[Process] Current Favorites! Part 1: Brush Pens + contest! [CLOSED]
Note 2012.04.14: Contest is closed and winner has been contacted but feel free to keep posting your suggestions! I'm all ears!
Do you <3 stationery goods as much as I do?
This week, I'll be doing a series of nemu*blog posts, (sponsored by one of my absolute favorite online stationery stores, JetPens) covering just one facet of my love of all things stationery -- writing and drawing instruments!
Now, while I may be giving some of my own recommendations, I encourage you to participate and let me know some of your own recommendations per each category! Participate by replying to my four (4) blog posts this week with your own recommendations and/or product wish list according to each pen type and I'll enter you in a drawing to win a $25 e-gift card from JetPens! (Which means you will get automatic free shipping within the US!) Respond to all four (4) blog posts and get a total of 4 entries in your name!
Without further ado! Part 1: Brush Pens! (read on!)
So, I've tried a number of brush pens over the years... I've even blogged about them back in 2008. (Was that really almost 4 years ago? o_o; Have a read if you want to see where I started! Yee!)
Now that I'm much more comfortable using them, I have a couple HGs (Holy Grails, for lack of a better term) that I almost always try and carry with me.
Let me preface by saying that brush pens are not the easiest things to use and not all pens are created equal. Material used for the tip and the inks vary from pen to pen, so I use different pens for different needs. They all will require a light (and steady) hand to get those beautiful tapered and varied lines.. and that takes practice. It certainly doesn't happen overnight, but I find the end result it totally worth the effort. :D!
#1: The Pentel Pocket Brush Pen (+ refills) for Calligraphy
This is my go-to pen for just about all occasions. I currently have 2 -- one in my events bag for signing and quick sketches, and one on my desk which I've been using to sign everyone's books over the past month. I also bought myself a box of refills, which were full at the beginning of this month and now I am overdue to purchase more.
To be honest, I had a heck of a time trying to use this pen as a brush-pen-n00b. The brush point is long, made of synthetic fibers. It holds a point beautifully, but requires a light hand with good degree of control to get those fine lines. I find I even hold my pen a little differently to accommodate the brush point. But for those interested in giving it a go, stick with it! I find my drawings feel much more alive and expressive when I work with this pen.
I drew this sometime early last year, I think.
The ink cartridges it comes with are pigment-based and more or less waterproof. If you've been keeping track of my book-signing progress, you'll see all of them have been colored over with alcohol-based markers. No streaking or bleeding of color!
The best thing about the pocket brush pen is that it's affordable for a great quality pen. $13 may seem like a decent amount to dish out for a pen of all things, but considering a real good inking brush can run you about $20 and it -doesn't- come with ink, it's a deal. :D I've had these pens for a number of years now and just replace the ink when it runs out -- the brush point has been holding up strong!
BTW - JetPens has 2 versions of the pen available: the US version and the Japanese version. I have one of each -- there is no difference between the two -- just the packaging.
#2 The Kuretake Fudegokochi Brush Pens
These guys are my brush pen back-ups in my events bag and my go-to pens when I am inking comics on comic paper/bristol board.
While I use the Pentel brush pens for -most- things, there are some limitations I've come across. The ink isn't a very opaque black and I experience a little feathering on some bristol boards (because the paper is absorbent.) Also, when I'm tired, I lose some control in my hands and my lines become quite shaky.
The fudegokochi pens have a plastic-type tip and create a much more consistent drawn line. The point is also shorter, which means the pen can be comfortably held at your usual drawing/writing angle.
They come in 2 main sizes: regular and super fine. I prefer the regular and use it for inking my comics. Scott loves the super fine point and uses it when he signs books.
The ink is a shiny, opaque black that sits on the paper. It's very dark and can write wet. It also takes longer to dry, so be patient, lest you smear ink or transfer it to other papers. This also means you won't be able to color -over- the inked parts as it's not waterproof.
They are disposable and super affordable at $3.50 each - a nice starter pen for anyone interested in experimenting with brush pens.
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There are a few other pens I like to use when sketching on-the-go, like the Zebra Disposable Brush Sign Pens and Pentel Standard Brush pens -- all recommended, but not quite in my favorites category (for nit-picky reasons, really.)
So! From JetPen's extensive brush pen collection, what have you tried/would like to try, and/or recommend? I'm all ears!
Post anytime from today until Friday at 5pm Hawaii Standard Time (FYI, we're 3 hours AFTER the U.S. west coast) to my [Process] blog posts and be entered to win a $25 gift card from JetPens!
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