Guide to Fountain Pens for Drawing and Calligraphy
In spite of the modern world becoming a paperless landscape, fountain pens remain a treasured item across the world. The wide selection of nibs and inks leave plenty of room to explore an individual’s creativity, while the easy-to-handle body and free-flowing strokes promote an effortless use that mitigates hand fatigue.
Exercising your creative juices using fountain pens require a bit of a learning curve. With that in mind, the guide below should familiarize you with the ins and outs of fountain pens so you can move forward with your stroke of work.
Getting Started with Dip Pens
Drawing with dip pens provide an extraordinary experience as it allows you to seamlessly capture art using a classic medium. With that in mind, you need a couple of nibs, pen handle, ink, and the appropriate paper to get started on your endeavour.
Speaking of which, it’s best to start with a smooth or vellum finish for the paper. Dip pens, particularly smaller nibs, tend to catch and scratch on rough, low-quality papers, which will only ruin your stride and leave ink blotches all over your work.
Best Nib Characteristics for Drawing with Fountain Pens
Nibs determine the stroke of your pen, so it’s important to know different characteristics that influence the intensity and smoothness of your strokes. There are two main shapes you need to consider when drawing:
- Italic Nibs – These are best used for creating scripts that are bold, consistent, and regular due to the nib’s blunt edge. It doesn’t offer plenty of freedom in its line variation, but it’s an excellent choice for filling gaps and adding highlights.
- Point Nibs – Standing at the opposite spectrum are point nibs, which offers much flexibility in its line variation due to the design of the nibs. With two rounded lines that meet to a point and the ability to split, point nibs are perfect for whimsical scripts and other purposes – be it comic drawings or calligraphy. It’s also possible to create wider lines by adding pressure to the nib, which causes it to split as you move.
Best Nib Holder Characteristics for Drawing with Fountain Pens
Just like the nib, the holder plays a pivotal role in your experience. Different qualities will influence your comfort level in experimenting with different angles, so choose wisely between the following:
- Oblique Holders – This design is best for achieving uncomfortable and hard-to-reach angles due to the rubber rings that hold the nib. Unlike straight holders, it features an extra appendage that holds the rubber rings, making it an excellent choice for free-ranging motion and experimenting with script styles in calligraphy.
- Straight Holders – With only one rubber ring at the tip to hold the nib, straight holders are great for providing better grip and comfort. It’s designed to mimic the bold strokes of paintbrushes, making it great for playing around with different shapes and diameters.
The Bottom Line
Fountain pens can transform simple acts of writing a thank you note, a journal entry, or a page of copywork by hand into a pleasurable activity. It is also an essential tool for calligraphy and drawing, especially since fountain pens are designed to reduce hand strain and enhance flowing movements.
With that in mind, the guide above should clue you in on how to get started on the right foot. If you are looking for the perfect fountain pen in Australia for your artistic endeavours, get in touch with us today! We are happy to help.