@mineralizedwritings
Active 4 days, 18 hours ago- Rank: Chosen One
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You know what? Writing desks often had slanted surfaces. I suppose it would depend on how slanted your desk is, but I’d say try it. And if you do, tell me how it goes. XD I need to look into something like that for my drawing, and I’m curious to see if it works out.
Y’know maybe with my thinner ink it will flow ok? I could put a rug under if I’m worried about dripping too, maybe I’ll give it a try.
Look out at the thrift stores! I got mine there and I’ve seen more since.
Sure thing : )
My holder grippy is blue too! 😀
hehe twiiiins
Since Nikko G’s don’t flex like most calligraphy nibs, they’re easier to get the feel of, so they’re often recommend for beginners. The Zebras are very simiy, but I think they’re a little finer? I don’t remember. XD
Oh I had no idea! I guess they are pretty firm. I think I have nikko G’s, so maybe I’ve never experienced a flexible nib, I should try a different type someday.
Technically, any fancy writing could be calligraphy since it’s just making words prettily. XD I do more than cursive, though. It’s definitely easier to do with the dip pen than the microns. I’ve tried several styles, but my favorites so far have been Copperplate(even though it’s a pain), miniscule bookhand, and a pretty, modern style that I don’t remember the name of. XD Also imitating Tolkien’s handwriting and C. S. Lewis’ for a set of book themed cards. Copying handwriting is fun because it’s usually a simpler style, and you learn a lot about the person in the process. Tolkien’s handwriting has a lot of medieval inspired quirks in the way he shapes his letters. (Everything is structured in round movements, and he seems to have preferred a chisel shaped nib) However, not only is C. S. Lewis’ based more on a typical cursive, but he developed reumatism in his wrist which made his handwriting run-together. Very fun to try to read, lol.
Woah that’s so cool! I looked up some of those styles and it’s making me want to try! I don’t think I have the right materials for it but they look interesting haha. I should get a calligraphy nib. What’s the deal with the ones offset from the pen shaft, is it easier like that?
And wow. That was a lot. I’ve gotten a out of doing it, but now I want to start again… Anyway, because the control issues I’ve had were worse when drawing, I had just shifted away from using the dip pens for illustrations.
Ah that makes sense. I think my control is worse with handwriting lol. I tried it once with the dip pen and decided I would just use it for drawing.
Have you done calligraphy?
I tried for awhile with a felt tip calligraphy pen and it was super hard. It doesn’t have enough pressure for you to be sure when you’re making steady contact with the paper so the thin parts of the letters are hard. I do want to try it with a dip pen though!
Hehe. It smells like rusty vinegar. So not horrible if you can get used to it, but you definitely want good air circulation. And yes, it’s a bit of a historical thing, used since ancient times right up until, well now, I guess. There’s a site that does a lot of reproduction scribal equipment, and they sell a version based off of George Washington’s favorite ink. (Scribal Work Shop)
woah stuff like that is so cool!
I have not tried walnut ink! It sounds lovely. I love the nature-based inks, or at least the idea of them. XD That’s sad that it doesn’t like your nibs. What kind of thickness/texture is it?
Yeah it’s cool! I know some people make it themselves with walnuts, which sounds like a fun project.
It’s like water… it doesn’t really stick or anything but I think it could be used better with a brush. I’ve used it as a wash or drip kinda thing in paintings before and it usually looks nice.
"Past or future... let them be."
They definitely look nicer vidually than the microns. I think I didn’t like something with the way the end attached to the body. I’ve liked it’s idea, but as Microns were easier to get at the time, never bothered more with the Staedlers.
Yeah, i do think it’s funny that microns have the color scheme/look of the really old tan brick computers, my parents used to have one so that shade of tan makes me nostalgic. Oh yeah that is kinda annoying. Faber castells snap onto the end really easily and stay.
Leaning over the desk is definitely a problem. I hadn’t thought about how a slanted surface would mess with a dip pen. Hmm.
I’ve yet to try it but I just feel nervous using ink over there too, even though there are ink well holes in the desk it feels dangerous haha.
Ah, tachikawa! I have a handle of theirs, though I don’t remember the name. The wooden one with the rubber grip and cap. It’s definitely nicer on the hands. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit the vintage pen nibs my grandfather gave me, so if I use those for like, copying old handwriting as one does, I can’t use it. I think I have the G nibs too, as well as some called “Zebras”. They seem relatively reliable. I probably need to get better acquainted with them.
Yeah that might be the one I have! Mine has a blue rubber section but I’ve seen a pink one too. Ah man that’s too bad.
G nibs are my favorite but it sounds like you’re doing writing? I’m pretty sure they are specifically for the kind of sharp lines in manga art and I can’t imagine writing with them though I’m sure somebody has figured out how lol. I haven’t tried zebras but I think I’ve heard of them!
What kind of writing are you doing? Is it like cursive or calligraphy?
The ink issue makes a lot of sense! I’ve been using matte India ink because it’s waterproof, but it’s gotten really thick. (The lid was left off once soon after getting it.) I’ve only really used a brush with Sumi ink, because the bottle the stuff I got came in has a ridiculously small top. But now I have a few little jars for stray inks etc. so I’ll have to try it. Or maybe look into the Kuretake brand.
yeah using looser ink made such a difference for me! I’ve tried dipping into water first before using thick ink too and that seems to smooth it out a bit.
Plus I’ll need to practice some more, lol. I’ve got an eclectic little collection of pen nibs, but I haven’t tried all of them out enough to see what they do best.
Oooo, the Fabercastle pens look nice! I haven’t tried drawing anything like a calligraphy/the FH pen.
Yeah it’s like a brush but easier to control.
On a side note, because I love talking about this stuff too, have you ever tried Iron Gall ink? The stuff I have smells terrible and does worse things to your nibs if you don’t rinse them well, but I love watching the ink oxidize on the paper, slowly turning a deeper black. It’s like magic. 🙃
I haven’t! Oh goodness I can’t handle smells lol. That sounds really cool! I’m assuming it was popular at some time long ago lol?
Have you tried walnut ink? I have some and it looks like such a pretty brown but it doesn’t flow great on my nibs : (
"Past or future... let them be."
Oh ok! I tried those once, I think I had the smallest size and eventually the nib broke 🙁
It’s ok we love commercials lol they sound great. I know they’re very reasonably priced too which is always good.
Ah really? I was kinda in love with how sleek the grey shaft of the steadler pens looks but I went back to faber castell bc how can I not have a matching set!
Y’know tbh I’m not sure I’ve posted much of my dip pen stuff? I want to use it more but it’s hard on my neck to lean over. Maybe I need better lighting lol. Also I don’t think I can use it at my drafting table bc the flow needs gravity. For dip pens I use tachikawa, I like their T-40 handle (just got it, so much better on my hands) and their G-Pen nibs which are made for Manga. I actually find that ink makes a bigger difference for line quality than nib does, I’ve had my nibs a few years and not replaced them. I used to use waterproof manga ink and bc it was thick, you had to press down pretty hard to get a good line, so it was hard to have even lines. I’m using Kuretake Sumi ink now and although it isn’t waterproof, it flows so well you can just drag the nib across the page and not press hard to make a good line.
Most of the art I post here is watercolor so I need waterproof ink so I don’t use it much lol. I mostly use fabercastell pitt artist pens, they are the best and I’ve used them for like 6 years probably lol. If you buy a specific set, it comes with a brush pen labeled FH. It’s basically like a typical brush pen, but it’s nib is a lot shorter and harder. It’s a rubbery flexible nib rather than the felt ones that are really hard to control.
Oh and also when I first got into dip pens it was so hard to control I was seriously wondering if I was going to be able to do it but it just takes time. Also different nibs draw from different angles, and that took awhile to learn. Like some nibs can’t do even do lines that slightly pull to the side because they have to pull straight, but others can do it a little.
Anyways I love talking about this stuff… man that was a rant haha.
"Past or future... let them be."
actually earning their crowns could help us out when the plot is lacking. Idk how they earn them but it could be a interesting side plot if things get slow.
"Past or future... let them be."
aw kitty! What kind of pen did you use? It kinda reminds me of the lines my dip pen makes
"Past or future... let them be."
Oh cool!! I really like that drawing!!!
Aw thanks I was starting to second guess it lol. I get nervous when I post unfinished art sometimes haha.
Also feel free to jump right in whenever you want to! You can bend the world to fit the circumstances if you need it to, for all we know there’s a empty chair next to Flax.
Moth might ask Flax a lot of questions if they get to know each other. I like hearing world building from the character’s mouths. I’ll try not to ask anything that requires extensive detail to answer. :p
Ooo ok I see. Ah man I’m not sure how much Flax would disclose in character. I think of him as being pretty serious and closed off unless he really considers somebody on his inner circle. He’s really focused on his own survival and doesn’t know fun very well so moth is going to have to work pretty hard lol.
I’ve never heard the term ‘drives him batty’ before but it very much seems like something you would say.
"Past or future... let them be."
Thanks for the detailed wings drawing. It’s really cool to see a character with skeletal wings like that. I want to know more about his world and everything.
hehe thanks! I mean feel free to ask away if you want to know more but unfortunately I haven’t got a lot of it figured out. There’s a severe need for worldbuilding but I neglect it a little 😭 I have a lot of unnamed planets and locations.
Understandable. XD It’s supposed to be a reference drawing so it makes sense to only feather one of the wings. Best to leave one bare as an anatomy reference.
this is a very nice way of justifying my laziness thank you XD
"Past or future... let them be."
“Where are you from, Flax?”
“Oh…” Flax looks over at the other boy, partially relieved at the ending of his argument with Moth.
“Well… I’ve been a great many places but I’m not quite sure which I’m from. I was sent here by the palace of Alhoth. What about you?”
(Why are you forcing me to name my places I don’t like this kind of work😂)
"Past or future... let them be."
yall I made his head too big ignore that
"Past or future... let them be."
Color reference for the rest of his outfit
I think I want to change the colors but idk this is the closest I have to the current vision for him lol
"Past or future... let them be."
I made a reference for Flax guys! It’s not colored… but I can explain the colors lol.
Pants are dark charcoal, shirt is cream and satin, shoes are probably dark brown leather with gold accents.
And no I’m not going to feather all the wings because my poor hand has had enough lol. He does have feathers on both wings please use your imagination.
@whalekeeper @loopylin @ellette-giselle"Past or future... let them be."
oh yeah Flax’s wings have just enough feathers to have shape. The wing structure is clearly visible and there’s a lot of bare patches. He’s pretty thin and he doesn’t fly.
I’ll try my best to give a description of him here as I don’t really have a updated reference drawing for him, I usually draw headshots which isn’t the most useful. Flax has white hair and eyelashes, and white feathers. He’s quite thin and pale, but has very beautiful and striking grey eyes. He has double wings, that attach at the tips together. They fold a bit like an accordion if you know what I mean… trying my best here haha. I have no idea how to describe his clothes bc I had to get creative to accommodate the wings lol, also they’ve changed a bit since my last drawing. He usually looks a little nervous, bored, or has a slight smile. He’s pretty quiet, but he has a strong sense of justice.
Wait guys are our characters wearing crowns?? They are princes after all right?
haha thanks loops you’re right
thanks for the speed descriptions
"Past or future... let them be."
