Let’s draw with the Lamy Safari, Etchr Labs watercolor postcards + ART GIVEAWAY!!!

[@fbales]

I have a lot of these. I like then a lot. Great nibs for the price, and very easy to change the nibs. I used to not like plastic pens, but they’re light and comfortable. I find I like the ergonomic grip a lot-you don’t have to look for the sweet spot. Thanks for the review. I’m just beginning to dabble in fountain pen ink art. Nice to see you work.

[@stepheninks]

Thanks! Yeah, I had the same experience with plastic pens. The Safari is a great pen!

[@Asterix34518]

Very cool. Have 2 Lamy Safaris but never used for sketching. Will definitely try now thanks to your video.

[@stepheninks]

Great! They can be a bit tricky depending on the paper, but mixed media/watercolor paper like what I used is great! Also Tomoe River paper! The Safari is such a solid pen, I never worry about stuffing it in my bag/pocket to play with anywhere :)

[@larryglatt2548]

Thank you for this. For awhile Lamy EF nibs have been my go to. As a fellow lefty I find it helpful to start on the RIGHT side of the page for less smudging, I found that in a YT video a year or so back.. I have 'Subed' finding you are a lefty & a good artist. Thanks.

[@stepheninks]

Welcome to the family! I have also heard of starting from the right side, but I usually forget when I start to get into what I’m working on… I think I that the things that ended up helping me most as a lefty is stopping frequently to let stuff dry before moving on… something I also forget to do often.

[@larryglatt2548]

@@stepheninks Likewise with those issues, pauses are a good idea.

[@stevekobb3850]

Excellent review... and beautiful art!

[@stepheninks]

Why thank you!

[@elmanitasdeplomo]

One of the best value fountain pens imho. Affordable, durable and comfortable.

[@stepheninks]

I go through cycles of forgetting I have this pen, gettting it out, and then remembering how much I love it. So many years later, and 0% purchase regret. Excellent value and build quality.

[@jilee1721]

Beautiful art work!

[@stepheninks]

Why thank you!

[@gunsmokeandghouls]

Great review, recently picked one up and love it for drawing/writing xf. On a side note I was wondering about the tape you use while drawing. It's washi, right? Do you use it like artist tape by applying it to a shirt sleeve etc first to take the adhesive off or do you apply it directly to the paper without having to worry about ripping paper? Thanks.

[@stepheninks]

That is a fantastic tip that I never thought of. Actually, the first set of Washi tape I bought was gentle enough to not tear, but the next batch I got (and am still using) tears my paper about half the time. I’m going to start using that t-shirt idea and see how it goes. I used to use painters/masking tape, and stopped using it for similar reasons. If I can get that to work for me, I might go back to using the cheap stuff again!

[@vani519]

May I help you out with the information why the Lamy pens come in different colors, but always with blue ink cartridges? I am from Germany, just as the Lamy. And I used it since the first Safari was on the market (1980-ies). EVERY kid at school, until now, HAS TO write with a fountain pen. There are some other companies as well that are the “go to”s for first graders, but Lamy is one of THE FOUNTAINPENS schoolkids use. The blue ink is “erasable”-there are these “ink away” pens with a white “erase” side and on the other end they are blue for writing over the erased part (since there is the fluid of the “eraser”-part in the paper and ink will vanish when you write on it). The German word is “Tintenkiller”, which means ink killer. So, that’s probably why there is always a royal blue ink cartridge in them.

[@stepheninks]

That’s great information, thank you! In the US, there are certain types of forms/ documents that can only be filled out with blue or black ink. When I fill forms out for work, I usually have to ask, because I never know what color I am going to have on me!

[@animula6908]

That’s fascinating! Germany is smart to make kids learn using fountain pens. They teach you a lot about how pens work.

[@muralikrishnan3680]

Inspiring video! My gf just got this pen, can't wait to try it out!

[@stepheninks]

Have fun! It’s really a combination of pen, ink, and paper that leads to success, so don’t be afraid to experiment!

[@palamajt]

Beautiful drawing. I tried a Lamy Safari of a friend’s but it hadn’t been cleaned so it didn’t write well. I think that jaded my experience with the pen a bit and was kind of an intro the fountain pens. I may at some point come back to trying out the Lamy line. What also turned me off was the plastic... but I am starting to question and rethink that now. Hope someone got this drawing that really loves and needed it in their lives.

[@stepheninks]

Thanks! I actually made two of these, and gave one out on my Instagram, and another on KZbin. As far as I know, they went to good homes :) The Safari definitely does have some imperfections. I find that the line weight bing thicker can make it harder to draw with. The choice of paper is key here. These Etchr lab watercolor postcards are great for the Safari. Cheaper paper does make it a bit of a think line, so choosing the right paper is key to enjoying this pen. As far as plastic, I will say that there are definitely types and qualities of plastic. The Lamy plastic is on the higher end. Though I do understand about it wanting plastic for your pens. I also used to feel that way. The Safari was one for the first pens to make me think twice about it!

[@palamajt]

@@stepheninks thanks for the information. I think right now I am going to stick to Twsbi Eco and Pilot Kakuno. But you know how it is... always on the hunt. 😆 hashtag addicted. 😂

[@stepheninks]

I know that feeling. I should be seeking a support group, rather than more pen channels on KZbin. Haha. Side note, if I were to recommend just two pens for fountain pen artists, those two pens would totally be the Eco and the Kakuno. You have good tastes!

[@palamajt]

@@stepheninks hahaha yes for sure me too! Thank you ☺️

[@RealmsOfThePossible]

I have 2 Safaris (fine and extra fine) and draw with them using De Atramentis ink, great combo.

[@stepheninks]

I have a video on the De Atramentis document line. Excellent combo indeed!

[@RealmsOfThePossible]

@@stepheninks Yes I use the document permanent ink, I also use the Rohrer and Klingner Lotte sketch ink.

[@pacodiyer]

Thank you VERY much. A real inspiration for my Channel. I'm going to use Lamy with waterproof Ink over acuarels

[@stepheninks]

I hope you love it!

[@dogyaltshering9653]

I always prefer black ink for my pen and ink sketches but this looks amazing

[@stepheninks]

I’m usually the same, especially if something is going to be digitized, or when I do client work, but for this channel I like to play around with other colors. They’re fun!

[@arlenealennox3136]

As an artist you might like the Lamy Joy, which is essentially a long tail Safari. I got one because of Urban Sketcher Liz Steel. The balance is a bit different from a Safari and nice to hold back farther for more sweeping sketch lines. I think they only come with a 1.1 stub nib, but I put an EF on mine. (I also have 2 Safaris, an AL-Star and a CP1 which all have interchangeable nibs.)

[@stepheninks]

Yeah, I’ve seen the Joy. I’ve had bad experience with stub nib pens (video coming soon) so I’ve stayed away. But that brush-like body is tempting! Since this video, I’ve put an ef nib on the Safari, and it’s fantastic! The platinum Carbon Desk pen is another pen that has a similar body, is another one I would consider. I’m a huge Platinum fanboy!

[@arlenealennox3136]

@@stepheninks Yes, I have a Platinum Carbon Desk Pen, too. It’s nib is finer than the Lamy EF. I have heard they may be discontinued (don’t know for sure if that is true), so if you want one you better get it now. I got a gold EF for my Lamy Joy and like it very much.

[@stepheninks]

@@arlenealennox3136 thanks for the tip! I thought I saw a Carbon desk pen on Amazon, the other day, but who knows? It would be a shame if they stopped producing it. I’ve only heard good things.

[@arlenealennox3136]

Re: Discontinuation of Carbon Desk Pen see this post: www.wellappointeddesk.com. 11/2/20 post

[@LordWhatever]

A bit sad that I came too late to had a chance to win the postcard. Anyway, how curious that we creative people can have differences in tastes with pens or any other tools. I have the same Safari Lamy same color only difference is the nib, mine is extra fine but to be honest all European nibs are thicker compared to any Asian made nibs made by Pilot or other brands. I loved my safari from start and even before when I ordered by mail. I did have a little issue with the ink flow but it was totally my fault when I changed the Lamy ink cartridge to a converter using Noodlers ink. I did flush the feeder but not thoroughly enough apparently. The feeder can be pull off using a small rubber mat or small piece of cloth. Loved how the artwork came out.

[@stepheninks]

You know, I was actually planning to do another postcard video in a couple of weeks, so you’ll have another chance! I also find the flow of the Safari to be quite heavier than my Japanese pens. It’s always a combination of pen+ink+paper. In this case, a watercolor paper like these Etchr Lab watercolor postcards don’t absorb ink in the same way as typical sketchbook paper, so you end up with something finer! I’m still experimenting with sketchbooks to find my favorite paper for fountain pen art. Watercolor paper is so far my favorite.

[@ThePillent]

I'm very new to fountain pens so sorry if this these are silly questions. Is the nib pressure sensitive? Like does it make thinner or thicker lines depending on how much pressure you apply? And does it work with other brands of nibs? Like the Kuratake nibs.

[@stepheninks]

Your questions are welcome here, silly or otherwise! I love helping people find their new favorite thing. To answer your questions, I do not know of any nibs that work in Lamy pens, though you can purchase separate nibs from Lamy if you want to try something different on this pen. The tines are not really flexible. There are some pens of a similar price that do have some spring to them. My favorites are the Muji Pen and the Faber Castell Grip. Actually, those two pens are typically cheaper than the Lamy. Hope that helps!

[@ThePillent]

@@stepheninks it does, thank you :)

[@almis4396]

I really your art. The final piece is like fine Chinese porcelain.

[@stepheninks]

I love that style of art! I think I really wanted to do something like that here, actually. It’s a bit outside of my usual style, but I love to step outside myself whenever I can.

[@AntW11]

Thanks for the upload. Love the video and your artwork. You have inspired me. As it is too late to try for the card I'm not going to write you a poem. Oh well, I don't want to be mean ... roses are red violets are blue, I like the ink and your drawing style too 🤣

[@stepheninks]

It definitely would have been mean of you to withhold that poem from me. I would never have forgiven you. On another note, I do (somewhat) regular postcard giveaways on my channel, so stay tuned! I just finished one, and I am planning one in a few months. There are lots of opportunities in the future!

[@TiiaPlaysStuff]

06:00 Lamy Safari is a popular school fountain pen in Germany. Blue ink is standard there because its erasable with the ink-killer marker. Therefore people would be quite upset not getting royal blue with it.

[@stepheninks]

I did not know that about the blue ink. Thanks for the info!

[@TiiaPlaysStuff]

@@stepheninks Look for "Tintenkiller" or "Tintenlöscher". Not sure if they sell them where you live but those + the fountain pen go together here :)

[@Chisumpa]

Really enjoyed this.

[@stepheninks]

Thanks!

[@kevincocking9632]

Have you used the left-handed nib yet

[@stepheninks]

I haven’t. To be honest, I don’t see the point of most “left-handed” things, except for scissors. Seems gimmicky. Have you tried it? If it seems worth it, I might be willing to. The Safari is still one of my favorite pens!

[@CameraCapers]

Pop their gold nib on the Lamy Safari!

[@stepheninks]

Haha. I’ve always been curious about that. Maybe someday!

[@kelyrin-douceuretdessin9476]

Great video, and may I just say how considerate of you it is to care about not sending animal product paper to your vegan friends !!! 💕

[@stepheninks]

It’s good to accommodate people when you can.

[@gabrielazucar2262]

Sad, the video isn't with cc

[@stepheninks]

Thank you for pointing that out. To be more inclusive, I SHOULD have cc on my videos. Let me work on it, and soon it will!

[@Randy_Batswinger]

When I first saw Lamy fountain pens, I thought they were hideous. Now I'm expecting my third to be delivered. What the hell happened?!

[@stepheninks]

That’s exactly what happened to me. It’s a sort of endearingly ugly design.

[@fredmidtgaard5487]

Sound too low. Very nice artwork!

[@stepheninks]

Thanks for the feedback! I definitely did have som sound issues in a lot of my earlier videos. I think I’ve worked them out for my more recent ones!

[@fredmidtgaard5487]

@@stepheninks That's great! Just thought the sound was a bit on the low side on this one

[@jimjr4432]

I'm glad that Etchr has vegan postcards, because one can never tell when a vegan will want to eat the postcard. Wokeism is so humorous. Cheers and blessings.

[@stepheninks]

My great aunt was a vegan, and an animal rights activist. I’m neither of those things, but I feel like I’ve learned a lot from her perspective, and just the fact that she was a member of my family. The vegan ethos goes beyond just eating, to also ensuring that no products purchased are made with animal byproducts or parts. Many people don’t know this, but a lot of watercolor paper is made with gelatin (ground from the collagen of animals) to ensure a smooth distribution of the color. This can also be done with a plant-based gelling agent, like the ones derived from seaweed. Not everyone is concerned about that, but it’s nice that some companies make those products for people who need them.

[@Katzenkotze85]

Your recordings are WAY too quiet...

[@Katzenkotze85]

...i only complain because i like your videos - and i like to understand you... 😅

[@stepheninks]

I appreciate the feedback. This seems to be the one where I always get that comment. Some day I might go back to the source footage and re-upload it. I was working with some very cheap equipment (an old iPhone and a $10 lab mic) at the time. I’ve got some better stuff now, so my newer recordings are a bit less straining in the ears.

[@MR_THINQ]

You need to get a decent microphone, your volume is awful

[@stepheninks]

Yes, I have heard that about this video. I have since gotten a better microphone, but this video is one of my earlier attempts, so I was still working things out.