What’s my line?
Posted: December 1, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized 32 CommentsDo you have a favourite pen? One that feels like it was made for your hand, for your way of drawing, for the types of lines you want to make. I don’t. I have given my Lamy Safari (a favourite of many sketchers I know) plenty of chances to perform, but for me the nib on that pen is just not flexible enough. I’ve also used many different weights of Micron pens, especially the 005 but the nibs wear out way too quickly, even before the ink runs out. Sharpies are a little too fat. Pitt pens are too stiff.
Yesterday during a clean up of my studio, I spent a bit of time refilling pens and in the back of a drawer discovered the Tradio Stylo by Pentel, a pen I’ve only used once before. It ended up in my bag, followed me to school today, and made an appearance while I was drawing on a break. I’ve been looking for something that has a line that can go from thick to thin, depending on the pressure, and I think this one fits the bill. I tried it while drawing the girl (on her phone) and the boy (on his phone) and I love the flexibility of the angled nib. As you can see, the ink it comes with is water-soluble and very black, and I can get a more expressive line with it than with the stiffer nib on the Safari.
To fully put it to the test I stopped on my way home from school and did a little drawing of the church and presbytery in Pointe Claire. I was using cheap sketchbook paper but I was able to draw right on top of the wash areas after they dried. For me, this pen is a winner. So what’s your line?
Shari Blaukopf's Sketchbook 
I agree it’s the best!
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Glad you like it too Elaine.
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Hi Shari. Fascinating read and really pleased you’ve found something you like (even though you had it all along). But wish you’d posted a week earlier … I finally bought a Lamy Safari at the weekend after holding off for a couple of years! Hopefully I’ll like it. Best, Tony
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You may be among the many who love the Lamy. I love it for writing, just not for drawing. And if you decide you want to try this one, it is inexpensive. Around $10 Cdn, I think.
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It is among my favourites for writing; now i’ll have to use it to draw. 🙂
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It is also wonderful for writing Zoe. And if you read the online reviews, it has many followers as well.
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Have you tried the Sailor “calligraphy” fountain pen with the crazy ski-jump nib?
http://tina-koyama.blogspot.com/2014/06/pen-update-still-dancing-with-sailor.html
It took a while to get used to, but now it’s the only pen I sketch with! I love the thick and thin lines it makes. Liz Steel likes it, too.
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So many people use this one Tina. I have seen it but never tried it but I will have a look.Thanks!
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The stylo is a great pen, used one as a travel sketch pen while I was flying to and from Israel. The Lamy Safari is also a great pen, it’s the one I use for my Metro sketches. There’s no flexibility to the nib, but it has great inflow, and the steel nib stands up well and stays attached to the paper when the train is bumping and bounding around.
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I don’t know how you do it Jason. I tried drawing on the bus one day. It was impossible and it didn’t really matter what pen I used. I was trying to hold on to my bags with one hand and draw with the other. I gave up pretty quickly. That’s why I always find your metro sketches so amazing.
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I am really happy with the Carbon Platinum pen I purchased from Jetpens. It has an extra fine nib,comes with an ink cartridge(permanent ink) and works very well on all kinds of paper.
This includes watercolor cold press. You can buy refill cartridges and also a converter.
I am so pleased with the ink and the ease of the cartridges that I have not purchased the converter. AND…it is a bargain in comparison to other pens, approx. $12-14.00. It may not give
line variety but it is very dependable.
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I just discovered that Jetpens site Linda. The Carbon Platinum is another pen many people use and love. And that is a good a price. It must be pretty tough if you can use it on cold press paper because not many pens can take that much texture on paper — I always draw on Fabriano hot press only. Thanks!
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Now, can you guess why I would be feeling frustrated about this post? You might think it was because you referred to drawing a boy and a girl, but actually only drew a pile of clothes and something that looked like a spiky shoe-box… but you would be wrong.
It is because, every time you have recommended some drawing pen in the past, I have blindly accepted your advice… when you praised Lamy pens (“…when you put it to paper it flows beautifully, going curvy and wiggly in all the right places. I think I love it too”), I went out and bought one… when you suggested I was Fred Flintstone because I didn’t have the right Sharpie, I went out and bought one. And now you tell me that they are all no good?
Signed
Frustrated
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Dear frustrated,
First of all, I have noticed that in my school, students never take off their coats and hats, even in class where it is quite warm. Not sure why that is.
Secondly, I only change pens so that I can take up your time going through all my old posts to see what I wrote about the previous pens. I’m glad it worked this time.
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Students are probably dressing like that trying to hide from “that teacher with the sketchbook who is always putting sketches of us on her blog”. And finding your past posts is not that hard because your blog includes a Search box… you should try it to see your changing commentary on frisket… which reminds me that I now have to retrieve my previously discarded frisket from the waste bin.
As a postscript, all of those pens that I have bought on your recommendations… sadly, they are still in pristine condition.
signed
Frustrated (still)
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Hum, a little bit of projection here Ross? It sounds that you may be frustrated not at me, but at yourself… for not drawing.
signed
The amateur psychologist
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Hmm, a little bit of deflection here Shari? It sounds that if you are accused of frustrating someone, rather than accepting that you created the problem, you try to get someone else to own the problem.
signed
Another amateur psychologist
[I suggest that we move on… to another post or subject before this turns into an argument]
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What did happen to Ross? He was so entertaining : )
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Very nice sketching !
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Thanks!
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I like microns too. Perhaps a short life expectancy, but very affordalble. Most sketchers, I’m certain, would argue for their favorites. Unfortunately the truth seems to lie in whose hand the pen is in. I could try 50 pens, but their performance would not change my weak skills. Your blogs are fabulous.,
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I guess the Microns are very affordable but it just annoys me to throw them out when they still have ink in them. And not so affordable if you sketch often and throw many of them away. I could have bought a Mont Blanc and ink if I calculate the money wasted on the Microns.
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Is it a fountain pen or a marker ? My daughter is living in Monbtreal right now and comes home for Xmas : where would she buy it ?
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It is a combo. You refill it with ink but it draws like a marker. And the ink is like marker ink. I think I bought it at De Serres in Montreal but you can certainly order it online too.
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There are two versions of the THIN Sharpie. The one Walgreen’s sells in our area is the super thin one. Two to a pack for about four dollars, U.S.
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I have the Sharpie pen too but it doesn’t seem that thin. Maybe I don’t have the right one Lee.
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The three tined “music nib” available from Noodler’s is a super flexible fountain pen option.
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Thanks Nancy. I have had so many great pen recommendations from this post.
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I’ve gotten very frustrated with Microns, and I agree with you about the Lamy. I keep trying it because I like being able to use Noodler’s Inks in it, but the nib isn’t flexible enough for me either – in fact it feels very rigid and non-responsive. My favorite is a Sheaffer Levenger “Seas” fountain pen with a gold-plated nib, unfortunately not available anymore though I think their Connoisseur series is similar. It only takes cartridges and the ink isn’t waterproof, but I love the lines it makes. I’ll try your Pentel.
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I used a sharpie for years, miss having any variability in my line. Now I have no ‘favorite’ pen: I do however like my bent nib pens, they have lots of flex and also my new Pentel Brush Pen
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Do I have a favorite pen? Do I ever! My everyday goto pen is a Bic Triumph 537.R – 05 fine point. The Pilot PreciseV fit’s the bill too. Both are inexpensive and do an the job for quick sketches. They feel good! When get to a final rendering I use a variety of Faber Castell PITT artist pens. Don’t take my pen!
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Some more pens to add to my list. I did use a Pilot Fineliner for many years but not the Bic. I will have to investigate. Thanks for sharing Melinda!
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