LAMY Safari Fountain Pen VS Unipin FineLiner - Which pen is best for sketching?
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- Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
- In this head to head comparison we will have a look at the exact same sketch done twice, using a LAMY safari fountain pen with carbon black ink and a unipin fineliner with normal black archival ink.
But which is best - will the fountain pen, the classic sketching pen, the LAMY safari be the best pen to use for our sketching and urban sketching?
Or will the unipin win the day, the control of the fine liner permanent pen coming out on top?
Let me know in the comments!
Affiliate links here to the pens/materials used:
Unipin multipack - amzn.to/3LpVpFC
Unipine 0.2mm - amzn.to/400F12y
LAMY Safari - amzn.to/3FNUhs3
LAMY converted - amzn.to/3YQrqJW
Carbon Black Ink (my favourite) - amzn.to/3YKkvSR
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00:00 Introduction
00:33 Starting the sketch
03:05 Hatching
04:16 Loose wash
06:05 Final comparison
#urbansketch #howtosketch #tobyurbansketch - Навчання та стиль
Hi. Jim from Madrid, Spain (an expat New Yorker living abroad).
I use Fountain pens instead of fineliners for 3 main reasons: 1- They are ECO FRIENDLY when using a converter (the use of throw away plastic is avoided tremendously in comparison). 2 - you can use the ink you want, interchangeably, something impossible to do with a fineliner. 3- you can have a greater range of line widths in a single tool (depending on nib selected), something that you can't achieve with fineliners unless you have one fineliner for each width you may need.
In my case... I use:
A) Lamy Safari with an EF nib with SketchInk Black (name is Lotte and this brand is fully waterproof).
B) TWSBI ECO with an F nib and also with SketchInk Lotte.
C) Jinhao x750 with a FUDE nib (#6 size) also with Lotte (#6 nibs are interchangeable between fountain pens that use this side of nib). With a FUDE nib you can draw multiple line widths depending on the position (Fine, Broad and Super Broad and Extra Fine by using the nib in reverse per say).
D) I have 3 more Jinhao's x750 - 1 uses it's standard M nib, another has a FUDE nib too and the last one is set up with a Zebra G nib (#6 flex nib used in dip pens popular for drawing manga). These last 3 fountain pens are filled with different coulour inks depending on my sketching/drawing needs and both with waterproof and/or soluble inks. I also use watercolor water brushes (Pentel) with coloured soluble inks as well as with watered down India Ink (waterproof), in this last case for shadows.
I use my Fountain Pens for Sketching directly with ink alone (no pencil first) or to use watercolours with ink (watercolours first and then ink or vice versa, depending on which technique I want to work with).
So... I believe that Fountain Pens are a more versatile and efficient and cheaper tool (more cost effective) in the long run, and also way more ECO friendly, and why I strongly recommend using Fountain Pens.
I hope my comment may provide additional input and may help others in their choices.
Cheers from Madrid!
Awesome comment - pinned so others can benefit from this :) Thank you very much!
@@TobySketchLoose WOW! Toby... Thanks for doing this. I wasn't expecting it! I don't post a lot of comments (I have mobility issues and chronic spine pain and it is uncomfortable for me to spend a lot of time with my laptop). I am happy that you liked my comment. Again, thank you! Cheers from Madrid!!!
Thank you so much for all this info! I’m (hopefully 🤞🤞) getting a LAMY fountain pen for my birthday next week… 🤞🤞
(I’m also suffering with a spinal injury atm - even finding drawing painful. Hope your injury is the healing sort and that it soon improves. 🌟
@@annabelcleare138 Thank you! My situation is chronic, sad to say. Just happy to be alive and "painting"!!! 😀👍 Hope you recover! And I'm happy that you found my comment helpful! Cheers!
Hi Jim. You are living my dream. We just walked the Camino Frances Sept/Oct. We spent a week before and after in Madrid. I've planted the seed to with the better half to spend a senior gap year in Madrid when I'm 62 before the push to 67. I joined the Madrid urban sketchers for an outing to el Parque del Retiro when we were there. Thanks for your comment. It makes a lot of sense to me what you are saying. And, likely a great way to find my voice / style, swapping between loose and exacting.
It’s a tie for me - each has a different feel. Great demo - thanks for sharing !
Thanks for watching!
I prefer the fountain pen, full of character. I have been using bent nib fountain pen for sketching recently, which allows you to make even more difference between thick and thin. Good video, clear comparison, thank you.
Thanks for sharing!
I switched to fountain pen today and I am very surprised by how much better it looks and feels to draw
Awesome
I prefer the sketch on the right. I'm biased towards fountains pens, because I use them and have a small collection. As a beginner sketcher I am also using a Lamy Safari . Thanks for making these videos, they really help.
I'm already a fountain pen addict, so that's my vote. 😄
😊
I like both 😁
Thanks!
Want to find out more about my ink sketching techniques? Join me on www.sketchloose.co.uk
Fantastic video! So valuable in helping me, a newbie to lamy pens, see the difference.
Awesome
I love m’y Lamy, but I use à fine liner as well ! Many thanks for your video
Thanks for sharing!!
I'm a complete novice when it comes to fountain pens, but for me personally, the left drawing wins hands down! It's the look that drew me to take an interest in this kind of artwork. So, I'm waiting for my pen to arrive! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Fountain pen. I love the outcome and the feeling to use it.
Thank you for your Demo 🙏
My pleasure!
Love the real time comparison.
I can see how the fountain pen would help me loosen up my drawing
Thanks Toby
Glad it was helpful!
I love the fountain pen sketch best. I only did my first ink sketch last week but I was interested in the different values you had with the fountain pen then changing inks to wash just brought it more to life. Good and really useful video. 👍🏻
Thanks for sharing!
I like the fountain pen sketch but I can see where both would be useful depending on what you want to achieve.
Agreed
I prefere the sketch on the left. I like the way the color looks,with all the shadows.
Lamy for sure! Lends so much feel & vibe to the sketch ❤
😊
Hi Toby. Thank you for that demonstration of the two types of pens. Very helpful for seeing the differences. I like the pen’s effects on both drawings but prefer the Lamy Safari pen if I had to choose. I am going to purchase one to fill out my collection. Thanks! 🎨🖌Sharon
Glad it was helpful!
The 551 Confucius Fude fountain pen is crazy cool, calligraphic and super bold but also turned upside down can be ultra thin. Worth the $40 IMO. I ordered the Fudenosuke Brush Pen in soft from your recommendation on an earlier video, can't wait to give it a go. Thank you for your inspiring videos and I'm enjoying your Skillshare videos too.
Thanks for the info!
I like the Lamy Safari very much, the line variation is very cool
Agreed 💯👍
Fountain pen all the way! Excellent idea for a video.
Yes! Thank you!
I was about to make a comment about fountain pens on a previous video, and then I saw this, nice.
Thanks!
I like the LAMY sketch just slightly better. Thanks for the comparison video. I've been using Pigma Microns and not particularly happy with how they flow. Looking at maybe getting a Lamy to try.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing!
Watching the side by side drawings, I realize that my hand is still very much “schooled” to writing. Tight. Cramping a little as I watch. Especially as a left-handed student, there was always pressure to mimic the “correct” way of forming letters. I own a few fountain pens, including a Lamy, and I’ve only seen them as aids to better penmanship. This is a great way to see how I can loosen up my approach to whatever tool I’m using. Thanks.
Have fun experimenting
I❤the lamy most, thanks for this demonstration, did you choose the same paper?
Yes 😊 they're both on the same sheet of paper 📜
Hi. I like the Lamy fountain pen, and I enjoyed the video!
Hey, thanks!
Ok, I really prefer the fountain pen version to the left, we directly find a sort of soul in the result. As a mater of fact,.., this is the way I sketch, one difference with you is that at the end I don’t use water but cold coffee as brown liquid, maybe you can try this
?
Thank you for your videos, much appreciated!
Michel from France,… in the way to visit and sketch Scotland,…
This is a very fun idea 💡😊
Have you tried the Lamy Joy? It’s the long-tail version of the Safari, so you can hold it even farther back. They come with a 1.5mm calligraphy nib, but since nibs are available separately for several Lamy models I switched to an Extra Fine. I love fountain pens but I also carry a Uni-Pin fine liner in light gray and sometimes brown.
I've not, top tip
I lean toward favouring the Lamy sketch because I like that watery looseness. I, personally, have more experience using Uniball Vision rollerball pens in "fine" and "micro" metal tips. They're very waterproof once dry and glide nicely on the Moleskine watercolour paper. I need to try a fountain pen.
Question for you: do you have any issue with your Lamy clogging when using Platinum carbon ink.? I have 4 Safaris and love them but only use water soluble ink in them.
Thanks for sharing! I've never had problems with clogging
LAMY is my preferred option - the Left.
Brill
Love the Lamy look…immediate art.
Yes!
I too prefer the fountain ped. However, would you be able to hold the fineliner loose as well to achieve a similar effect? Cheers!
Not quite, the angle doesn't work sadly
Interesting, great video. Question: Is there a non water soluble ink we can use with the Lamy? I have a couple of Rotring Sketch pens that I've been using but the ink flow is quite heavy and so the ink bleed high.
Try this video ua-cam.com/video/JUy2_CuSMCI/v-deo.html
Although I'm pretty new to sketching and water colors, it's an easy decision for me; I've been addicted to --- oops, I mean using -- fountain pens for over 3 decades so that's the one for me. One of my more recent favorite inks for sketching/ tones is Noodler's Brown (just plain brown) -- it's water resistant (not waterproof) so linework remains visible but it's easy to use a water brush for washes.
Awesome thanks for sharing
I think the Lamy gives more character, but it does take time to get the control of ink flow, but, overall both have their place and give two totally different effects.
Thanks 🙏
At first I preferred the fine liner but the brush work on the fountain pen work made all the difference.
Great to hear, thanks
I love both, they're very diff. animals. I use the lamy for writing regularly & would love to draw with it, but the waterproof ink(platinum black) is rather costly, where I live.
Are there any slightly cheaper alternatives to it? Thank you.
There are, I've not used them, but noodlers and rotring do some good inks I hear
I always carry both. I use a Lamy EF for my sketch. Finish with a fine liner when I desire a tight, thin, disciplined cross hatch effect. I can’t get that with the Lamy EF nib.
Brill!
The fountain pen sketch.
Seems to be more versatile. With fine liners I have to use them in a more upright position and that makes my hand tired.
Been using a Sailor Fude 55 pen and enjoy it.
Thanks 🙏
I'd prefer the Lamy!!! I love the looseness of it...
Awesome
Sorry for the mistakes the software went into French !😊
Pas grave 😄
😊
Hello. As I am looking for the cartridges you suggested, some of the reviews say that the ink is not waterproof. I prefer cartridges as my hands would screw up using the bottles. The packaging of the cartridges are not in English so I can't see what they say. Any suggestions? Thanks! ❤
have you checked out urbansketch.co.uk/supplies ? if that doesn't help, email me with some pictures of you products and I'll try and help toby@urbansketch.co.uk
The fountain pen sketch has more atmosphere and the line work is much more interesting for me. Out of interest what nib are you using? I have been practising with a Lamy Safari pen with a medium nib and I feel that the line is a bit heavy.
This is an extra fine nib, agree medium is too heavy
I like the fountain pen rendering...
Thanks!
Left is my fave - it’s just more interesting to me ❤
Thanks
@@TobySketchLoose no! Thank you!! Your channel is so inspiring - I’m just getting in to ‘Urban Sketching’ at the grand old age of (nearly) 55 and it’s largely thanks to you!
I’m (hopefully 🤞🤞) getting a LAMY fountain pen for my birthday next week. 🤞🤞
Both pens have their place
Yes indeed!!
It's all relative .......I love them both
good answer
I love the left better and I have a Platinum carbon desk pen I love for sketching. HOWEVER…it leaks when at a higher elevation (like about 4,000 ft and above)! I live near Mt Rainier natl park and am often plein air sketching there…can’t take my fountain pen. I’ve been using pigma pens (readily available in my small town), but definitely need to try some other non fountain pens for my mountain trips.
This is the most wonderful thing I've read today hehe. Not that your pen leaks, butt hat you have to consider altitude in your sketching 😂 I love mountaineering and yet it's not something I'd considered hehe
@@TobySketchLoose Toby, if you love mountaineering and sketching painting, then you should know about Dee Molenaar! You can do general searches for him on the net, but also youtube. Dee was a mountaineer and geologist. He was on some very famous (and tragic) expeditions and in 1953, while trapped in a storm at 25,000 ft during a K2 climb, painted the highest known watercolor in history (using alcohol actually because water would freeze). Dee’s work has been sold through a small gallery near Rainier park and I managed to collect some of his paintings before he died in 2020 at age 101. He has an amazing life history and I find his paintings inspiring because he was someone who so completely embraced life and adventure. He regularly painted his climbing adventures, as well as a ton of Mt. Rainier pieces (he was a mountaineering guide on Rainier for many years). Anyway, check him out if you don’t know of him already. 😀
Toby, please do a video on waterproof ink.
On the list 😀
I have Unipins. I didn't buy them especially for loose sketching. I already owned them. But I prefer the Lamy in this comparison.
Thanks for sharing!
I like the LAMY but how does a left hand person use it?
You can get left handed Lamy nibs. My son has one!
Liz has the answer 🙏
Love the fountain pen sketch, especially with the other ink added.... but now i'll need 2😊
I have a question about the Lamy Safari... as it's what I'm hoping to get next.. i think.. but, I know the fingers go in a specific place on these.... so I'm wondering if I could use one being mostly left handed?
I love fountain pens... only have a few. Nothing expensive at all. Love drawing with my Duke Fude, and my Jinhao x740
So, I believe you can use them left handed because the sketching grip is looser. But I'm not 100% certain!
The safari certainly doesn't require a lot of pressure to use - it's very lightweight, but also feels robust.
@@TobySketchLoose thanks so much :) I appreciate your thoughts on it. But of course I know there probably aren't any absolutes on that, so I didn't mean to put too much pressure on ya :) just nice to get thoughts from people that actually use one rather then just maybe sell them... you know what I mean? But, there are a couple places, like Goulet that I have bought a couple clearenced Jinhao fountain pens years back to begin my fountain pen obsession :) and they are super knowledgable and nice about answering questions, never trying to sell you anything... so I've emailed them a note as well.
Just figure that it'll use up the whole gift card I was given, and a big splurge for me😊🤦🏻♀️ so I like to learn as much as I can before buying anything because I can't afford to buy a bunch to try... because if I could... gosh, I'd be so excited and need a while separate container to hold loads of pens, inks, pencils.... yup, love them all😊
Thanks again!
@@jadedenthusiasms Lamy has nibs for left-handed people
@@adremark thanks so much!!! I appreciate it!😊
Price also factors into this comparison. I love that Lamy, but cannot really afford one
A good point! You could try the cheaper platinum preppy if that suits your budget - fountain pens save money in the long run after the initial investment of course
I like the fountain pen sketch but I'm partial to sketching not illustrating a subject. Since I am relatively new to sketching and drawing, I often wonder if it is easier to begin sketching loosley and then learn to draw and illustrate in a truer-to-life manner? Or if it is better to learn to draw more accurately and then loosen up? Might just my my inner critic spewing mind junk again. ;-)
Hi Lance. Jim from Madrid, Spain (an expat New Yorker living abroad).
I started late in my life drawing and painting (mainly watercolor and now starting with Gouache too).
I believe you can do both simultaneously (drawing and painting), at least that's how I started last summer.
Why? In my case, it helped me a lot to play with colour and learning the medium, as well as to improve my drawing skills (something I will continue to learn throughout my life) because being able to draw well helps with perspective, proportions, composition, shading and applying proper values (both in black & white or in colour). At the same time, painting will allow you to improve in learning how to use your brushes, learning how to mix colour and values, as well as using your improved drawing skills to the painting in composition and subject matter focus. And painting also helps you with your drawing too, so what I'm trying to say is that they are really integrated skills, even in abstract painting, for example.
And I mix my work both painting and sketching loosely or more accurate and realistic, it just depends on the mood of the day, because I believe it is good to try and learn different techniques and I see no reason why you may need to just stick to one or another...
I have been amazed on how much quicker my brain has positively responded by learning in parallel. At least, this has been my approach and I can say that I have been able to improve way faster on both drawing and painting by doing them simultaneously and applying multiple techniques (sometimes integrating different approaches into one single piece), as well as making faster leaps in my overall learning curve.
Hope I can be of help. Cheers from Madrid!
I honestly don't know the right answer to this question. I personally started off trying to emulate neat sketches and I had a few drawing classes and the teacher would always tell me I wasn't neat enough. I think if you just start completely loose it might be really hard to get fundamentals, at least if you don't understand that loose sketching isn't without structure or without some kind of rules underlying it.
@@TobySketchLoose I love posing hard questions. I think your answer is very helpful on about the fundamentals, structure and underlying rules, like for example, sketching loosely over perspective lines. Thanks for the response.
I prefer the one on the right… more controlled 😂
Haha yes definitely
I like them both, one on left has a looser vibe or more “painterly” vibe, however.
😀
I prefer the fountain pen.
Me too 😀
❤Merci pour ce partage belle âme
😊
I prefer the fine liner. Your perspective is better with the fountain pen though, but that’s not due to the pen.
Haha nope that's my haphazard Sketching
I like fountain pen best😊
😊
First I believe that you might be aware of my dis-sustain of Lamy pens when compared with other fountain pens with Fude nibs for sketching. Second. Although I do like your loose style of sketches. I’m thinking the finished product was not up to your own standards just to show how much better fountain pens are for loose sketches over fine liners. But then again I’m no fan of Lamy and their use and popularity. But that’s just my 2 pennies. Thanks for the video.
You're two pennies are always appreciated 👍
I prefer Lamy .I think the picture whit Lamy have more personality and force than the other .😊
Yes agreed
@@TobySketchLoose 😊
I think I like the fountain pen line best…
Great!
Lamy🏆
🙏🙏
Does not,after as long as the ink is waterproof and archival.
🙏
The left hand sketch is so much more free. It’s art v cartoon!
Great way of putting it!
Je préfère « fine liner »
Thanks
You are presenting control as a characteristic unique to the fineliner. But there is nothing that prevents one from holding a fountain pen near the nib, as one does for writing. So this characteristic is not unique at all. By contrast, you can hold a fountain pen further back and be looser, as you do in the video, which is difficult to do with a fineliner. So, I'd say that the fountain pen is simply more versatile. That being said, I see the main difference somewhere else, namely in the price. It is much cheaper to buy one or two fineliners than to buy a fountain pen and a converter and a pot of ink. In the long run, the latter might turn out to be cheaper, but especially for beginners who don't know yet whether they will make much use of their equipment, I'd say that fineliners are the better option.
Thanks for the thoughts :) I would stick with my original assertions for a couple of reasons, but of course this is just my opinion and different people will have different styles.
Strict architectural sketchers will broadly use fine liners, and technical sketching pens are indeed fine liners - the reason for this is because they are more controlled. Try as I might to control my fountain pen it always is more unpredictable and lively than my fineliners - this is the natural of fountain pen construction, but also how I hold my pens.
Platinum preppy pens are great, and you can pick them up for £6-7 with 4-5 ink cartridges too - this is a lot more sketching than the equivalent 2 fine liners. So I would argue even in the short run, fountain pens don't have to be more expensive. Though they do have a much higher upper limit of course!
Damn, I didn't know those Platinums were so cheap. I have to pick one up.