Pen & Ink Tips and Favorites - InkTober

[@essietangle9931]

After your last video I dug almost all the way to China to find my old nib holder. It is a Koh-i-noor #127 with cork that makes it easy to hold. The nib is junk So I ordered a new one. Thank you for covering how to break it in again. I might have forgotten and when I tried the new one and thought it was junk too. For a quick inking project I like the rotring tikky graphic 0.3 with pigmented ink. It’s always great to see others too, thanks Steve.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks for the input Essie!

[@mrjaygee]

I've had a Staedler lead holder for over 20 years and I had no idea what the little holes on the sharpener were for. Thank you!

[@justusjaxx1238]

a tip: you can watch movies on kaldrostream. Me and my gf have been using them for watching lots of of movies these days.

[@edisonshepherd9734]

@Justus Jaxx Yea, I have been using kaldroStream for months myself :D

[@valeriegehling4358]

Bought a set of 5 “Staedtler” pens, find them good. Used for line & wash 0.05 & 0.1. I find pen & inks satisfying to draw & write with. Like dip pens but, find the ink runs out quickly, not in fine liners.

[@MDCampbell]

This is such a great resource for people just learning the ropes of pen and ink, especially during the challenge. I've been dipping for years, but haven't actually tried a matte ink. Will have to look into that. I've always like that shiny effect, but when using with the Copic MLs, PITTs, and Microns, I think the matte might be a bit more appealing! Great stuff as always, Steve! Thank you and cheers! :)

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Mark for watching and commenting!

[@kellywilson2147]

Great video, Steve, as always! I would love to see a video on your favorite fountain pens and inks.

[@mindofwatercolor]

I'm still exploring that subject. I'm pretty new to fountain pens as a drawing tool. So far my favorite is the Lamy Safari and either Noodler's Bullet Proof Black ink or Platinum Carbon ink. I also like the Platinum Carbon ink pen.

[@colleenmcchesney1482]

Thanks for the demonstration of the variety of pens. I might try InkTober this year since I have got a few months to try out some pens and inks now. I have been using India ink & dip pens mostly for Calligraphy only & not drawing. Very helpful information.

[@maryalgar8779]

Lots of great info. Thanks Steve.

[@SDW90808]

Great stuff! After your last video I picked up some non-photo blue for my lead holder. These most recent vids contain a wealth of information and are huge time/money saver. Personally, I really love the tactile feeling of dip pens even though they can be difficult. But for my first Inktober I've switched to the Sakura Microns to keep things less complicated. Thank you for taking the time to share; it's always appreciated.

[@lvmylord54]

I have some Microns, but was surprised to learn I enjoyed using Stabilo colored ink pens to do some quick drawings. I'm still very new at pen and ink though.

[@mindofwatercolor]

I agree on the dip pens. There is a really nice effortless responsiveness you can feel as you draw.

[@philiplockwood255]

Excellent Steve! For years i've used dip pens, but recently got myself a Pentel pocket brush,... very nice : ). God Bless You Eternally,.. Blue.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Philip!

[@aviaja2008]

What a wonderful collection. I especially noticed the Copic Multiliners, I sure wish to try them out. I am using Faber-Castell Pitt artist (Sepia and Sanguine), Rotring Tikki and Pigma Micron pens (Black and colored), Pentel Pigment brush pen and a dip pen. they are really good for my technics, ex. line and wash, hatching and fast sketching. I find the brush pens excellent where I need stripes on a Tiger, or just for shadows or silhouettes etc. I love to draw cityscapes, landscapes, and wildlife. You are such an inspiration and a motivator. Thank you.

[@mindofwatercolor]

And thank you!

[@lvmylord54]

I have and use my first mech. pencil which is a Zebra M301 MP 0.5 with a silver barrel. Lightweight and I like it so haven't tried others yet.

[@earlrobinson4489]

Thanks Steve, I had no idea about breaking a nib in. that could explain some problems I've had at times.. Earl (Aust)

[@jasonmullins4826]

Only problem with the hard tip zebra brush pen and the Tombow Fudenosuke, is that when you mush the tip a few times to create thicker strokes, you quickly lose the ability to create a fine line. But it is a really cool pen and waterproof. Thanks for the video sir!

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, very true if you do a lot of hard pressing. Most of my lines end up in the finer range. Thanks for the input!

[@inekedusseljee3093]

Great info!! Great teacher!!

[@SouthernArtGallery]

Thanks Steve very helpful.

[@joyfulldj]

i just love my memento dual brush pens for inktober - and for stamping... saves me a lot of inkpads,lol

[@mickmcewan7837]

Cheers, massive help, thanks

[@ashnapaposa9126]

love your videos

[@dgassilem]

Just got into dip pens recently and I love it. I really want to try some matte ink. Might buy a bottle of sumi or matte Ph Martin ink next time I go to the art store. I was wondering, what exactly is in the pen cleaner? (I think it's on the side of your bottle)

[@denisestover2416]

Hi! In reference to the “device” that you first bring out at 0:24....I have had one for about 22 years and I never knew what it was nor how it was used, lol! Thank you for finally (and surprisingly) educating me! 😃 ....not that I was surprised that you educated me, but I had completely forgotten that it even existed and “poof” 💭...you covered it....I was not expecting you to cover it....I had actually forgotten that I had one...- why do I feel as though I sound like I’m “digging a proverbial hole” 😲??? 😩 Pleeeeassse somebody take the “shovel” before I dig to China!!!😬 Anyway....(quickly changing subject☺️)... Thank you SOOOOOO very much!!! Thank you for enlightening me! I am a self-taught artist (I am a silk artist - I create fine art on silk and a majority are adhered to canvas, some to glass that I incorporate stained glass with it and the remaining to wearables like scarves, hair ties, silk gowns, etc.). I came to silk via watercolor! What I mean is I started as a watercolorist, a ceramicist and a pastel artist. Painting on silk (I use silk dyes not silk paints) is almost exactly like watercolor except that Using the silk dyes that I use is in the color palette of CMYK instead of the RYB or ROYGBV (something like that😌). You have helped me more than you’ll ever know! Thank you for that, too! (Phew! Finally done with my ramblings!!! ) God Bless! ~Denise 😋 (from the Deep South-Biloxi, MS) 🙂 🙃 🙂

[@waynel2162]

Dang it, Steve, I'm old enough to remember being taught to write with a fountain pen, and I also remember having to fill the inkwells in the classroom desks. Another thing it brings to mind was the blotting paper and stains made by the occaisional spill. Thanks for the memory jog. Laughed myself sillier!

[@mindofwatercolor]

😄

[@jonmahashintina]

i think my kuretake 60 has gotten too old to use for anything but brushes, it clogs up my pen and stops flow very easily. i have newer sumi from one of those bottles with the red lid that drips ink out and it flows much better (easier to clean too).

[@kathrynholden4223]

Great video, Steve! Just bought my first dip pen so appreciate info on breaking it in. Adore your hand-turned handle ( right term?) and hope you sell them some day.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Thanks Kathryn. Maybe I will. I'm too slow and deliberate at lathe turning right now to produce them efficiently but maybe eventually.

[@DrawingWithFire]

Great video Steve! 😁 I was playing with ink this morning on our weekly plein air date. Luckily, one of the brush pen's ink isn't waterproof, so I was having a fun ole time scribbling the ink out on my plastic pencil case & using a wet paint brush. 😃 The mechanical pencil in the video, what is the red cut circle near the end for? I have the pencil & i have no idea...lol 😆 I hope you are doing well my friend. TC! 🤗

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yeah neither do I. It looks like a window for the lead hardness indicator but there are no numbers in there.

[@DrawingWithFire]

The Mind of Watercolor I found out Steve!! 😃 On Amazon in Japanese, in one if the photos it has an arrow with Japanese words that translates to: "Confirm that the core turns at Kurtoga mark! " Yay! Now we know...lol 😆

[@mindofwatercolor]

Oh, cool. I'll have to look at it again. I've wondered how much that thing is actually turning and how hard you have to press to make it turn. I use very light pressure usually. Thanks!

[@yowgiaoart5630]

great video!

[@pattyleib]

Hello. Happy Holidays and hope all is well. I was going to buy a dip pen and supplies to use it sparingly for expressive lines. From this video, I took your recommendations for what to get. I'm a complete novice so I wasn't sure how to load the nib and other minute details. I googled and saw that many of these young artists, illustrators, etc. modify the pens to use the nibs with a fountain pen cartridge. To be honest, that drove me crazy since my interest is completely for simple line expression. I won't be doing any of that but am wondering if you could do a video showing the whole process of breaking in the nib, loading the nib with ink and other other details you think are important. If you've already done one like this, could you leave me link? I really want to know how to use one. Thank you so much Steve. I really appreciate you!

[@christinaremter8082]

Are you gonna write a watercolor book for beginners? the realism is something I am into. I love this video and the inktober series.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Some day maybe.

[@Stray-Animations]

great to know...tx

[@lylewyant3356]

Bought a G dip pen set recently. just haven't tried them yet..

[@lvmylord54]

Not sure but I think the only dip pen I have is a speedball one. I haven't used it much though.

[@mickmcewan7837]

Copic pens are excellent

[@Artchick1972]

I wish I new about Inktober earlier. I will be doing it next year

[@mindofwatercolor]

The 31 day challenge is totally optional. The point is just to get out your pen & ink supplies and try some things, possibly share your work and see what others are doing. Its for you, not anyone else.

[@lvmylord54]

That's why I'm doing it. Most of my stuff looks so childish but I'm hoping it will help me sketch for my paintings. I tend to be detail orientated but I don't do it well. Or maybe I do it well but I don't know how to do the opposite which is to be a little loose. I'm loving this my first Inktober!

[@mindofwatercolor]

You go Tammy! Pen and ink just has a way of making you think harder about values and simplifying subjects. Such a valuable exercise for painting.

[@MaysiArt]

Great video! :-) Is the zebra G nib suitable for a left-hander, too?

[@mindofwatercolor]

yes, no slant to it.

[@MaysiArt]

Awww... that sounds good...so I "need" one! ;-) Thank you for the fast answer!

[@lvmylord54]

Is it more cost effective to use liquid ink or pens with an ink cartridge you put in the pen? Just curious.

[@mindofwatercolor]

I don't know about cost differences really. I've not done the math. For me ink choice is my main concern. With dip pens you can only use liquid ink. Fountain pens can use either, but they have to be made for fountain pens or they will clog them. I suppose if you did the math liquid ink is more cost effective. Its certainly more flexible for ink choices. Again, just make sure its rated for fountain pens.

[@lvmylord54]

I have one of those ink sticks and the stone to grind it. Is that considered sumi ink?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, I believe so.

[@Zekla]

Are the Zebra fude archival quality ink? Anyone know?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yep.

[@deborahthompson3847]

Whataboutfudenib?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Don't use it much. Have played with it a bit. Kind of tricky to use but I've not really found any advantages to what I draw.

[@ianjackson5834]

how about a ruling pen look them up they are a classic tip of dip pen.... tfs

[@martythomassie7943]

I'm looking for a really dark black ink brush pen. Any recommendations?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, right in this video at 16:05 The Platinum Brush Pen. amzn.to/2xFOrml

[@SilverNachtmahr]

I like the Pentel Pocket Brush. Was extremely water resistant once dry and the ink is amazingly black.

[@martythomassie7943]

The Mind of Watercolor That's what I thought. I just wasn't sure how dark the black ink was. Thanks.

[@lvmylord54]

Is platinum a brand of ink or describes the properties of the ink?

[@Lopsider]

Tammy Hickey the brand.

[@lvmylord54]

Thank you so much. I usually Paint and am just learning the art of pen and ink and I haven't seen that in my art store before I guess so wasn't sure. :D

[@mindofwatercolor]

Its a brand of pen and ink. Platinum is the pen brand and their ink is Platinum Carbon. A very nice super black permanent ink.

[@lvmylord54]

Thank you Steve. Now I know. :)

[@kenleyojones]

One of my favorite part of the videos is the bible verse at the end!

[@lvmylord54]

Mine too. And the art techniques as well.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

Hate that, doesn’t belong in a video about art techniques, yuk...

[@Carol-Bell]

@Eileen Goldenberg regardless of whether you think it belongs in an art video, it is at the discretion of the video maker (as well as being his right) to include a verse or not. You can choose to stop the video at the end, or just not watch this channel, or, a really novel idea would be to read the verse and see if it encourages you.

[@lvmylord54]

I like what artists include in their videos because it also gives me more insight into who the artist is and what inspires their choice of art and materials.

[@eileengoldenberg270]

I always stop watching before to propaganda starts.. religion is lies and more lies..

[@geraldeneirisgussin5929]

Thank you for a very interesting demo. Can you recommend a white ink pen for doing light against dark. I think you did cover this once but cannot find it.

[@SilverNachtmahr]

Geraldene Iris Gussin I really like the winsor and newton ink! It's the one with the polar bear.

[@mindofwatercolor]

Gelly roll gel pens will work for drawing light on dark to a degree, but if you're actually doing a lot of opaque drawing in white ink I recommend a dip pen and one of these. Some of these need to be thinned to use in a dip pen because they are viscous. amzn.to/2xJ2FTB amzn.to/2zcAwFz or amzn.to/2wZQsdO

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, thats a good ink.

[@geraldeneirisgussin5929]

Thank you for the helpful replies.

[@anwarallie]

Can you use watercolour paint over these? Don't they run?

[@mindofwatercolor]

Yes, some need a little more drying time than others but they are all waterproof.

[@lvmylord54]

I think watercolor over/with ink is so cool looking. Leans toward being illustrator types of drawing but still....

[@bmarygirl]

All of a sudden the links to amazon are being flagged by KZbin as possible malware.

[@mindofwatercolor]

That wouldn't be Amazon or KZbin. I would be getting tons of complaints if that were true. Your link is getting hijacked somehow. Make sure you scan your computer for malware!

[@bmarygirl]

The Mind of Watercolor thanks I’ll check it out.