6. Pointed Pen Calligraphy 101: Iron Gall Ink Comparison

[@luf2867]

your penmanship is beautifully done. i wish i could write like that..... seeing you work so smooth and fast makes me want to practice and get better. i hope one day i can have/write a script to be proud of.

[@donnakelley1202]

Dear Lady. Your talent for calligraphy is amazing. I love your videos. Do you have any advice on how to get ink off your fingers?

[@margessw]

This red-violet is absolutely gorgeous !!!

[@robchope5205]

I was looking at some different ink videos and yours came on. I had to leave it because you have a really nice soothing voice. Lol. Also, though I do not do calligraphy, it was quite informative.

[@jrs96000]

Great job demonstrating!

[@RonnieTucker1]

Your calligraphy 101 videos are awesome. Will you be making more? Oh go on. Pleeeeease? 😁

[@OpenInkStand]

I'll try to find time! Suggest some topics!

[@RonnieTucker1]

OpenInkStand Art & Calligraphy cool, thanks! Topics, hmmm. How about a comparison between nibs? Discussing flex, price, quality, writing styles that can be done with a nib, etc. Pros and cons of dip pen vs fountain pen? What fonts (I can't remember the proper word) are good for beginners? One I'd definitely like to see is a video on flourishes, or ornate decoration for writing. Thanks again for the videos!

[@OpenInkStand]

Ronnie Tucker All good ideas! Thank you!

[@RonnieTucker1]

My pleasure OpenInkStand Art & Calligraphy​. I'm just starting out learning Spencerian with the Mott workbook reprints and a Zebra G nib. To make it even harder, I'm a lefty. :D

[@AkumaDante12]

+Ronnie Tucker read up on John Decollobus..he is a master penman and is also left handed. Check out the IAMPETH website to learn more about it. They also have lessons there.

[@GenWivern2]

This is a very useful video: if anyone else has done a direct comparison between all four it's escaped my attention. The coloured McCaffrey's inks look very useful, too. I know Blots and Walker's well, and whilst I do have a preference I'm not about to express it here. However, a word about Blots: the darkening time varies between different papers, a lot. It looks quite quick on the Conqueror Wove, and it's almost instantaneous on Rhodia, but with Elco for instance it will take a week or more to become properly black. There was one vintage paper I tried on which Blots just sat there looking all pale and anaemic, and a month later it had only achieved a mid grey. This isn't a criticism really because it's just a matter of chemistry, but since there's very little colour in the ink itself it can be difficult to see what you're doing if the reaction time is slow. The same applies to Walker's, but because it contains logwood and indigo the visibility is better if the paper isn't playing nicely with the ink.

[@OpenInkStand]

GenWivern2 How interesting! I will have to try it on other papers now. Thanks!

[@magnolya8]

I just discovered you & really enjoy listening to your videos & learning from you :). Appreciate your sharing~

[@56janjan]

Thanks for the video, you helped me to choose the ink. Your videos are great for us learners THANK YOU !!!

[@OpenInkStand]

+56janjan Good luck!

[@murrayelliot]

I'm struggling to get fine lines with Leonardt Principal and Sumi ink. Watermans ink is better, but looking to Iron Gall to see how that works, thank you for your video. Beautiful writing!

[@shanegarland5869]

Hooray love your videos - and your nails are always beautifully done too! :-)

[@OpenInkStand]

Thanks! I do like my nails!

[@shlomotaitz3373]

Wonderful work.... thanks so much for sharing your handwork and knowledge with us?

[@atasfong]

let me be the first one to thank you for the video! I really appreciated.

[@mariadenizecaligrafiaantig9560]

Wonderful Classes. Thank You very much for sharing.

[@bigshortstack2929]

Beautiful penmanship....or should I say, beautiful penwomanship. Anyway, I really enjoy watching your videos because you make it look soooo easy. One thing, though. Often there is too much light shining on your paper and it makes it very difficult to see the fine lines until you zoom in some. Then the fine lines show up.

[@robbiegtv9157]

Speaking of inks do you ever use Sumi? If so I assume just for broad pen work if you do that. If so, do you have a favorite brand?

[@OpenInkStand]

Yes, I love to use sumi ink. It is primarily my black ink. No particular favorite brand, but I use Yasutomo a lot cos my local art store carries it.

[@BloodShutEyes1]

please help me, I have obtained this ink, and my hairlines are almost blue. do I need to treat it? Or do I have a bad batch?

[@acyutanandadas1326]

Just subscribed today These are the best tutorials ! I just want to be able to read mt own handwriting so I'm just on the gel pen level now. (Sharpie does make some gel pens) When I get better I'll get the SakuraPigms. When, or would you ever, need to use a blotter?

[@OpenInkStand]

You wouldn't need to use a blotter with Sharpie or Sakura pens. A blotter is only needed using dip pens or fountain pens, and even then it is not necessary.

[@castoputa]

Do you just let them air dry? New to this (you are AMAZING btw) and worry about it being blobby.....

[@clshaw01]

Prior to each ink dip, are you dipping in water off to the right?

[@OpenInkStand]

+Christine Shaw That's right!

[@DC430]

Why would you do that? Dip in water?

[@magnolya8]

Is it possible to get inks that do not have animal in the products?

[@OpenInkStand]

Sure.. some inks like walnut and iron gall ink do not use animal products.

[@bluedew]

What about some recommendation for iron gall inks for fountain pens?

[@OpenInkStand]

Jeffrey Lim It is not recommended to use the iron gall ink in this video for fountain pens, because it will create corrosion or damage to the metal parts in your fountain pen. There are some fountain pen inks that contain iron gall like Montblanc, Lamy and Rohrer Klinger, those are quite safe to use if you want to try them in your fountain pen. The Old World or McCaffrey or the other iron gall inks in this video should only be used with dip pens or glass pens, never in a fountain pen.

[@Ime2195]

your writing is way way way way way too beautiful!

[@OpenInkStand]

Thanks!