How To Draw With A Flexible Fountain Pen: An Introduction To Line Variation
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- čas přidán 22. 07. 2024
- In this video I explain how artists use line variation to make their drawings more compelling, and give you a few simple exercises that develop the ability to control a flexible fountain pen.
I'm using a Pilot Custom 921FA pen here, filled with Noodler's Black.
The artists mentioned in the video are:
Guercino
Raphael
Giovanni Battista Tiepolo
Hans Baldung Grein
Peter Paul Rubens
I absolutely LOVE this video Marc!! You have made this variable line concept beautifully understandable. This is wonderful for those who are fascinated with flex pens and how to utilizing their full potential when drawing. I have been working with flex in my work lately and it’s absolutely ADDICTIVE!! I’m convinced working with flex fountain pens is like using drugs. I just can’t wait to get back in there! I just love it!! Thanks again for an outstanding and inspiring video, I always come back to view your great videos and look forward to your next!
Thank you very much David! I agree, there is definitely something addictive about flex, which is why flex pens are in such high demand. I guess I'm guilty of feeding other people's money draining flex habit, but what can I do, I'm addicted myself.
Fantastic tips ! Thanks Marc
Thanks again!
Thanks for the video, watching how you hold the pen for the various drawings helped me a lot and I'm feeling much more confident.
Glad to hear it, Ryan!
Excellent info, thanks. I find that when I want very precise variable lines, I still do better by "drawing" the variability with a very fine nib, rather than using a flex (for instance, by outlining the line, then filling it in). However, having just bought a 743 (FA), I am determined to get the hang of it.
I'm of the "whatever works" school of art making, though I think for complicated subjects your method might become time consuming. The 743FA is such a pleasure to use, however, that I think you'll find yourself perfecting your line variation in no time.
What does FA designate? How is the 743 different from the 921 (or 912?) used here?
I started ink drawing and watercolors (ink and wash) when the pandemic began. This video on how to use line variation in a composition was very helpful since I don't have an art school background. I use a Sailor Fude de Mannen pen 55 degrees and waterproof Platinum carbon black ink. You have great videos! I'm learning a lot! Thanks so much!
You're welcome! It's very nice to hear that you're finding my videos useful.
Great video, excellent information work, thanks.
Thank you, Victor!
Thanks for your videos. I am new to sketching, not to fountain pens. After watching several, I put together an opus 88 jazz body with a fpnibs ebonite feed and a #6 fpr ultraflex nib. The result was a tool that did what my hand told it. Very satisfying. YMMV, I realize the individual feed (not just the brand), nib, paper and ink entered into it. My other flex combos have had their challenges (read less than perfect.) Now, for the hard part, training my hand and mind.
Thanks for your comment, James. The #6 FPR ultra flex is a lovely nib with fantastic line variation, but not a single feed/pen combination has kept up with it completely. I hadn't thought of using an FP nibs ebonite feed, and will be ordering one as soon as the store reopens in September.
This is very helpful to me.
Do you use waterproof inks like Platinum carbon Black?
I use a Pilot Custom heritage 912 with the Fa nib.
Glad to be helpful, Neil. I do use Platinum Black, but not in my more expensive pens, since it has a tendency to clog. All of my TWSBI pens are filled with it, however.
@@mkompanHi Marc, what waterproof, document or permanent ink do you recommend for more expensive pens?
@@cliffberry1900 it depends on how easy it is to take the pen apart and clean it, but I find Noodler’s black to be safer, with less risk of clogging. That said, you still need to flush your pens regularly when using any waterproof ink.
I managed to install a dip pen "G" nib on a #6 Jinhao fountain pen, wish I could afford a vintage flex nib but not at the moment. Still I find that the G nib does flex well and the price on the Chinese pen and Japanese nib are hard to beat economical duo. I recently bought a Noodlers Ahab "flex" but as you already know the term "flex" on Ahab pens is used to loosely.
The Zebra G is a fantastic nib for small scale work, but for general drawing purposes, get yourself an #6 ultra flex nib from Fountain Pen Revolution for $20. It fits and works perfectly in a Jinhao, and flexes better than many far more expensive modern and vintage flex pens.
@@mkompan thanks for the advice and to be honest $20 for a good flex nib is reasonable. I'll let you know and thanks again.
@@LordWhatever glad to help! The FPR nib also works great in the Ahab.
In your opinion would I be better off with a pilot 912 with custom ebonite feed or an opus 88 with custom nib and feed for reliable line variation I currently only have noodlers pens and pilot/namiki falcon and have been eyeing those two pens
If price isn't an issue, the custom semi-flex nib from FPnibs.com pared with an Opus 88 is the better option. You're looking at a $100 dollar price difference however, and the Pilot 912FA is a fantastic pen with very nice, reliable flex.
Marc, thanks again for your work in this video. I reviewed your earlier video [Nov29, 2020] on use of Noodler’s Lexington Grey. Very informative. I’m not knowledgeable in what inks have what exact properties, but N’s std Blue/Black in my FA 912 with it’s flexible nib factory 2 slit ebonite feed still can’t keep up if I move too fast. I’m going to look for inks that are just wetter I suppose. I like the 912 FA, but in a comparison with my (new) but old 1948(?) Parker vac-fil junior semi-flex medium with Quink blue/black, is really better at flexing & not railroading, and is so smooth. {Though the Pilot FA nib does flex wider than the Parker} Thanks for the incentive to get a vintage FP before they are not as available. 🤗👍
You're welcome! Some inks just don't work well in flex pens, and it's hard predict which ones will cause problems. It's not just a question of flow, but also of surface tension, something that is rarely considered when people review inks. Lexington Grey works very well in all of my flex pens. The Pilot Iroshizuku inks also work very well, and I've had very good results with Diamine inks. Noodler's seems to be hit or miss, since they sell such a huge variety of inks with varying properties. Congrats on joining the vintage bandwagon, though it's difficult to get off once you're on it. :)
@@mkompan I think I understand a bit better.... Im
'm eyeing another Parker Junior with a Fine sem-flex, but it apparently is in better shape than mine, and mine is in great shspe, as the price is a bit more. Great pens that have held up well for 7 decades! :-)
What paper do you use?
I believe it was Canson multimedia paper.