How to Draw with a Fountain Pen - It's More Complicated than you Think!

[@kathygeesey5555]

Thank you for speaking about the benefits to ones mental health thru art. I discovered that for myself totally by accident. As my husband suffered with Alzheimer’s, I was suffering too with the slow loss of my best friend. I found that sketching on a regular basis took my brain to another space. It allowed me to hang onto at least a little joy. I now have 2 fountain pens with carbon ink to use with my watercolors and they are my favorite sketching tool. Thank you for your videos. They are very inspiring as I go thru my healing process.

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks for sharing your story Kathy. So many carers find it hard to look after thier own mental health when in the thick of it, understandable as we often only have so much bandwidth. The fact that you could at least hold a little joy for self is inspiring. Altziemers is such a hard road for everyone and I can't imagine losing your loved one a little each day. I always find that my art gives me the space and time to digest my sadness and process my thoughts and also, as you say, find a little joy. Thanks again for your kind message and for sharing you story. Doug

[@cecile3414]

The pieces in that sketchbook are beautfiul!

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks so much 🙏 👍👍

[@jobrown6837]

At last, justification for having 14 fountain pens. And useful direction as to actually using them. Good lessons here, thank you 😀

[@dougjacksonart]

Haha... you sound like me when people ask how many pens I own.. I just mutter something about the weather and change the subject 😌

[@caro1591]

Definitely not patronising - just off to play now. Thank you ❤

[@dougjacksonart]

Keep learning and playing.😀

[@dougjacksonart]

Hope you like this one. That's for all your lovely likes and comments. It's great to get feedback and ideas. ❤❤

[@belligou]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@dougjacksonart]

@@belligou Thanks 😊 🙏

[@anneedmunds9025]

I am using a yellow lami pen. What a coincidence. It is great and I like it better than the disposable micro pens. It was a sign of being grown up when you could use a fountain pen in my childhood. They bring back fond memories. Thanks

[@dougjacksonart]

Yellow pens are definitely better at drawing in the way that red cars are quicker. 🤣🤣

[@anneedmunds9025]

Hi getting into art helps me to really enjoy my retirement. I changed howI hold my pen and have no more back and neck problems. It is spring here in New Zealand and a good time for mini sketching. Many thanks

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks for sharing! Enjoy the season

[@majonkie]

I’ve been using fountain pens all my life and learned something new today. Thank you, I ❤ that! Time to get out some pens and ink and start experimenting.

[@dougjacksonart]

Fabulous! Have fun and thanks for your lovely comment.

[@davidalexander-watts6630]

I've only just started to think about using my fountain pens for sketching/drawing rather than just writing so this was immensely timely and useful, thank you.

[@dougjacksonart]

Glad it popped up for you. 👍👍

[@threetenticlesforward]

I've done the ink waterblending thing unintentionally 😅 I didn't realize my ink was water soluble. Great tips for this newbie to fountain pens. Thanks

[@dougjacksonart]

Loads of good vidsnon my channel for you. 😁

[@Weeho_]

Before I really reallllly knew what this video was about, your charisma won me and got a sub and like lol. Love your character. Bonus, this video was the absolute perfect video for what I was looking for! My son and I are getting into sketching buildings around our area, and we've bean curious how to actually use one of these tools now that we own a few. Tyvm for the info! We'll be seeing more of you soon

[@dougjacksonart]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@JannekeVisser-h8c]

I most definitely did not know anything about how to hold a fountain pen yet 😊. By the way, would you consider doing a video about fountain pen maintenance with waterproof ink? What if they clog up, e.g. due to drying/infrequent use? Love your videos, by the way. Full of fun, kindness and joy.

[@dougjacksonart]

Great idea! I get that question all the time too. Thanks for the ideas and you kind words 🙏 😊

[@MarceloJost]

Pountain Fens was a new way of putting it :) (at 5:00). Love your videos.

[@dougjacksonart]

Awesome! Thanks so much 🙏 😀

[@melaniechilvers5447]

🤣🤣 Thanks so much for this video. Really interesting. I will definitely be trying holding my safari in different places and seeing what happens. ( Making sure I have a pee first of course !!)

[@dougjacksonart]

You are wise. An empty bladder makes for better art 🤣🤣

[@sylviaharrington6748]

Thanks a lot Doug. I am interested in using fountain pens. Take care

[@dougjacksonart]

My pleasure!

[@margaretsmith51]

Great advice, thank you. Going to expand my ink range.

[@dougjacksonart]

Excellent! You can't have enough!! 🤣

[@lindathaxton1994]

Thank you for sharing 🙏Good information for me - will try this stuff!

[@dougjacksonart]

You’re welcome 😊

[@lindathaxton1994]

I LOVE art & love doing it - no matter if they are great!

[@dougjacksonart]

Awesome! Thanks so much 🙏 😀

[@christophermckellar1352]

Thanks! Your enthusiasm is infectious! Useful!

[@dougjacksonart]

Happy to hear that!

[@pamelasnyder9745]

I was quite happy using micron pens for my mixed media until I stumbled upon your channel 🤪 I just got my first fountain pen and am so happy with how smoothly it interacts with the paper. No comparison to the other pens! However, not pleased with the weight especially when posted. Another pen is arriving today and 5 more on Tuesday. I thought my husband would be angry because he thinks I already have enough art supplies, BUT it opened up a dialog. Apparently he fancied fountain pens when he was in his twenties. He said that he has some in a box that he will find. Hopefully, they were empty when stored, but if not, I’ll see if they can be redeemed. So, I guess a big THANK YOU is in order. You showed me a great new tool and another way to connect with my hubby!

[@dougjacksonart]

That's so lovely. I know fountain pens were a big feature of my childhood and I reconnected with them again in middle aged. They are such wonderful analogue things to draw with. Great that you shared that with hubby. Just need to get you both sketching together now for perfect harmony 🤣🤣👍

[@lesleymccartney6853]

What a great practice tutorial, thankyou!

[@dougjacksonart]

You're so welcome!

[@TheALahiri]

You are a maestro of pen and ink art. Many thanks for the practical tips and your beautiful sketches (ink paintings?).

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks so much. 😁😁

[@1357mike10]

Really good advice for me Doug thanks for showing this. Mike

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks Mike. Appreciate your comment. 👍

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

Very helpful tips! I use my art for self-soothing. Great videos like these works, too 😊🎨 I don't find the Lamy pens appealing, however, the interchangeable nibs is definitely a great feature ✒ 🖋 I have yet to invest in a name brand fountain pen. Trying clones to help make up my mind. I think I will pop for a Lamy & some nibs.

[@dougjacksonart]

Honestly cheap fountain pens are generally awesome. Compare a platinum preppy with a 100 dollar pen and they are 90% as good. Having different sized nibs is great though as you interchange them. That said the feed flow.isn't perfect between an ef and broad nib..... anyway. ... the conclusion is get a pen and Draw stuff!!!!. .. the rest is just marketing. 🤣🤣🤣

[@BarbaraZbinden]

I love your videos. So inspiring and fun to watch and absolutely wonderful sketches of boats🤩

[@dougjacksonart]

Glad you like them!

[@TheJanice0713]

I like this video and try to draw a line with different parts. It's interesting. Thank you.

[@dougjacksonart]

Glad you liked it it was an intreasting one to do. 😁😁

[@susanorban3059]

Hi Doug I have several fountain pens- a couple Lamy Safari. This video has encouraged me to get them out , clean them up and have a try at drawing with them. Thanks for another great video. I love ALL your art!🎉❤

[@dougjacksonart]

Glad I could help! Sometimes we need a little encouragement to get the art motivation going. Onwards!!!!

[@jennivandermoezel8907]

Thankyou for sharing your knowledge….i love the fountain pen and will give it a go now in my art!

[@dougjacksonart]

You are so welcome!

[@SR-vb2mw]

Thank you for your advice. I got the Lamy turquoise ink because of one of your videos. So glad to now know why it’s so free flowing compared to my registrar’s ink and other permanent ink. How about a video on two different colored water soluble inks and you wet them. Maybe not a boat. 😂❤

[@dougjacksonart]

Yes waterproof inks definitely seem to be thicker. It's such a wonderful colour 😍

[@pamhayes3320]

I have just found you and am very glad I did. I love the idea of drawing with a fountain pen which seems so obvious but which I hadn't thought about using. Your sketchbook was lovely and I'm hoping that I will learn a lot from from watching your videos🙂

[@dougjacksonart]

Welcome! Glad you discovered the channel. There is a whole year and a bit content to enjoy and more every week. Thanks Pam 😁

[@petesuchon7340]

Thanks for the video. Now do one showing how to use that Sailor's Fude nib. Cheers.

[@dougjacksonart]

Will do... it's on the list. 😁😁

[@markbaigent8373]

Interesting video ta

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks

[@rosalynpowell3310]

I love your channel. Thank you for your tips

[@dougjacksonart]

You are so welcome!

[@tonyjones4556]

Master, what are these pountain fens you speak of.😂

[@dougjacksonart]

Birds are all Wackwards 🤣

[@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK]

I heard that too. 😂😂😂 I had to rewind it. I hadn't had my coffee ☕ yet & thought I'd better make it a bit stronger 😂😂

[@dougjacksonart]

@@WhstlblwrBlastingEpsteinsILK 😄

[@susancook1617]

Thank you, all very useful info 😊

[@Howaayman]

Love the video and very engaging style. Instant subscriber. Thank you very much for sharing. Another cheap fountain pen to try is the Sailor Mannen de Fude. It has a bent angled nib. If you follow all your tips; with this pen you get an even greater range of line thickness.

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks for subscribing. Great minds think a like...There are some videos on this channel that cover fude and flex nibs. Is your Sailor a 45 or 55 degree one? I tried the 55 but ended up using the green 45 most.

[@Howaayman]

@@dougjacksonart Hi, definitely great minds. Mine is the green one too. Thank you for the feedback.

[@kimmuirhead6777]

Loving your videos thank you! Just back from a month in Leeds and I'm applying your teachings to draw all the lovely buildings I saw. Do you find the platinum carbon dries up in your pen and needs more cleaning? I'm a lazy jinhao girl.

[@dougjacksonart]

Nowt wrong with Jinhao pens. Glad you liked the video. Platinum Carbon Black is actually one of the better (waterproof) inks for drying. As long as they are used and not left for weeks on end. I only every use warm water and a cloth to clean my pen and haven't had any issues. Just don't leave ink in a pen your not using. 👍👍

[@GenWivern2]

Thank you Doug; always enjoyable. I have an ink flow tip for pens that are writing dry, which is to add a tiny drop of a surfactant (this is only really doable with converters or reused cartridges). Household ammonia is good, or clear window cleaner. For excessively wet writers, try water. Weird but it can work ... probably easier to switch to Pelikan ink though. 🙂

[@dougjacksonart]

Great tip! I've never thought of any of this. I need to do a deep dive on pens and maintenance so I may get back to you. 😁👍👍

[@jezza_wut]

♥♥♥♥

[@dougjacksonart]

👍👍👍👍

[@JannekeVisser-h8c]

Doug, sometimes you show a type of ink which, when painted with, separates into a number of colours. It looks fascinating. I tried to find such ink online (I googled for chromatic ink). Have not found it yet. But, anyway, since it is hard to find information about it, if you were to ever give more information on such ink, and how you play with, I will be so interested and excited. Please do not take this as an order (which I see in comments sometimes). I just really liked the examples you showed 😊

[@dougjacksonart]

Many thanks. It might be Earl Grey by Diamine... I tend to lean on Nick for all my ink knowledge. Check out his web page.. nickstewart.ink/

[@meryle.hawkins880]

Have you used the Fude pens. I have just started using one and it takes a bit of getting used to but it’s proving invaluable. I would love to know what you think of them and how do you use it.

[@dougjacksonart]

Check out some of my fountain pen video. I talk about and demonstrate using fude pens. 😁

[@ralphherrick596]

Thanks for sharing your talent....q

[@dougjacksonart]

My pleasure 😊 Thanks for the comment.

[@frederikavanhout4609]

I draw too more for soothing feelings than enything else. I have a yellow fountain pen too, the only disadvantage is filling the pen with ink. I am not very good in that. I love your drawings!

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks for sharing!. I find drawing about the most relaxing thing so I know what you mean. 😁😁

[@amandaluker9268]

Is that a waterproof blue ink I know platinum make a great black waterproof but I’m hunting for a waterproof blue

[@dougjacksonart]

Noodlers inks and De Atramentis Document Ink ... Google is your friend 👍👍

[@leanngoodall7602]

7 Lamys? Dude, you don't have enough fountain pens! I think I have 4 Lamys, 5 TWISBI Ecos, two Sailors (with fude nibs) and four non name got them on Temu with fude nibs, all for art. Let's me okay with ALL the inks.😊

[@dougjacksonart]

Haha.. you do sound like me. I too have several fude nibs and flex nibs on various pens. Although I've got something like 30 fountain pens I only tend to keep one fude, one flex an italic and a couple of regular nibs fuelled up at any time. Otherwise I find they dry out. If I have 6-7 pens on the go at once it's pleanty.

[@leanngoodall7602]

@@dougjacksonart The twisbis just don't dry out.

[@birbtunes]

😃😜👍

[@dougjacksonart]

😁😁😁

[@louisebacon-ogden5032]

How about some different ideas with calligraphy pens. I learned calligraphy (beautiful writing) in the early 80's. I recently had someone ask me to teach Hebrew calligraphy (YIKES!!!). I then found the rather wide Pilot Parallel pens for the proper sizing of Hebrew. (These are the pens with the squared of tip, if anyone is wondering.) I have revived my interest in calligraphy but have also embraced the "sketchy" use of Microns with ink and watercolor for drawing. Using Microns on Arches W/C paper is damaging. Any clever ideas of sketching with calligraphy nibs??? I do own a straight forward fountain pen that I used to embellish calligraphy. I am interested but do I really need MORE art supplies (I say with a laugh!)?

[@dougjacksonart]

Definitely need to do more on parrellel pens. I did modify some but haven't done much with them.

[@BarbaraZbinden]

I love your videos. So inspiring and fun to watch and absolutely wonderful sketches of boats🤩

[@dougjacksonart]

Thanks so much 😊