cd sketches

 FPR FLEX NIB (Jinhao x750) I purchased this nib from "Fountain Pen Revolution" for $6.75 USD and about $5 USD in shipping costs. This nib was listed as " FPR #6 Chrome Fine Flex Nib"  meaning that this is FPR's standard flex option as opposed to their Ultra Flex. As far as I am aware, this nib only comes in fine (F) and the Ultra-Flex only comes in extra fine (EF).  This Nib comes in Chrome (featured here) and a two-tone gold and chrome version. The nib writes from about 0.5mm to 1.1mm. You can purchase this in a #6 or a #5.5. Issues I've had The First Issue I noticed is that the tines are not very difficult to "spring"."Springing" a fountain pen nib is when you over-flex the nib and the tines of the pen do not return to their natural position. The frequency that this occurs is probably because I spent a lot of time working with the Zebra G nib, which is much more flexible. Overall Review As much as a like this nib, I would suggest that ...

 What's in my Urban Sketching Kit What is a Daily Sketching Kit? A daily sketching kit is an assortment of tools and materials that an artist brings with them regardless of where or what they are doing. Keeping a kit of your go-to sketching tools on standby at all times is a great way to make sure that you are never without the ability to create when inspiration strikes. Every artist will carry a different mix of materials that fit their needs. This post is not telling you what to bring sketching but simply showing what I bring and maybe giving you inspiration as to what you could bring with you. The Kit Itself I've been carrying my supplies in a Five Star "Stand 'N Store Pencil Pouch for quite some time now and have had no issues. The pouch fits a 3.5 x 5in sketchbook, and many pens and pencils. I also like the fact that this pouch is built in such a way that allows for it to stand on its own (although heavier materials can unbalance it and mess this up). Micron Pens ...

No Name Retractable Fountain Pen What is a capless fountain pen? Caps are a necessity to 99% of fountain pens, caps ensure that the ink held between the nib and the feed does not dry out. Having a cap on your pen means that every time you want to write, you have to take the cap off. In situations like note-taking, taking a cap on and off can become a hassle. However, some fountain pen brands have found a way around this hiccup. The solution is to remove the cap in total and allow the nib to retreat into the body of the pen. Some of the most notable capless fountain pens are: Pilot Vanishing Point, Lamy 2000, and Lamy Dialog. However, all of the aforementioned pens are upwards of $150 USD. This capless and nameless fountain pen can be had for only $5 USD. I am yet to find a name for this pen but I purchased it on Aliexpress from the St Penpps Pen shop. Dimensions Cost =  Currently $4.98 USD Length =  5.5in/13cm Weight =  16.1g/.57oz Nib Sizes  = F/EF Colors  =...

10 Things you NEED to know before Plein Air Painting 1 ) The great outdoors smells When you prepare to go on your first Plein air adventure the last thing you'll remember is that outside kind of stinks. If you plan on painting a scene where land meets water, you will most definitely notice the smell of fish and water. If you are painting an urban scene you may not notice as much smell. Ultimately the smell of your scene won't ruin your painting but it is not unnoticeable. 2) You WILL forget something Even if you pride yourself on being on top of your stuff, you will ultimately forget to bring something. Don't be worried, this is just a part of Plein air, making use of what you have to make a beautiful painting. If you at least have paint and brushes, you'll be fine. 3)   You'll forget how to paint This one may seem a bit odd, but trust me. When you finally get outside to paint, you may have trouble just getting started. Finding an approach to how you will paint what...

 CROCODILE 215 Preface This pen is one I have been looking for for quite a while. I originally saw this pen on a Youtube channel called "Chinese Handwriting". And the pen wasn't listed in any of their videos. So, after searching for much longer than I'd like to admit I found it. This pen is the Crocodile 215. Dimensions Length: Capped- 5.25in or 13cm   Uncapped- 4.75in or 12cm  Posted- n/a (pen doesn't post)   Cost:  Aliexpress- $7.80 USD Amazon- $9.52 + Shipping Weight: about 20 grams                    Pros Although I have only had this pen for a short time, I have had a great experience. To start off, this pen has tremendous aesthetics. The matte black version I have looks very nice with the bits of gold trim and crocodile detailing. Another nice bit about this pen is its solid feel. Being that the pen is made completely of metal, I definitely don't feel like I'm holding a pen as cheap as i...

KARKOS Fountain Pen Ink Waterproof Test If you have ever looked for fountain pen ink on Aliexpress, you have undoubtedly seen this brand. With prices anywhere from $0.60 to $4.00 for a 30ml bottle, this ink can be quite an attractive purchase. For people that use fountain pens as tools for creating art, one of the most important features of ink is its water resistance. Quick Answer: Is Karkos Fountain pen ink Waterproof? Yes, after about 4 hours, Karkos ink is resistant to water. Further testing is shown below. Waterproof Testing     As you can see in the test, prior to the 30-minute mark, both writing and the dark block are not water-resistant at all. At 30 minutes, you can see that the text is mostly waterproof with a slight bit of pigment still moving. It is not until the 4-hour mark that the block becomes mostly waterproof. An important thing to keep in mind is that if you use so much ink that there is a droplet formed on the page you will need to wait at least 24 hours. ...

 What is a Limited Palette? In painting, a limited palette is exactly what it sounds like, rather than using every color you could ever want on your palette, you limit it to a much lesser amount. Using a limited palette allows beginner and professional artists to focus on aspects of painting besides color, like value and technique. Using limited palettes is also great for improving your understanding of color theory and how to mix color. In this post, I will show you some unusual but interesting color combinations for watercolor painting. #1) Burnt Sienna + Lamp Black     Using Burnt Sienna in collaboration with Lamp Black would be a great way to get quick skin tones for impromptu portraits. If you want to make a travel watercolor palette, these two colors could do you a lot of good. #2) Vermillion + Ultramarine Blue     While the mix of these two colors will result in a bit of a muddy purple, they certainly make for an interesting mix. #3) Prussian Blue + Lemon...