Sharpie stainless steel pen

The stainless steel sharpie pen is a personal favourite and never leaves my bag. It's a lovely addition to my pencil case and a great pen for multiple paper types and for use with watercolours or ink washes.

●the stainless steel body has a nice feel in the hand and has a soft grip for comfort
● refillable
● ink doesn't bleed through paper
● smooth durable tip for precise and consistent line with minimal effort
● quick drying ink which is ideal for left handers
● waterproof and smear resistant ink when dry
● acid free and non toxic

○ it is not permanent ink it will wear off plastics and glass
○ it is not the "classic sharpie fine marker
○ price varies and refills can be hard to find in stores
○ no visual ink level so you never know when your about to run out
○ only available in black ink

A unusual thing is that you may be able to guess when the inks is about to run out because the nib eventually softens and the chamber is near finished or ready to replace

■ available from rymans for about £6.99
■ refills available from WHSmiths, cultpens.com for about £3.50 for a two pack
■ shop online for best prices or check out sales in stationary departments for back to school stock

This is one of those pens I'm biased about as I carry it all the time for occasional doodling or writing.

Sharpie pens are not a favourite. I don't use them all too often as I'm not a fan. I'm also not a fan of the look to them or how they became a cult staple to every art student,  especially since I believe there are better options. In regards to this, the design of this pen is so far from the grey signature barrel I almost get a sense of standing out of the crowd. It's unusual to get that sensation from a pen but I suppose it's the same for being the one kid wearing doc martins surrounded by friends wearing catipiller boots. It's the little things that give you a boost

Technical drawing pens from Jerry's Artarama

Technical drawing pens overview by jerrysartarama. I do suggest you check out their YouTube for more information on artist tools if your interested.
I will do my own post about technical drawing pens. But for now I'd like to state that they are an investment. They do need to be looked after and if done properly. You never need to purchase another one of those sized pens ever again.

Jerry's Artarama video link

Pilot DR Drawing Pen 05

This pen is so old in my collection I can't remember of it came from a kit of other armer or if I bought it from an art store. This is a very durable drawing pen and my own has fared it's own amount of abuse and still retains the hardest nib for drawing with.

● designed as a technical drawing pen
● fast drying
● highly water resistant
● light-fast black pigment
● super hard-wearing plastic tip
● ideal for use with rulers and wide range of papers. Inc cheaper sheets.

If your a technical illustrator with interests in architecture or interior design this pen will last year's. My own has been stepped on, dropped,  had bricks topple on it and all that has altered is the print on the barrel has worn away.

○ the nib can be so hard there is zero movement, give or molding an angle through wear and tear.
○ hard to make fluid ornate or organic lines
○ can result in skipping or jumping when used quickly or on very textured papers
○ rigid nip provides smooth line and can feel slippery when used with a light touch.
○ can be hard to write with as nib is so stiff on its edge

■ available online easily ranging around £2.99
■ offers constantly available on cultpens.com
■ nib sizes include
01/02/03/05/08

Pentel sign pen

The Pentel Sign Pen is one of the original fibre tipped pens and has been a best selling design since 1963 due to its enduring quality and performance.

● good for graphics and illustrators
● non permanent
● water based
● multiple colour options 12 available
● soft broad acrylic fibre nib
● due to it not being waterproof. Adding water results in a grey wash. However as the ink dries it becomes more resistant to bleed or water out. So its quite nice for light shadowing.

Variety of uses including everything from expressive bold handwriting to graphic design.

○ porus tip results in a soft spongey use and control
○ initial use is firm however softness occurs quickly meaning linework loses its initial sharpness. Honestly don't start a huge scale illustration expecting the line sharpness to stay throughout.

Although this pen is a good classic it's something I don't exactly enjoy. The spongey bullet is off putting and quite easy to stray off straight lines or increase width by applying too much pressure for that split second. The approx line width varies around 2.0mm depending on pressure applied.

■ available from your local stationary stores from rymans, the works and probably corner shops.
■ available online and tend to be tied in with multi buy offers
■ price ranges around £1.45
■ keep an eye on cultpens.com for offers involving free gifts for a certain brand spend. Other sites include pen wraps or cases if your interested.

Pen illustration is what I would primarily use this pen for. As a broad outline for faint shadow waterwash

Kuretake ZIG cartoonist brush pen NO.22

The Kuretake ZIG brush pen NO.22 is quite a challenge to get used to. However it provides a unique drawing and writing pen for linework. Commonly used for manga, calligraphy and sumi-e drawings. I find it to be a great tool for large quick sketch life drawings or simplistic stylised studies. For those beginning with this tool, may find it easiest to map out a rough sketch with pencil before going direct with the pen.

● brush pen with soft nylon brush bristles
● produces a range of thick and thin lines
● very smooth flowing
● water-based pigment ink
● water-resistant and lightfast
● replaceable ink cartridges
● long handle for expressive strokes and light touch

If you have ever used the water brushes by Pentel that you fill up the handle with water and can used for pen or watercolour on the go. It's a similar idea only with ink. At some point I'll be posting another blog about making your own.

○ quite hard to get used to
○ the handle which also holds the ink is a softer plastic. Squeezing results in blobs or could burst. Do not put it in your back pocket of your jeans, forget about it and sit down... I speak from sad experience.
○ the ink will stain and is hard to remove from skin or textiles. Again, experience.

■ hard to find at your standard stationary shop
■ eBay, jetpens.com and cultpens.com
■ approx £5 however shopping around is best.
■ occasionally can be found with extras such as colour markers offer or paper offer.

Overall it's a great pen. However not one I reach for or would repurchase again. It's a good solid tool. But not my style for illustration.

Staedtler Triplus fineliner pen

Cheap and functional the staedtler triplus fineliner pens are a good addition to a students pencil case. Since its fast assortment of colour availability this review will focus on the black pen primarily.

● superfine long-lasting pen
● water-based ink
● 0.3 mm line
● metal-clad tip and ergonomic triangular barrel
● advertises effortless and fatigue-free usage
● ideal for long time writing and or drawing
● advertises to be dry safe with ISO 554 tests meaning it can be left uncapped for days without drying ip
● advertises to be aeroplane safe thanks to automatic pressure equalisation, preventing in flight leaks.
●washes out of most textiles.
● applying water results in massive ink wash in blues, greys and purple inks.

Although this product is advertised to be dry safe. I can confirm that it took some time to revive the pen after letting it "dry" for two days. The nib was very hard for atleast an hour before easing back into its regular use. As far as being aeroplane safe. Turns out Glasgow is rather serious about not taking your pens on board so I had to bin them... meanwhile I could purchase a Bic biro at the WHSmith newsagents in the terminal.

○ nature of the ink makes it extremely non waterproof.
○ soft fibre nib. Under constant or heavy use can deform an edge or soften it which can change the feel when writing or drawing
○ as a result of nib deformation turning the triangular barrel can give a scratching edge or a very soft edge.

□ huge assortment of multipacks and range of prices.
□ purchased from rymans but available online and always on promotion, sales or multipack offers.
□ prices range from
singles at £1.49
6 pack £6.99 - £7.49
10 pack £12.99
20 pack £18.99
30 pack £25.99
All prices reflect current date Jan 2016.
Packs include colours, office colours, blacks, neon, metallic etc.

ZIG millenia drawing pen

The ZIG millenium drawing pen is made by Kuretake and provides a stiff nib durable for dotting images or for use on very slick paper. Great for use with watercolour or alcohol colouring markers.

• wide choice of tip sizes and ink colours
• water-based pigment ink
• waterproof
• acid free
• non bleeding
• safe for use on photographs
• ideal for dotting images or strong linework

○ very stiff nib
○ not great for loose fibre papers
○ not ideal for loose line quick sketches
○ nib can skip when used quickly

■ best prices at current at cultpens.com purchased at rymans. Shop around for best prices and offers
■ colours in black, yellow, green, blue, red.
■ various pack offers colour or tip sizes.

Information on ZIG millenium tip sizes
▪ 005 tip 0.2mm line
▪ 01 tip 0.25mm line
▪ 02 tip 0.3mm line
▪ 03 tip 0.35mm line
▪ 05 tip 0.45mm line
▪ 08 tip 0.65mm line

Pilot G-TEC-C4

The pilot G-TEC-C4 is a great wee pen for quick fineliner sketches.

• rollerball gel ink pen with bio polymer ink
• fluid,  skip free use
• no need to press hard
• gel ink prevents feathering
• extra fine 0.4mm nib writes 0.2mm line
• great for detailed writing or drawing
• allows for pen wash when water is applied giving grey wash

○ nib can bend under pressure or agressive use
○ occasionally ball has fallen out of nib
○ not fully waterproof

■ purchased from rymans. Available online
■ 3 pack £8.99
■ single £3.69
■ Ink colours include black, red, blue, purple.

New direction

It's been far too long and I've been far too busy or lethargic to maintain this blog, my website or even my art practice.

Occasionally ill get a message or email from practicing students or experimenting artists asking what tools I use to create a piece or what medium I work on. It only seems easiest to keep a catalogue of some sorts of my tools enjoyed. Similar to how someone experimenting with watercolour would make swatches of colour and try adding salt, sugars or silica beads to the patches of wet paint.

So I'm going to give this a try. See how I fare. There are thousands of beauty bloggers reviewing blushes, brushes, eyeshadow pallets or eyeliner pens. But I'm finding it hard to discover pen or drawing review bloggers. We purchase tools based on their price tag and our budget, by what the professional illustrators use and what our lectures advise or our role models promote.

I'm hoping to construct a review of tools to advise people who may cross this blog what may suit their needs, interests or what they may want to try out and expand their kit.

I admit I'm forever trying to find that fantastic pen that makes me draw amazing or makes me excite at the prospect of drawing more and more. One that's comfortable to hold for hours on end without cramping my hand and wrist.

Many pens are available from online retailers. Shopping around to get the better deal is a great way to grab a bargain but our local stores for stationary such as rymans, the range and hobbycraft. Even asda, tesco and Morrisons can hold a secret gem for our drawing tool collections. Not forgetting art stores in larger cities.
But as always suggested for those art stores it's far better to go in knowing what your looking for, rather than allow you to get overwhelmed and purchase items you will never probably need or use.
A main example being do you really need 3 different brands of gold ink pen? Or 7 different options for a 0.2 fineliner pen?

Hopefully not but I've met dozens of people who do this. And in quite a few cases they buy pens which are manufactured by the same overall company. Same inks, same nibs slightly different packaging.

Most noticeably is the fact that faber castell owns letraset and through progress in the company the pen that costs the extra £2 is overall the exact same as the one in the less fancy packaging.  Yes there may be slight differences nib strength, plastic strength but overall that's what I hope to document.

To maintain continuity I will be using a seawhite of Brighton chunky square sketchbook. A personal favourite for its paper colour, strength and it's texture for drawing with various tools. It's also a great size since I enjoy the medium and large size for most of my sketch works.

I'm also using Berol Venus pencils, particularly 2B. There will no doubt another post on its other lead strengths and what they mean etc. But at current if I fancy sketching out an image to ink over its currently a favourite over mechanical pencils. Yet again, another blog post to explain will no doubt follow.

Without waiting any longer or having to type anymore on my phone. Let's have a go at this shall we?