The larger nib carries more ink and allows you to draw longer between dipping. If you are new to using a dip pen, start with a larger nib with a larger bowl. Dip Pen StrokesĪs I continue to work on my pen skills, I have picked up a few tricks for making good dip pen strokes. The important thing with this ink is to keep it well mixed by shaking it often as you work. It works beautifully for illuminated lettering and adds beautiful accents to my work. The Winsor and Newton Gold Metallic Bronze is my favorite ink because of the color and shine. I find it thicker than what I enjoy using with my pen, so I decant a small amount of ink and add a little water to give it a consistency that works best for me. One thing I have learned from using this ink is that it does need to be watered down a bit. This ink was recommended to me by a professional calligrapher for the trueness of the white pigment and how well it works on projects. Martin’s Pen White is my favorite white ink. If you enjoy drawing or inking on dark surfaces the Dr. This India ink is waterproof, works well with watercolor paint and I love the consistency of the ink. I like practicing with my dip pen, but I also love using watercolor in my drawings. The Speedball Super Black India Ink I found when researching a good quality waterproof black ink. Martin’s Pen White, and Winsor and Newton Gold Metallic Bronze. These are Speedball Super Black India Ink, Dr. I have three inks that I enjoy using the most in my dip pen work. I found these two nibs at my local art store, when I asked for some unusual nibs to try. What is unique about this nib is with the 5 prongs it allows for some unique patterns and shapes. I also have a 5-pronged nib that is used for creating musical staff paper. This is often used when I want to do bold capital letters and want to get a fair amount of ink down on paper. I also have some other nibs including a thick chisel nib. They are meant for detailed work and for retouching lines. They are very fine nibs and require re-inking often. I also have some fine nibs for retouching projects and doing filigree work. It just takes a little bit of practice and time. Instead of having 6 or 8 pens of different thicknesses, by using a dip pen, it allows me get a lot of variety in my work. I have often used these writing nibs to do a full art piece. What is also nice about these nibs is that if you press harder, you can get thick lines, while pressing softer can give you get very thin, detailed lines. This is nice because I can write for a while before having to dip in again. They have big bowls so they hold a fair amount of ink in them. I have a few larger nibs that I use for general drawing and writing. Because I am using higher quality nibs, I am also getting better results. In the big scheme of things, they are not nearly as expensive as most of my other art supplies. Most of the nibs that I bought are between $2.50 and $6 CAD per nib. Having good quality nibs can make all the difference in your work. What a difference it made! By having the right nibs, instead of feeling frustrated with learning how to use a dip pen, I realized that I needed to start with good quality tools. This is when I went to my local art store and bought a better dip pen holder and the nibs that were recommended by the instructor. The handle was uncomfortable, the nibs did not hold ink properly and after a few attempts to use the pen, I decided that a dip pen was not for me.Įarlier this year I was taking a class on Illuminated Lettering which required me to purchase a dip pen and specific nibs for the class. I have nibs from Speedball, Brause and Joseph Gilliott.Ī few years ago, I bought a super cheap dip pen set that came with a handle and 5 nibs. There are a variety of dip pen nibs from a few different companies. The difference between a cheap and expensive pen holder often comes down to the materials they are made of. There are many different finishes and styles but if the teeth are strong and it has a comfortable fit, you have a pen holder that will help your creative practice. What do you need to look for in a pen holder? Start by finding a pen holder that fits comfortably in your hand. Press it in far enough that the nib is seated, feels stable and does not move with your strokes. When you are adding your nib to a dip pen holder, you do not have to push it all the way in. It is a friction fit so that your nib does not move, but this makes it easy to change nibs in your pen holder. The pen holder has small teeth that holds the nib in place. A dip pen is basically a metal nib attached to a pen holder.
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