How to draw with a fountain pen: parallel hatching technique

[@NtrMtrN]

Your channel is a gem! So glad I found it, thank you for sharing your knowledge!!

[@mkompan]

Thank you very much!

[@GreenlifeFin]

Thanks, I am a new fan of yours. Super good content here. And I love it that you are a fast speaker! You don’t waste our time and you have the ability to fill (short) videos full of information.

[@mkompan]

You are very welcome. I’ve had a few complaints about how fast I speak, but it’s been hard to slow down my natural speaking pace. It’s good know some people out there actually prefer it.

[@sylviarts7463]

That is really great!Keep up guys!I 'm supporting you from here!

[@mkompan]

Thanks for your support!

[@nickelazoyellow7360]

The Pilot 823 has a similar shut off feature. It is vacuum filled, however, not eye droppered. Thanks for the tutorial. One of the reasons I draw at all is that I love to use fountain pens!

[@mkompan]

Yup, I have one! It's a terrific pen.

[@akeea2492]

I guessed it was Pablo's work from fpnibs! There's another person in Europe, who also makes stacked nibs as well as any grind you'd like, I have a needlepoint with a broad reverse side. Your work looks great btw!

[@mkompan]

Thank you! Pablo does great work, often at a lower price than the nib-meisters in the U.S. A needlepoint with a broad reverse sounds amazing. Who did the work for you?

[@akeea2492]

@@mkompan Jose Munuera, I found him from this website: ukfountainpens.com/2020/08/07/stacked-nibs-come-to-the-uk/amp/ Stacked nibs are very cool, I hadn't been able to find a maker this side of the world! If you like, I can show you a sample later

[@mkompan]

Thanks for the recommendation!. Your comment was held up for review, and I hadn't noticed it.

[@PRAKASH-cm1vo]

This tutorial is worth watching. Thank you. I already subscribed.

[@mkompan]

Thank you! I'm happy you found my channel.

[@qiqerod]

I stared watching your videos and style of drawing and you have made me grab my fountain pens and draw more than graphite. Really loving it. Great technique of yours 👍🏻. By the way what papers are “best” for fountain pen ink drawing/sketching? Is there such a preferred paper for it? Thank you. Keep these videos up sir 👍🏻.

[@mkompan]

You're very welcome! I'm glad my videos inspired you to do more drawing with a pen. As for paper, it mostly depends on whether I'm working only in pen, or in combination with wash. If pen only, most smooth drawing papers work just fine. With pen and wash it becomes trickier, because you want the paper smooth enough to take the pen, but no so smooth that the washes dry unevenly. At the moment I'm liking the multi-media paper in Talens Art Creations sketchbooks.

[@qiqerod]

@@mkompan Thank you very much for replying. I’m going to try that sketchbook. And well just experiment with other papers also 👍🏻 Thanks again

[@jaimejaime1178]

Hi Marc. Jim again (Madrid). I'm using my TWSBI Eco more and more on plain air drawing (both outdoors and urban sketching - as it's called nowadays), but I usually combine it with watercolor and gouache, and it is very "tricky" (if not difficult, sometimes) when using 100% watercolor paper due to the tooth, which causes several problems when using a fountain pen but, mainly, the micro cotton fibers that get stuck on the tip of the nib and the abortion of ink by the paper,specially after using gouache (very difficult sometimes). I usually make my own sketchbooks with a mixed media paper foe multi-purpose use on the field but... Do you have any expert advice as to how to improve workability and/or any additional expert tips that I can use? Thanks again for your help! Saludos desde Madrid!

[@shadow15017]

Learned a lot 🎉🎉🎉🎉 so fun to watch as a beginner 😂

[@mkompan]

Glad to hear it!

[@SketchingGreyhound]

I love parallel hatching! I normally dont manage to make it exact enough that it looks any good though ^^

[@mkompan]

I feel you. I think the trick is to use a very thin line, and a transparent ink. That makes the lines fuse together to create value more effectively.

[@prod4540]

That looks like a great pen! I am very interested in the nib: 18k soft Jowo nib, with an XXF grind. --The line it makes is effective for hatching. Did you have the nib made for this purpose? --I went and looked at the offerings from FP nibs, and a nib like that comes in around ($170) --Is that price around the ballpark? Or did I do something incorrect? --How does this nib compare to the (FA) Falcon nib (on the 743 or 912) for hatching/drawing? --What about the Omar 88 Demonstrator? How does it compare to the Pilot pens for drawing? --Also, excellent drawing lesson and drawing as well. --Thanks for your efforts.

[@mkompan]

You know, I don't recommend getting the #14k Jowo soft nib. The flex really isn't all that impressive and with the XXF grind it's a whopping 170 bucks--not worth it. For very fine lines I would get the steel #6 Jowo nib with the XXF grind. If you're looking for a pen with a very fine line out of the box, I would get the Pilot Custom 74 with a soft fine nib, which produces very fine, precise line and has some flexibility. The Opus 88 Demonstrator is great! I have a video on "the 5 best pens for drawing" where I explain why I like it so much but in short fantastic ink capacity, a #6 nib that can be swapped out, and a reservoir system that makes it perfect for travel. Pilots are also fantastic , but the ink capacity and the filling systems (other than the 823) are not as nice.

[@prod4540]

@@mkompan Thanks Marc! I was thinking the same thing about the steel #6 Jowo nib. However, I was wondering about the XXXF grind! Have you even seen a XXXF nib? I wonder what those lines look like (draw like, how the ink flows etc.). I think I need to experience that XXXF nib! I wonder what modifications would be helpful (breather hole, etc). I just want the ink to flow effectively for XXXF lines. The idea of a 0.1mm line is literally irresistible, but I wonder about the physics of it. The thinnest line I've ever experienced is the .13 line from the Rapidograph (but it always clogs). How is quality control at FPnibs? Do they have any sales? Sorry for all the questions, but I appreciate any feedback. Thanks again for your efforts!

[@mkompan]

@@prod4540 I've never used an XXXF nib but I have several "needle-point" vintage nibs that are probably equivalent. They're pretty scratchy and need to be used on very smooth paper. If you've ever used an un-tipped dip pen nib such as a hunt crow 102 you'll have an idea. I don't believe any additional modifications are required but the best person to ask is Pablo, the owner of the company. He's very polite and replies promptly. The quality control at FP nibs is excellent. I've ordered around 10 custom ground nibs from them without experiencing problems. They do occasionally have sales but I've never seen them discount their custom grinds.

[@prod4540]

@@mkompan Thanks again Marc. I appreciate the feedback. I am now watching videos on the Hunt Crow 102 (not sure if I am finding the un-tipped ones though). I will email Pablo. I'd love to get his thoughts on what I am trying to achieve regarding the XXXF nib. Also, I am going to look up 'Needle Point' vintage nibs as well. Happy Drawing!

[@DavidHoehn1]

Hi Marc, I’ve been drawing on Rhodia paper and absolutely love the control and beautiful lines it makes with fine and swelled lines using flex nibs! The format can be too small at times and I wondered if you might recommend a great paper for fountain pen drawing that doesn’t bleed and is conducive to swelled ink lines in flex? Ive tried different mixed media sketchbooks but they just don’t hold a nice sharp line. I use Platinum Carbon Ink in my fountain pens. Thank you!!

[@mkompan]

Hi David. The Talens Art Creations sketchbooks that I use have excellent multimedia paper that doesn't feather. For loose sheets, try Borden and Riley #234 bleed-proof paper.

[@DavidHoehn1]

@@mkompan Thank you Marc, I knew you were the person to ask! Much appreciated!

[@LiN-R9K9]

Thnx I've learned alot~

[@mkompan]

You're welcome!

[@LeviRedrook]

How often do you find yourself using the XXF gold nib?

[@mkompan]

I haven’t been using it lately. I have so many pens that they go in and out of rotation. It’s a nice nib, with a touch of flex, but really if I wanted an xxf nib I would order a custom steel nib.

[@LeviRedrook]

@@mkompan See, I was wondering why you’d get a gold one. I’ve never even considered an XXF. You typically use the Ultra Flex with it these days?

[@mkompan]

@@LeviRedrook that’s a Jowo “soft” nib that has touch of flex (about the same as a Falcon.) it’s a nice nib, but not worth the money. The xxf grind however is nice to have however. I do use the ultra flex frequently but use it another pen that takes Jowo housing.

[@LeviRedrook]

@@mkompan Dangit Marc, I’m trying real hard to stop pestering you with questions but that’s exactly the kind of answer that compels more questions! 🤣 If the Ultra Flex is on another pen, what are you using the Opus for?

[@mkompan]

@@LeviRedrook you’re not pestering me at all! I enjoy answering questions, and from what understand it actually helps with the visibility of my channel. So to answer your question: the Opus 88 is my go to for a large number of #6 nibs. One is the permanent home for a 14k semi-flex nib from FP nibs, while the other two are constantly being switched out with fude nibs, altered nibs from pilot Parallels, the steel FPNIBS semiflex, etc., etc.