cd sketches

 Jinhao X450 vs X450A When looking for a fountain pen I began watching reviews of good quality Chinese pens. Eventually, I came across the Jinhao X series. And because I already have the X750 I decided to try out the X450. But there are listings for an X450 as well as an X450A. This post is for anyone who is looking at buying either the X450 or the X450A. The two pens feature different clip designs. The standard X450 has an angled clip that has three divots on the top section. But the X450A has a sword and shield design. This is the main and clearest difference between the two pens. X450A X450 Although it is very subtle the two pens are slightly different lengths. The X450A is a touch longer than its counterpart, the X450. This difference in length does not have any affect on how the pen handles or the overall weight of the pen.   Overall Essentially, these two pens are the same. The only real difference between the two are the cap ornaments and the length of the pens. Le...

Budget Gurney Sketch Easel for under $15 What is a Gurney Easel? Any member of the internet's Plein air or even gouache community will have heard of the art legend James Gurney. But, on the off chance that you haven't, James Gurney is an artist well known and respected for his works in his Dinotopia series, as well as his numerous paleoart illustrations featured in national geographic. Nowadays Mr. Gurney is very well known for his Youtube channel where he paints en plein air using primarily gouache and watercolor. The "Gurney sketch easel" (as it is commonly referred to) is an easel designed by Mr. Gurney to accommodate painting in a sketchbook rather than on canvas. If you're interested in seeing how the man himself builds his, check out the official tutorial on James Gurney's Gumroad at: https://gurneyjourney.gumroad.com/ Materials List and Prices Chipboard- $0.99 (Michaels) Tripod- $3.75 (Thrift Store) Phone Tripod - $5.00 (Five Below) Hot Glue- $2.99 (Mic...

 HERO 360° (001) FOUNTAIN PEN What makes this pen special? If you have ever written with a fountain pen, you'll know that for the most part, you have to hold the pen in one (or two) ways in order to get the pen to write. And for some people, writing in such a way can be limiting to their mobility. So, as a solution to this niche issue, the brand HERO decided to design the HERO 360 aka (001). The nib on this pen allows you to at "any" angle or hand position. Dimensions Length:  13cm/5.25in (capped) 11.5cm/4.5 in (uncapped) 14.5cm/5.75in (posted)   Weight 13.7g (capped) 10.2g (uncapped) Colors DB , LB ,B The Nib The intention of this design was to allow people to write at whatever position and angle they most preferred. So... to do this, the nib had to be designed in a specific way. The tipping material is ground in a relatively neutral way such that the flow of ink is never compromised. Along with that, is the slits. Most fountain pens have a single slit to allow for the t...

 LUOSHI MICRO FOUNTAIN PEN This tiny pen comes from the relatively unpopular Chinese pen brand Luoshi. Luoshi (from what I can tell) is similar to other Chinese pen brands like Jinhao or Hero. Luoshi provides low-cost fountain pens with relatively good quality, some gimmicks, and some really solid pens. The pen I am showing today was labeled as " Metal Fountain Pen Creative Cigarette Mini Fountain Pen" on Aliexpress Measurements Length: (Capped)3.3 in/8.4 cm (Uncapped)3.25in/8.3cm (Posted)4.25in/ 10.8cm Diameter: .2in/ 5mm Materials: Metal Weight: 7.9g(Capped)/6.0g(Uncapped) Colors:  B W/ O W Price:  $2.63 USD (after customization) Pros  The first, and most obvious "pro" is the size of the pen. Because the pen is so small, it lends well to being kept in a pocket or in other small containers. Another thing I really like about the pen is how sleek the design is. When the pen is capped and when it is posted, the cap lines up flush with the body of the pen making for a...

 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  =...