft Maru 77 as a mapping nib.
We met today in person, and discussed your first video…it is great. Love your teaching style, calm and educational.
Awesome! Thank you for checking out my channel!
Thank you for sharing this video (and coming to UA-cam)! Very nice first video. I look forward to more! 🎉😊
Thank you so much Keyton! Glad to hear.
Coming out of a dwib dwab, so I grabbed one of the dips in the jar, and started anything, and I appreciate the info you gave me, thank you!
You've got rhyme! Happy inking 🙂🖋
Oh my goodness; thanks so much for this. I am a fountain pen lover and have considered willy-nilly getting into dip pens and now I see it's quite an undertaking. Thanks!
Thanks for watching! True, the dip pens need a bit more TLC 🙂
genuinely great video with lots of good information. looking forward to watching some more from you. i started with dip pens and never really found a good reason to use anything else. found i liked speedball for nibs, handles, and ink as it's the best value and has been consistent over many decades. for years, i stuck to crow quill nibs since i was doing a lot of fine stippling and liked the smaller crow quill handle (as i tended to "crab up" my drawing grip); but over time, i fell into using either the imperial or the ball with the simple standard handle (one size fits all). you are so right when you intimated that doing penwork needn't be expensive...
Thanks for watching and for sharing your thoughts! 🙂
This is the video I was looking for 🤩 Your expert opinion on the subject "ink" helps us make the right choice before buying 👍🏻 Thank you 🙂
Glad it was helpful! I go into more details in this blog article, if you'd like more info on drawing inks: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Nice, I started few weeks ago with felt pens and I bought my first dip pen yesterday. Thanks, will follow all your stuffs. Nice seing your cats all around, love it
Awesome! Thank you! The cats love to be all around and contribute 😺😺😀
Excellent video, and very helpful. I found that plain old cleaning ammonia will also clean pen nibs quite well. And it isn't flammable, as alcohol is, if any of your viewers is concerned about that.
That's great! thanks for sharing that info 🙂
I'm in UK and the learning dip pen. Am addicted to collecting ink. You inspired me to use them. Thanks 😊
Wonderful!
I've been thinking about trying pen and ink and your video has helped answer a lot of questions for me. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Well done Chloe! So nice to see you on the screen. Cheers!
Hi Carol! Thanks for checking out my channel!
Thank you for this informative video. I look forward to more videos by you about your art process using dip pens. I subbed you so as to see that process.
Thanks for subscribing and glad that you enjoyed the video. More dip pen action in the future for sure :)
Wonderful video. I realize I've been dipping my pens too far past the eyelet, which causes me to lay down inconsistent amounts of ink with the strokes.
Really enjoyed this, thank you!
Glad it was helpful! There's a bit more info on my blog as well: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Thank you SO much. I have wanted to use these for years and have struggled, now I know why. Thank you again. 😊
You are so welcome! Happy inking 😀
Wonderful post! I am researching dipping pens on behalf of my 11 year old grandson. He loves drawing and saw dipping pens being used when someone was drawing comics and/or anime. Not as simple as it looks... oh but he would LOVE to learn this method of drawing! I think I will research a nice calligraphy pen (with cartridges) before we head down this particular path of dipping inks and a variety of nibs (he's not quite into all the cleaning that would be involved). I do see this in his future and he has a keen eye and patience when it comes to drawing. Thank you very much for the wonderful overview and the sharing of hints and tips for the beginner.
Thanks for watching the video. That's great that your grandson is excited about inking comics. It's a good choice to try a fountain pen first before going the dip pen route. He may also enjoy drawing in ink using watercolor brushes. Brushes require less maintenance than nibs and what many famous comic artists use. Some masters, like Alex Ross, are also painters and do amazing covers in oil paints, so using a brush to draw comics is a natural transition - if this is what your grandson aspires to continue with.
Thank you for the feedback...I will have him search Alex Ross and look for comics done with paints...the more you know. ;-)@@longstrideillustration
This was a fantastically helpful video with many practical tips that I was unaware of. Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.
Really glad to hear, thanks!
Great first video Chloe! Looking forward to following along with your journey on UA-cam 🍾
Thanks Jeff! I'll want to re-read your book for tips :)
Thank you for the info about the oil on the nib. I didn’t know this for years, and couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. I read that ammonia will clean them, but I’ll try your method. Thanks!
Such a great video and info I aspire to achieve this detail one day .thank you so much
Thanks for watching, I'm glad to hear that the info was useful for your future projects.
This is my first time learning about dip pens! such a great presentation. Thank you for sharing the video! I will try with your method and will see how this goes.
Glad it was helpful! Have fun. There's additional info and resources on my blog as well: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/
Thanks I will take a look!@@longstrideillustration
Just start to draw with dip pens and ink. I have been drawing most of my life and don't know why I haven't used dip pens until now. I really enjoyed this video and I just subscribed to your channel.
That's great to hear! Thank you for watching Glenn, and I'm glad you're starting to draw with dip pens.
Thank you for sharing. I have just ordered my first dip pen set and ink. I hope to use them well.
Wonderful! Have fun!
When I think of dip pens, I think of *(SPLIKT)*, the tip catches and spatters ink in tiny droplets over the pristine paper (and across one's drawing!)
I experimented with dip pens, but always came back to the red sable #2 brush for inking.
True dat, there are fewer who can both master brush & dip pen -- the rest of us mortals are either in the brush camp or the nib camp. 😅
You are the best! Definitely, I will check more of your videos!
Glad to hear!
I really needed this info, since I have started using dip pens for my Pen and ink Illustrations more frequently than Micron pens. The smallest nib there is excellent for details on faces for Scratchboard style portraiture on small scale.
I only have two currently working; a Tachikawa pen nib holder with PG-6B-C-K nib and a glass dip pen, but I am hoping to gain more tomorrow and replace the little one I had that was rusted through, and pen cleaner I didn't have.
That's great that the info was helpful to you. I've never used a glass dip pen, and curious about it.
@Chloe Gendron The Glass Dip Pens have a wider and rounded nib but create the best borderline work. They are also quite easy in the hand, but you do need to be careful not to dip it too far in the ink well, or you'll have large drops of ink running off it.
I had no clue there was a coating on the nib. That makes SOOOO much sense why ink doesn't stick to my nibs. Thank you!
Have you ever tried kakimori dip pens/nibs?
You're welcome! I've not yet tried though am curious about the Kakimori nibs
Thanks a lot! I have meddled with dip pens for over a year, and I had no idea about the initial prep to do on new nibs.
Happy to help!
What a helpful video you've made! Rarely these days I find such a gems on youtube! Thank you! (And your artworks are very cool! 🙂)
so glad to hear, thank you for watching I'm happy you found it helpful.
I've just caught the dip pen fever. Ty so much for the video. I want to be as prepared as possible when I can finally afford to gather my tools. Happy Holidays to you and your family. Be safe
That's great to hear that you've caught the dip pen fever, that's how I describe it as well. I saw a video of Inoue Takehiko inking his Vagabond Manga and was immediately hooked. I'll be putting together a pen and ink holiday gift guide soon on my blog. In the meantime, there's more info on my website for tools and materials to help inform your purchase decisions: longstrideillustration.com/tools/ All the best to you as well.
WOW,, Your drawings are absolutely amazing & breathtaking, I can't say enough about them. They're fantastic, Thank you for sharing them & your knowledge of dip pins❣️👍
Thank you very much! Too kind 😊
A treasured school memory the distinct smell of Scriptol ink, these amazing dark lines, and the incredible fine lines one can make with the smallest nibs!
You know it 🙂🖋
Thank you so much
I didn’t imagine they come with protection
Happy that I watched you first!!
Glad I could help!
Wow! What an excellent video. All the important things covered clearly and quickly. Thanks!
Glad you enjoyed it!
The ink pens were a mystery to me. Great video! Very clear & precise. Thanks!
Glad it was helpful!
A simple and lovely video filled with knowledge, thankyou.
Much appreciated! Happy inking and a lovely day to you 🖋
Bless you. Bless you dear lady.
I’ve been eyeing the callig / dip pen section from every art store I enter and have been dying to get into it.. but of course… just like you mention .. but intimidating. I just recently bought and used(less than 5mins ago) an inexpensive callig pen and I’m pretty sure the feeing I’m going after is the dip pen and you just helped me save a ton of time researching through UA-cam and websites all this info. I have a feeling your about to get mucho $tips$ cuz I’d do it if I could. Thank you again.
Glad I could help! Be sure to check out my website for additional resources once you get further into your pen and ink projects. All the best!
Such an extremely helpful video. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this
Happy inking! 🙂
Thank you so much for so generously sharing your experience with pens. So helpful!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching.😊
I like the Hunt 99 nib - - it's super flexible and you can go from a fine line, to a broad, brush-like line, in one stroke. you can even go back and forth, thin... thick... thin... in one stroke. It takes a while to get a feel for the nib, but I like it. It's similar to both the Gillott 303 and 170. Occasionally, when I want a more stable line, I'll use a G pen, or an old Esterbrook nib. If I need super tight control and a fine line for tight detail, I might use the Hunt 107. Some days, I can do it all with the Hunt 99, but some days the feel just isn't there and I turn to other nibs. It's weird with pens how sometimes you just can do magic with them, the lines flowing perfectly, and some days... it's just a lot harder. Even the air's humidity can effect the paper and the ink flow.
I like Speedball Super Black and buy it in the big jug, like you showed.
I can relate, I have a few favourites that either produce magic or become capricious on the other days.
Thanks for the advice! I've got a selection of some very old antique dip-pens, and thought I'd use them for my next illustration project.
that sounds fun! thanks for watching 🙂
Great video. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thanks for watching!
I needed this information. I just bought a simple dip pen and ink to play with. I hoped to see if it suits my simple, beginner style. Pen and ink does add an extra dimension to watercolor.
Wonderful! Dip pen line work combined with watercolour adds an extra dimension for sure. Enjoy! And thanks for watching.
Thanks, really enjoyed this. Altho I've been using dip pen/ink for a very long time, there's always something new to learn, and your post has some great info I'd not thought of. Cheers!
Great to hear! Cheers 😀
Fun to find you! I have been trying to learn pen and ink, bought a set of 3 ( had to on amazon...rose something on a recommendation) I draw and paint, used to do etchings-so I LOVE line! A la Durer, etc. You have mastered this beautifully.
Very grateful for your tips. Kudos to you on this new channel.
Oh that’s great, I’m happy there are so many fans of pen & ink finding my videos, I’m getting lots of ideas and new tips from the comments, UA-cam is fun so far 🖋😀
Thank you so much. Very well done and informative. Helped me make a choice and probably saved me some time, money and aggravation.
Happy to hear it! Wishing you a smooth transition with your new dip pens 🖋😀
Thank you! Your tips and introduction to dip pens got me excited and ready to trod off to the art store to try it out.
That's great to hear! There's a bit more info on recommended nibs for different drawing approaches on my website: longstrideillustration.com/a-beginners-guide-to-dip-pens-for-drawing/ Happy inking!