Though not thorough, this provides some interesting jumping off points for further research. Modern developments for writing instruments, in this case, markers, are being made as new fibers are being developed. Sakura, Pentel and Hunt are all working on ink delivery systems. For about 20 years I worked with the chief production engineer at Hunt. Our interest was in seeing a pigmented, non-waterproof line of black and colors developed (premixed gouache) in just the primaries. Marketing kept pushing what we developed into the awful Superblack India which is waterproof and is guaranteed to murder any metal pen (especially your favorite fountain pen) in which it is used. They just never understood that waterproof and permanent don't have to be the same. They COULD have had an ink much superior to Higgins Eternal since their carbon black was much more refined. I have some of the really good stuff made just for me - along with the formulary.
Just now I am working with a totally new approach to imaging with electronics. The video will be done in about 6 months. If you want to send out a questionaire about new developments about inks, pens and markers, send some notes to all the folks from Brown's and Fahrney's catalogs. We'd all like to see what they have to say.
I've still got some of the great French dye inks based on formaldehyde. Brilliant color, but only for use on pretty days outdoors. Those sneaky French, getting back at us with toxic inks. Tsk. Tim Johnson (c) Hit ongly effects mi brian sumwit aftur lonk xposur. www.timjohnsonphoto.com
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
The Point About Pens
Brown's, Farhney's and Lanier are the BIG NIBS of fountain pen sellers. They sell many products to people who love writing or just like to own a nice fountain pen - and they sell some really expensive pens to collectors. Once, Farhney's offered a diamond/platinum pen for $250K. Only 5 were available. They also sell safes and collectors' boxes. One of the things that I POINT out to my students is that no matter the cost of the penholder and no matter how fancy the nib, most nibs are pointed with iridium, so that it will not wear out. A $5 nib has iridium, so does the $1,000 version. I rarely use a fountain pen, but do have some Lamys and a couple of Pelikans. I do prefer the piston fillers to the bladders. The Lamy uses a stainless steel broad and blip point. The Pelikan has 6 broad nibs and a couple of blips. I do have some Rotrings, a lot of ancient Osmiroids (65 & 75) [the newer incarnations are trash]. A few people have given me some old celluloid fountain pens from the 20's and 30's, pretty, but still iridium-tipped. I guess that writing instruments will always be in favor, out, be discovered and lost and found. To try and know everything would be POINTless.
By the way, I do have the Pentalic/Victoria and Albert Museum Poster, The Story Of Handwriting.
Fahrney's does have a guide for selecting the appropriate pen size for your hand. Big hand, big pen; smaller hand, smaller pen.
That's why using a Cross, made me cross till I bought the larger model of their mechanical pencil.
My students do get a chance to write with a variety of pens, reeds, instruments made from oddities and quills and reeds.
In a future post we'll look at holding your writing instrument correctly. Give your hand, shoulders, neck and body a break so that you can write on. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
By the way, I do have the Pentalic/Victoria and Albert Museum Poster, The Story Of Handwriting.
Fahrney's does have a guide for selecting the appropriate pen size for your hand. Big hand, big pen; smaller hand, smaller pen.
That's why using a Cross, made me cross till I bought the larger model of their mechanical pencil.
My students do get a chance to write with a variety of pens, reeds, instruments made from oddities and quills and reeds.
In a future post we'll look at holding your writing instrument correctly. Give your hand, shoulders, neck and body a break so that you can write on. Tim (c)
http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
Comic Sans Is Not Too Silly For The Lettering Artist
I recently engaged in answering a question about the use and abuse of the font, Comic Sans. It is based on letters formed by using a Speedball "B" nib.
My first lettering instruction came from a sign painter - he used BRUSHES to get marvelous letters. He made showcards out of Bristol boards and tempra and it is from him that I learned how to mix all my colors from the primaries. For round "Comic" letters he would use Speedball nibs in the 00 and 0 sizes.
A very energetic and successful contemporary lettering artist, Michael Clark, a fellow Virginian, taught me how to manipulate the "B" and "D" metal points to look like brush strokes. My first reaction was, "Why not use brushes?" The answer, "Most people do not have the light touch required to use brushes". They also do not have the budget to buy really good lettering brushes. Back to Comic Sans. Look at the lettering from the 20s - 50s. You will see that many films and book titles used monoline tools in an age preceding electronic typography.
The "B" point is the only tool that can give you a perfect DOT (if done correctly) over the "i". When done properly by hand and eye control, they are a lot of fun.
The Comic Sans works best if the letters can be kerned and leaded. This is possible in Quark, Pagemaker and Publisher - also in later Word, WordPerfect and in Open Office Write.
I use the "B" nibs in my intermediate calligraphy classes to teach even pressure, letter spacing and learning how to keep the pen fed.
General calligraphic information: I am not a dipper. I practice and teach brush-feeding of the nibs. For most writing this means a nice #6 pointed watercolor brush and a pot of ground stick ink.
My broad-edge metal pen choices are the Brause and Speedball 4 & 5. Pressure & release favorites are the Brause Blue Pumpkin and Rose. For those two nibs the ink choice is a juicy Winsor-Newton Lamp Black or a heavy Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White or something I have mixed from the primaries. Please pay a visit to my website to see samples. The photos are there to enjoy and there are videos of my writing are in the calligraphy gallery. I also enjoy cutting quills and reeds.
For a kick you could simply substitute a Speedball B nib for your favorite italic nib. Do your letters and see what they look like without thicks and thins - I does help the brain to giggle a bit.
For a hoot, find where Michael Clark is teaching a workshop and plead with him to show his tricks and tips with the "B" nibs.
Tim (c) http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
My first lettering instruction came from a sign painter - he used BRUSHES to get marvelous letters. He made showcards out of Bristol boards and tempra and it is from him that I learned how to mix all my colors from the primaries. For round "Comic" letters he would use Speedball nibs in the 00 and 0 sizes.
A very energetic and successful contemporary lettering artist, Michael Clark, a fellow Virginian, taught me how to manipulate the "B" and "D" metal points to look like brush strokes. My first reaction was, "Why not use brushes?" The answer, "Most people do not have the light touch required to use brushes". They also do not have the budget to buy really good lettering brushes. Back to Comic Sans. Look at the lettering from the 20s - 50s. You will see that many films and book titles used monoline tools in an age preceding electronic typography.
The "B" point is the only tool that can give you a perfect DOT (if done correctly) over the "i". When done properly by hand and eye control, they are a lot of fun.
The Comic Sans works best if the letters can be kerned and leaded. This is possible in Quark, Pagemaker and Publisher - also in later Word, WordPerfect and in Open Office Write.
I use the "B" nibs in my intermediate calligraphy classes to teach even pressure, letter spacing and learning how to keep the pen fed.
General calligraphic information: I am not a dipper. I practice and teach brush-feeding of the nibs. For most writing this means a nice #6 pointed watercolor brush and a pot of ground stick ink.
My broad-edge metal pen choices are the Brause and Speedball 4 & 5. Pressure & release favorites are the Brause Blue Pumpkin and Rose. For those two nibs the ink choice is a juicy Winsor-Newton Lamp Black or a heavy Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White or something I have mixed from the primaries. Please pay a visit to my website to see samples. The photos are there to enjoy and there are videos of my writing are in the calligraphy gallery. I also enjoy cutting quills and reeds.
For a kick you could simply substitute a Speedball B nib for your favorite italic nib. Do your letters and see what they look like without thicks and thins - I does help the brain to giggle a bit.
For a hoot, find where Michael Clark is teaching a workshop and plead with him to show his tricks and tips with the "B" nibs.
Tim (c) http://www.timjohnsonphoto.com/
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