You've ENABLED a pen rant dammit.... I was (am?) a proper inverted snob about inky tools (HATED being made to draw with inky sticks and stuff at uni, what's all this bollocks etc)... even contemporary cartoonists using ink 'oh god it's just fetishism for the bygone artists who were only using those tools to kowtow to the repro processes of the time' yadah yadah... never enjoyed fountain pens, too scratchy.
ANYWAY all that has gone out of the window cos I found a pen that I LOVE. The Sailor Fude pen (so that funky bent nib shizzle, makes it more like a brush, like a little inky ski!)...
You can get a 55 degree or 40 degree bend in the nib... the idea being that it isn't pressure that alters line weight, it's angle, the different degrees give a different feel. I hope you don't mind a link to my insta post about them (pictures!)...
I LOVE the fact that you can have a mega thin almost rotringy line (can even use the pen 'upside down' for super thin lines!) then all the way up to a proper POOL of silky ink with a tilt. No catching, no scrubbing and scratching away. Just buttery smooth.
The joke is I realised half the reason I like it is that it's the most akin to how I work digitally! I nudge the digtial brush size up and down with the keyboard thick thin thick etc.. this pen puts that in my pocket!
Sailor pen will only take sailor cartridges / converters, but the pen is only about £17 so not breaking the bank. I would also recommend buying a bottle of the Sailor Jentle ink cos its the best cubiest bottle ever.
I AM STOPPING I think may have to make an inaugural post on my empty substack on this eh, PENCILS TOO OMG
Extremely love this, thanks Luke. I've just looked up the Sailor Fude, yumyumyum. Now, I have looked at your post on this and love the pictures - which do you prefer, 55 or 40 degrees?? NO catching, scrubbing or scratching sounds insanely good - can you use them on a slightly textured paper?? And the ink sounds good too. Have you ever tried a Noodler pen? I was looking at those online yesterday and the line variety looks tasty!!
Great! ooooooooohhhhhh another google mission! I've heard of noodlers INK... but not the pens, will take a look. I'm SCARED of the new though, I have a graveyard of fountain pens I've tried and failed with!
ANYWAY I prefer the 40 degree (dark blue body)... less easy to 'go blobby' if you know what I mean, defaults to thinner lines kinda thing, but you've still got thick lines in the bank! But i guess it depends on your natural drawing angle?
Most textured paper I've used is Cartridge for a bit of life drawing, but its nice... cos of the ski-like nature of it, it's got potential I think for toothier paper.
Yep in short Sailor Fude de Mannen 40 degree nib (=blue body) winner winner lines are thinner, ha.
I hope you don’t mind me hopping on board here!? I love the Sailor Fude pens - I have two. But only WHEN THEY WORK!! Grr! I find mine dry up super easily! Am I doing something wrong? Have you experienced this?? Maybe I’ve not tried them with the sailor ink before. This gives me some hope, thanks!! Is that what it is?? Thanks for letting me hop in!
Heeeeeeyyy the more Fude nerds the merrier!... I was SO SCARED of breaking the new thing that I've just Sailored it all the way, no probs as yet.
When I used the converter (you know, the refillable plunger thingie)... I thought FINALLY I can use up some of the bottles of ink I bought (I thought they made me look artsy haha)... so I tried various inks. If memory serves Sumi ink is a definite no no*, didn't flow... windsor and newton (spider label) didn't float my boat either, kinda got a drybrushy intermittent line. I rinsed all out immediately so can't speak to the gummy-uppiness of these. Sailor ink no probs, even the waterproof sailor ink.
By the way I recommend giving your brand new pen to our six year old to 'broaden their horizons' because you're just such a cool Dad... what actually happens is they stab the fuck out of the nib, rendering it useless and for the bin... BUT the CASING is FNATASTIC for carrying round your spare ink carts!!
*Sumi ink watered down in a brush pen BADDAH BING dead nice
Jeez you know this I've seen your work its blimmin gorgeous!
Haha! Imagine if we had a secret love child, and we don’t even KNOW each other!! 😳
Thanks for all the tips! I’m going to dig out my Sailor’s (I have three!!) and see if I can get them flowing. My memory, is that with the converter and various inks, it just wasn’t flowing. But I suspect I am guilty of leaving with ink in for too long, so it dries up. Will try and flush them out and try again. Tor will need to do an update post!
Speaking of merch (not really) but your possible birthday card (fab of course) made me think: what about the wisest of Frankenstein T shirts? Will they be available to the general public (me!) anytime soon?
Lovely drawings! Oh dear, I have a pen story (you might regret having asked). For years I bought and used the Pentel JM213 by the boxful - a disposable 'italic fountain pen' with a fibrous wedge nib. Then 10 years ago they suddenly weren't available any more. A quick google lead me to a Facebook appreciation page for the JM213 (it's still up), informing us all that the pen had been discontinued and the factory in China demolished, along with the machinery, so the JM213 was gone for good! I've interviewed many pens since, but never found a worthy successor. Since then I've returned to dip pen and ink, and I'm wedded to that now, despite the un-portability of it. Can I also give a shout out to the Ball Pentel - that green-barrelled stalwart of the 1980s - do you remember it? It feels so emblematic of a certain time and place, but I don't know, that could just be me.
I regret nothing!! Thanks Joe, I really enjoyed this and I feel your horror about the demolition of your favourite!! I've had this happen a few times with face creams or some cosmetic, and it's awful. And there's the fear that even if a new contender came along that was actually better, it could never live up to the moisturiser of my memory... I bet the same with the pen! What kind of dip pen/nibs do you use? My favourite combo so far is a Micron on slightly grainy paper, but the nibs degrade before the ink runs out, and they aren't economical at all... I'm going to try this Ball Pentel that you and Luke speak of!!
Ha ha! I recently bought a lifetime’s supply (a matchbox-full) of Gillots 404 nibs, which are nice and pointy but don’t ping ink all over the place - the more flexible 303s do that if you need a bit of Ralph Steadman action. Ink-wise I have a penchant for the fancy-sounding Encre de Chine a la Pagode which is made by Sennelier. It’s very high-shellac which I really like (sorry beetles); in fact, I’ve just bought a handsome 2 litre bottle! And something like 2000 sheets of paper... Oh god I’m a prepper… 😬
TOTALLY agree Ball Pentel... kind of COY, 'oh I'm just like a biro' but no! It's quite the inky line-varying wonder. Pick it up to write with, keep it in hand for the drawing fun times! ALSO along the same lines (maybe like the 'inverse'... writing ok, drawing great...?) is the 'Pentel Touch'... again, looks like (nose in air) office stationery (spits) BUT on closer inspection it has a BLACK GLITTERY SHAFT which is ace in and of itself but the tip (swoon) is some kind of dark japanese tech that is brush like, good for writing, SWEET for drawing... not least cos when making a fast sweep the line kinda does a drybrush break in the line AAAAAWWWW SHIT BRUH its well good
Ooh yeah, the Pentel Touch is VERY special - extremely satisfying for lettering. I find it maybe a little too slick for drawing... Have you encountered the Pentel Touch 'Artist'? I think it's quite new - same glittery barrel, but with a sticker round the cap. It has a longer brush, halfway between a touch and a Pentel Brush pen (another perennial, for me).
Amazing info, thank you Luke! I'm going to get straight onto ordering the Ball Pentel AND the Pentel Touch - you make it sound TOO dreamy!!! GLITTERY SHAFTS come ON!! And what kind of paper do you use??
These are such lovely landscapes! ✍️The Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen goes everywhere with me. If it were waterproof, I would fear its magicks were too great, too powerful. But as it stands, just enough magicks. ((I’m looking for recs on something similar but waterproof!))
Thanks Lisette! In my recent pen-buying I got a 2-pack of the Tombow Fudensukes, I like the harder tipped one a lot - and agree, its magicks are the correct amount (although I would also like to know about a waterproof version!!)
ooh! I'm glad you asked! I use them both constantly-- The hard tip is better for faster, more precise writing or line work, but still has some of that characteristic brush pen flavor. The soft tip makes more expressive lines, a little less controllable-- this slows down my penmanship, which I love sometimes, and makes for wonderfully alive lines.
Thanks a lot for explenation! I'm already in love with my Pentel Pocket Brush (for drawing) but it seems to me that these two Fudenosuke could also be a similar magical discovery! I will try both types of tips. Thanks again!
Hey Tor!! We’ve already spoken about pens a ton, but for those reading the comments, I have to say… I went on a MASSIVE pen hyper focus/obsession a few years ago. I wanted one that would be waterproof, with a fine-ish nib, and good enough flow for my quick scribbles. The closest I ever got was the Platinum Desk Pen. But the version I used to love has been discontinued. The reason it’ was so good. The ink cartridges are carbon ink, which means it’s waterproof (although I find it does bleed a little depending on the paper), and it was super cheap. And they have an extra fine nib! From what I see online, I’m not the only person to miss it!! And no one seems to think the replacement is as good! But maybe they will bring it back?? I mention it here, because I wonder if anyone has found something as good in the Platinum range that is as good, but more expensive? I do really like the Platinum Preppy extra fine, but I tend to use it as my writing pen. It also takes the carbon ink cartridges, so is waterproof as well. I should take it out drawing again! Also, if you search “carbon ink cartridges” on Cult Pens, you’ll see they have some Graff Von Faber-Castell cartridges that they describe as “good degree of permanence compared to typical fountain pen inks.” And I use them in most of my fountain pens now!
Thanks so much Kayla!! There's another recco for the Sailor Fude here, definitely going to buy that one to try! And what's the "blue pumpkin" nib??? I haven't tried a dip pen in forever, so don't know where to start with that!
And you need a holder/handle to stick it in, but it's very affordable. I've been using acrylic ink with mine. It does dry in the nib, but I can easily scrub it out with rubbing alcohol and an old toothbrush. ha
Ag man, that post made me laugh. Though I've never heard of a spencer. I've heard of "spense" (pronounced the same way if you're speaking in a South African accent) but those are pantries. PantRies, with an R. Which are very rarely worn, no matter the season.
Hahaha! Yes I imagine a pantry, though very à la mode, could be a little cumbersome!! How funny about "spense", I've never heard that, I will see if Mum has!
It's an Afrikaans word I would never have heard of if it weren't for a weird old song they made us sing in primary school choir. It was an old song about an old lady's pantry. No one I knew had a pantry. Pantries were for Enid Blyton characters.
I always love seeing your posts pop up in my inbox. A great read. Thank you for all the laughs on a very rainy, grey day! That picture of the Fonz is brilliant!
You've ENABLED a pen rant dammit.... I was (am?) a proper inverted snob about inky tools (HATED being made to draw with inky sticks and stuff at uni, what's all this bollocks etc)... even contemporary cartoonists using ink 'oh god it's just fetishism for the bygone artists who were only using those tools to kowtow to the repro processes of the time' yadah yadah... never enjoyed fountain pens, too scratchy.
ANYWAY all that has gone out of the window cos I found a pen that I LOVE. The Sailor Fude pen (so that funky bent nib shizzle, makes it more like a brush, like a little inky ski!)...
You can get a 55 degree or 40 degree bend in the nib... the idea being that it isn't pressure that alters line weight, it's angle, the different degrees give a different feel. I hope you don't mind a link to my insta post about them (pictures!)...
https://www.instagram.com/p/CnsdEeTK0Qg/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
I LOVE the fact that you can have a mega thin almost rotringy line (can even use the pen 'upside down' for super thin lines!) then all the way up to a proper POOL of silky ink with a tilt. No catching, no scrubbing and scratching away. Just buttery smooth.
The joke is I realised half the reason I like it is that it's the most akin to how I work digitally! I nudge the digtial brush size up and down with the keyboard thick thin thick etc.. this pen puts that in my pocket!
Sailor pen will only take sailor cartridges / converters, but the pen is only about £17 so not breaking the bank. I would also recommend buying a bottle of the Sailor Jentle ink cos its the best cubiest bottle ever.
I AM STOPPING I think may have to make an inaugural post on my empty substack on this eh, PENCILS TOO OMG
best to you,
Luke
Extremely love this, thanks Luke. I've just looked up the Sailor Fude, yumyumyum. Now, I have looked at your post on this and love the pictures - which do you prefer, 55 or 40 degrees?? NO catching, scrubbing or scratching sounds insanely good - can you use them on a slightly textured paper?? And the ink sounds good too. Have you ever tried a Noodler pen? I was looking at those online yesterday and the line variety looks tasty!!
Great! ooooooooohhhhhh another google mission! I've heard of noodlers INK... but not the pens, will take a look. I'm SCARED of the new though, I have a graveyard of fountain pens I've tried and failed with!
ANYWAY I prefer the 40 degree (dark blue body)... less easy to 'go blobby' if you know what I mean, defaults to thinner lines kinda thing, but you've still got thick lines in the bank! But i guess it depends on your natural drawing angle?
Most textured paper I've used is Cartridge for a bit of life drawing, but its nice... cos of the ski-like nature of it, it's got potential I think for toothier paper.
Yep in short Sailor Fude de Mannen 40 degree nib (=blue body) winner winner lines are thinner, ha.
Tally ho!!! Thanks for the pen rant trigger haha
I hope you don’t mind me hopping on board here!? I love the Sailor Fude pens - I have two. But only WHEN THEY WORK!! Grr! I find mine dry up super easily! Am I doing something wrong? Have you experienced this?? Maybe I’ve not tried them with the sailor ink before. This gives me some hope, thanks!! Is that what it is?? Thanks for letting me hop in!
Heeeeeeyyy the more Fude nerds the merrier!... I was SO SCARED of breaking the new thing that I've just Sailored it all the way, no probs as yet.
When I used the converter (you know, the refillable plunger thingie)... I thought FINALLY I can use up some of the bottles of ink I bought (I thought they made me look artsy haha)... so I tried various inks. If memory serves Sumi ink is a definite no no*, didn't flow... windsor and newton (spider label) didn't float my boat either, kinda got a drybrushy intermittent line. I rinsed all out immediately so can't speak to the gummy-uppiness of these. Sailor ink no probs, even the waterproof sailor ink.
By the way I recommend giving your brand new pen to our six year old to 'broaden their horizons' because you're just such a cool Dad... what actually happens is they stab the fuck out of the nib, rendering it useless and for the bin... BUT the CASING is FNATASTIC for carrying round your spare ink carts!!
*Sumi ink watered down in a brush pen BADDAH BING dead nice
Jeez you know this I've seen your work its blimmin gorgeous!
Best to you,
Luke
Correction: should read "your six year old" not "our six year old". 😳
LAST ONE: I get pen 'n' wash info & thrills from this guy https://www.instagram.com/paulheaston/ with the mad skills
😂😂😂
Haha! Imagine if we had a secret love child, and we don’t even KNOW each other!! 😳
Thanks for all the tips! I’m going to dig out my Sailor’s (I have three!!) and see if I can get them flowing. My memory, is that with the converter and various inks, it just wasn’t flowing. But I suspect I am guilty of leaving with ink in for too long, so it dries up. Will try and flush them out and try again. Tor will need to do an update post!
Speaking of merch (not really) but your possible birthday card (fab of course) made me think: what about the wisest of Frankenstein T shirts? Will they be available to the general public (me!) anytime soon?
X
I DO want to make them, but I'm thrown by anything so logistical!! But will send you an email on the subject... x
Lovely drawings! Oh dear, I have a pen story (you might regret having asked). For years I bought and used the Pentel JM213 by the boxful - a disposable 'italic fountain pen' with a fibrous wedge nib. Then 10 years ago they suddenly weren't available any more. A quick google lead me to a Facebook appreciation page for the JM213 (it's still up), informing us all that the pen had been discontinued and the factory in China demolished, along with the machinery, so the JM213 was gone for good! I've interviewed many pens since, but never found a worthy successor. Since then I've returned to dip pen and ink, and I'm wedded to that now, despite the un-portability of it. Can I also give a shout out to the Ball Pentel - that green-barrelled stalwart of the 1980s - do you remember it? It feels so emblematic of a certain time and place, but I don't know, that could just be me.
I regret nothing!! Thanks Joe, I really enjoyed this and I feel your horror about the demolition of your favourite!! I've had this happen a few times with face creams or some cosmetic, and it's awful. And there's the fear that even if a new contender came along that was actually better, it could never live up to the moisturiser of my memory... I bet the same with the pen! What kind of dip pen/nibs do you use? My favourite combo so far is a Micron on slightly grainy paper, but the nibs degrade before the ink runs out, and they aren't economical at all... I'm going to try this Ball Pentel that you and Luke speak of!!
Ha ha! I recently bought a lifetime’s supply (a matchbox-full) of Gillots 404 nibs, which are nice and pointy but don’t ping ink all over the place - the more flexible 303s do that if you need a bit of Ralph Steadman action. Ink-wise I have a penchant for the fancy-sounding Encre de Chine a la Pagode which is made by Sennelier. It’s very high-shellac which I really like (sorry beetles); in fact, I’ve just bought a handsome 2 litre bottle! And something like 2000 sheets of paper... Oh god I’m a prepper… 😬
Hahaha I really like the idea of a prepper who just has a ton of ink and paper but no canned goods! Let's all go to Joe's bunker!!
This all sounds great, more things for me to google/ogle! OR GOGLE - googling ogling!!! I CALLED IT!
TOTALLY agree Ball Pentel... kind of COY, 'oh I'm just like a biro' but no! It's quite the inky line-varying wonder. Pick it up to write with, keep it in hand for the drawing fun times! ALSO along the same lines (maybe like the 'inverse'... writing ok, drawing great...?) is the 'Pentel Touch'... again, looks like (nose in air) office stationery (spits) BUT on closer inspection it has a BLACK GLITTERY SHAFT which is ace in and of itself but the tip (swoon) is some kind of dark japanese tech that is brush like, good for writing, SWEET for drawing... not least cos when making a fast sweep the line kinda does a drybrush break in the line AAAAAWWWW SHIT BRUH its well good
Ooh yeah, the Pentel Touch is VERY special - extremely satisfying for lettering. I find it maybe a little too slick for drawing... Have you encountered the Pentel Touch 'Artist'? I think it's quite new - same glittery barrel, but with a sticker round the cap. It has a longer brush, halfway between a touch and a Pentel Brush pen (another perennial, for me).
Tor, what have you started..?
*distant sound of keyboard clatter pen googling, cavernous echo of emptying bank account*
haha I don't care love some pen recs! forever obliged!
Ball Pentel.....
https://www.instagram.com/p/CzcQyZBK6zN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Amazing info, thank you Luke! I'm going to get straight onto ordering the Ball Pentel AND the Pentel Touch - you make it sound TOO dreamy!!! GLITTERY SHAFTS come ON!! And what kind of paper do you use??
These are such lovely landscapes! ✍️The Tombow Fudenosuke brush pen goes everywhere with me. If it were waterproof, I would fear its magicks were too great, too powerful. But as it stands, just enough magicks. ((I’m looking for recs on something similar but waterproof!))
Thanks Lisette! In my recent pen-buying I got a 2-pack of the Tombow Fudensukes, I like the harder tipped one a lot - and agree, its magicks are the correct amount (although I would also like to know about a waterproof version!!)
I must try this! I see that two types are available, do you prefer it with hard or soft tip?
ooh! I'm glad you asked! I use them both constantly-- The hard tip is better for faster, more precise writing or line work, but still has some of that characteristic brush pen flavor. The soft tip makes more expressive lines, a little less controllable-- this slows down my penmanship, which I love sometimes, and makes for wonderfully alive lines.
Thanks a lot for explenation! I'm already in love with my Pentel Pocket Brush (for drawing) but it seems to me that these two Fudenosuke could also be a similar magical discovery! I will try both types of tips. Thanks again!
Yessss I love the pocket brush too! I throw all three in my art go-bag— they compliment one another well! Have fun!
Hey Tor!! We’ve already spoken about pens a ton, but for those reading the comments, I have to say… I went on a MASSIVE pen hyper focus/obsession a few years ago. I wanted one that would be waterproof, with a fine-ish nib, and good enough flow for my quick scribbles. The closest I ever got was the Platinum Desk Pen. But the version I used to love has been discontinued. The reason it’ was so good. The ink cartridges are carbon ink, which means it’s waterproof (although I find it does bleed a little depending on the paper), and it was super cheap. And they have an extra fine nib! From what I see online, I’m not the only person to miss it!! And no one seems to think the replacement is as good! But maybe they will bring it back?? I mention it here, because I wonder if anyone has found something as good in the Platinum range that is as good, but more expensive? I do really like the Platinum Preppy extra fine, but I tend to use it as my writing pen. It also takes the carbon ink cartridges, so is waterproof as well. I should take it out drawing again! Also, if you search “carbon ink cartridges” on Cult Pens, you’ll see they have some Graff Von Faber-Castell cartridges that they describe as “good degree of permanence compared to typical fountain pen inks.” And I use them in most of my fountain pens now!
Love love love thanks Els, going to get my paws on a Platinum Preppy, I will enjoy being a Stylophile AND Preppy!
Haha!! You’ll be so neat and perky! 🤓
these Drawings are amazing
Thank you!
Oh! Fellow pen lover here!
-For fountain pen I've been playing around with the Sailor Fude (it's an inexpensive entry point to the world of fountain pens)
-and for a standard brush pen that isn't that brushy I love the Tombow Fudenosuke
-and my "blue pumpkin" nib (that's what they call it on the site ha) for dipping
Thanks so much Kayla!! There's another recco for the Sailor Fude here, definitely going to buy that one to try! And what's the "blue pumpkin" nib??? I haven't tried a dip pen in forever, so don't know where to start with that!
It's this one!
https://www.jetpens.com/Brause-Dip-Pen-Nib-361-Steno-Blue-Pumpkin/pd/5809
And you need a holder/handle to stick it in, but it's very affordable. I've been using acrylic ink with mine. It does dry in the nib, but I can easily scrub it out with rubbing alcohol and an old toothbrush. ha
Loved everything about this. Great post!
Thank you!
Ag man, that post made me laugh. Though I've never heard of a spencer. I've heard of "spense" (pronounced the same way if you're speaking in a South African accent) but those are pantries. PantRies, with an R. Which are very rarely worn, no matter the season.
Hahaha! Yes I imagine a pantry, though very à la mode, could be a little cumbersome!! How funny about "spense", I've never heard that, I will see if Mum has!
It's an Afrikaans word I would never have heard of if it weren't for a weird old song they made us sing in primary school choir. It was an old song about an old lady's pantry. No one I knew had a pantry. Pantries were for Enid Blyton characters.
❤️
I always love seeing your posts pop up in my inbox. A great read. Thank you for all the laughs on a very rainy, grey day! That picture of the Fonz is brilliant!
Thank you Charlotte! I know, he's still so handsome!
Sailor fountain with the bent nib