Using quill pens

[K. Mogensen]

Tried using a quill pen w/ white acrylic ink for the first time today.

I'm having an extremely hard time getting good results. The tip of the nib wants to catch on everything. I've tried writing on bare wood, bare glass, and finished wood and glass. It's a bit smoother w/ finish, but then the tip digs in, scratching it.

Are there any better alternatives? Will be finishing with tru oil, and was wondering about fine tip elmers paint pens.

Thanks.
 

[wood carver 2]

Tru Oil should be ok with paint pens. Just let it dry well first. Do a test run on a piece of scrap first.
Dave.

[east_tx_pineknot]

Use Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pens like this:

 http://www.fabercastell.com/art-and-graphic/products/categories/artist-pens/PITTartistpenBlack?page=2

They have India Ink in them.  It makes writing on a bow a lot easier!  Plus you it wont scratch the glass like a nib can.

[Thadbow]

I had the same problem with an inexpensive pen that I picked up at michaels.
I ended up picking up a few antique dip pens and I was amazed how much smoother they are!

[K. Mogensen]

Funny, that's the same pen I'm using. Thanks for the info guys.

[Dan Landis]

I had trouble with the paint pens smearing with tru-oil.  Could have been the brand of pen I was using though (Deco Color).

[K. Mogensen]

Well, I tried using a tooth pick today as opposed to the quill pen.

It works!

MUCH better. Doesn't scratch, catch, or blob up. Need to load it a few more times, and it's hard choking up on something that short, but it works like a charm.

So, to anyone experiencing quill pen woes, use a tooth pick. Works extremely well!

Thanks guys.

 

[Dan Landis]

Try a bamboo skewer, same point and more to hold on to.

[K. Mogensen]

Great idea based on the same concept! Thanks.

[So-Mo Archer]

Just a small tip from a guy who used to calligraphy everything, try to keep your pen strokes moving right and downward as you write. The nib will cooperate a little better that way. Try it out on some scrap and see if that helps any. Good luck.

[Pat B]

I started making my own pens from small diameter cane. Google quill pens. You will get lots of info on making your own.

[K. Mogensen]

Hey Pat, I'll try it. Plenty of feathers around for my try those.

Matt, I'll work on my technique too.

Sounds like I have a lot of options here now guys. Thanks!

[7 Lakes]

The bamboo skewer thing works better than my $40 dip pen set.  

You guys could be millionares if you didn't spend so much time on this site  

[mahantango]

To avoid smearing with Tru-oil I give the lettered area a light shot with rattle-can poly to seal it and let dry thoroughly before going to the Tru-oil.

[wood carver 2]

I've tried paint pens, sharpies and fine art pens and each time I spray over the writing with poly, it smudges.
Dave.

[LC]

I've always used Gel pens from Office Depot. You can get them in black, white and gold.I mist spray over it once or twice and never had a problem then back to normal spray finish. I might look have to try the link from Michaels though just to try something new.

[D]

Why not just take the toothpick and stick in inside the quill of a feather????  Give you a little bit more to hold on to.

[SenterShot]

Not all pen nibs are created equal. Some are much more flexible, making thin-to-wide lines possible in the same stroke by varying pressure. That takes practice to master, but makes for good artwork.

If you're snagging on everything, make sure that your holding the pen right-side up (that's the newbie mistake I made for awhile. You want the sides to curve down towards the writing surface).

It is super easy to bend the tip and ruin a pen. Just dropping it once on the floor can render the thing useless. Also, if you've been practicing on cheap paper, watch for tiny paper fibers caught in the tip.

Caligraphy ink comes in quite a few colors. I've found the plain old black ink flows much easier.  I've got to believe that acrylic paint will dry too quickly and clog your pen nib. I picked up some "Dr. Ph. Martin's Bombay" in white at Hobby Lobby that worked tolerably well. Red in the same brand flows better, and drys flatter. I'd suggest practicing with the cheap black ink Wal-mart sells and a Speedball #512 nib.

Ok, now if I only knew more about actually building bows....