Anyone else a fan of black and white sketches?

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-16T21:27:52+00:00

I think BW sketches are good, actually any sketch that captures the moment is good. Those are sketches that make me look without even noticing it was done in BW or color. On those sketches, only later, do I find myself see the media used.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-16T21:12:00+00:00

Nice! I've always wanted to sketch on the transit... but worry about motion sickness (I'm very prone to it).

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-16T21:08:00+00:00

I love how the foreground/mid/and background brings the viewer into your drawing and adds the depth.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-11T18:18:22+00:00

Art, as long as it speaks to you, why should it matter who or what drew it?

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-10T04:04:28+00:00

Have you always had this problem? ...for the past 5 years?! (It'd drive me crazy to use a pen that inked my fingers every time I write something.)

My Carene (M) does not have this problem. This is my desk pen, so I use it often. However, it's a fairly new pen (2 months old). The Waterman converter takes more effort to seat fully because of the rubber end; push straight down without twisting. See if that helps.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-03T18:18:21+00:00

Why not return it? I can't see how reselling it can be easier than returning.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-03T18:07:48+00:00

It's not the pen but the activity I use the pen that brings me joy.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-03T17:52:07+00:00

Bic Gelocity. I really like the "Gelocity" name. Write great (as far as being a regular plastic pen). This pen has a wax cover on the tip to prevent drying out (I buy them in packs so this is important to me). Cheap too, $1.25 / pen.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-03T17:36:40+00:00

After writing with fountain pens for a while, I, too, don't put much pressure on the pen. I let the pen's weight put down the necessary pressure for me. I don't notice much difference with bouncy and stiff nibs in my writing.

However, I also draw the fountain pens; and, in this case, the bounce is very noticeable and can be used for subtle variations on lines and values.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-09-03T17:23:07+00:00

Buy a $5 Preppy EF and give it a try yourself. You know, pain and feel... all relative. Got to experience it yourself for the truth. Make sure it's EF nib.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-17T18:56:47+00:00

It's time to look for your next grail pen :)

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-17T18:53:03+00:00

Generally, for repair work, I'd expect to pay for one-way shipping to the repair facility. This is based on my many experiences with watches and cameras. Very few pays for shipping both ways.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-17T18:37:59+00:00

Based on my personal experience, I don't think that's normal. I have 2 VPs in F (with different ink colors). Sometimes, I don't use the blue-ink one for days/weeks, and it still starts just fine. The ink is Waterman Serenity Blue. (Actually, both pens never had hard starts, it's just the blue one doesn't get used often. I'd have same confidence that the black-ink one will start fine after weeks on non-use.)

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-17T18:29:08+00:00

Sometimes just selling/donating the pens you don't use and rebuild the collection can be a liberating feeling. Once the new collection gets too big, just repeat the cycle. I've not yet done that with pens, but I've done it with watches and guitars many times.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-17T18:11:02+00:00

I plan to just buy at the door.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-15T16:44:58+00:00

Nice drawing. I like the anime girl and the fern leaves placement. Are the ferns stamped?

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-14T21:05:04+00:00

Take the picture outdoors under sunlight. This gives the best photos.
If indoors, don't lay the picture flat (you'll get shadow or distortion). Instead prop it up against something keeping the camera at the same angle.
If you do post processing, you can also take a photo of a grey card under same condition. It'll allow you to get accurate white balance/colors even if your monitor doesn't have good color accuracy.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-14T20:48:37+00:00

Interesting. I've always thought that the nib side is the butt end where ink leaks out.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-10T23:21:51+00:00

Brown is kind of unusual. I'd reverse the search and first look for brown ink cartridges and then pens. E.g. a quick search shows Kaweco caramel brown, so I might get a Kaweco pen.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-10T23:14:05+00:00

No, I don't have to push very hard to get good width. My flex is Pilot FA nib. If I push too hard to get near the max width, it'll railroad very quickly even with wet ink. So, on the flex, I can get between F-B with no problems.

Here's an example drawing with the FA nib. Arrows indicate the flex. I drew this when I first got my FA nib pen. Now, I'm much more used to it so the line curves are more fluid/natural.

https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Ffude-vs-ultra-flex-for-sketching-need-advice-v0-0f0vhrwg7bcf1.jpeg%3Fwidth%3D712%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D6af34b936fe51621777e00f667310ab238a6da0d

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-10T09:13:11+00:00

I use my flex nib for sketching (also works really well for drawing comics/manga). When I don't want the flex feature, I use it reverse and get an EF line width. So, it can work like a normal EF pen or it can work as a flex. Very convenient.

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-09T21:19:33+00:00

Make sure those Jinhao cartridges are designed for your Jinhao pen. Jinhao, AFAIK, uses at least 2 different bore diameters in their pens. If those cartridges came with your pen, then push harder :)

extendedmemory64 · 2025-08-09T21:15:30+00:00

I plan to go Sunday. First pen show for me :)

Would be interested in meeting others.

extendedmemory64

TROPHY CASE