- \n
- They\u2019re more comfortable to draw with due to the way the ink flows from the pen<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- You can achieve more expressive lines by being able to vary line weight (the thickness of the line)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Environmentally friendly as they are refillable rather than disposable<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- It looks cool!<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
That last point was me being a little bit flippant, however, full disclosure: I wanted to be one of those people who sketch with a fountain pen because it does look so much cooler! <\/em>Especially if you have a fancy looking fountain pen. There we go, my superficiality is laid bare for you all to judge me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, as I mentioned above, sketchers use a variety of different pens, but generally, I find sketchers either use a fineliner or a fountain pen. Occasionally, I see sketchers use dip pens but not so much out on location as it\u2019s a bit awkward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/free-class-scene-on-location-banner.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nWhat is a Fineliner?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Fineliners are also known as technical pens. They are available in a range of thicknesses, such as 005 (which is super fine), 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and so on. Usually, in sets of fineliners, the thickest pen will be 0.8, such as in this set of Microns I bought from Amazon<\/a><\/strong>. Microns are a popular brand but you can various other brands of fineliners in most art shops. Popular choices are Uni Pin, Staedtler, Copic and Faber-Castell. As long as the ink is waterproof then use whatever you can find! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have tried all of the previously mentioned brands and liked them all except Faber-Castell. For some reason, I just do not find them nice to draw with. I was out sketching one day and it started to rain and my ink smudged everywhere, even though they are supposed to be waterproof. I have not had that experience with other brands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/micron-pen.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nI mainly use Pigma Microns or the Uni Pins. I have only recently tried and Copic and I really do like drawing with those too. They are slightly more expensive than the other brands I have mentioned, however, you can replace the nibs of the pens and also refill them. So, this could explain the slightly higher price tag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fineliners generally come with black ink but you can also buy them with sepia ink or grey ink too. I believe Uni Pins come in blue and red as well. I generally stick with black but I do have Faber-Castell pens with sepia ink.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why do Urban Sketchers Use Fountain Pens?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s dive into the reasons why urban sketchers use fountain pens a little bit further. I have researched comments and interviews from urban sketchers around the world as to why they prefer to use a fountain pen to sketch and this is a round-up of what they said:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Feel more comfortable to use<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Smoother to draw with due to the way the ink flows from the pen to paper<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Ability to sketch at more of a slant than with a fineliner, therefore it\u2019s more comfortable to draw in a sketchbook<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Can make more expressive lines, especially if you have a pen with a flexible nib<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Great for sketching loosely<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Environmentally friendly opposed to disposable fineliners<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A long-lasting tool you can form an attachment to<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Economical over the long run – if you use a converter you can keep refilling the pen from a bottle of ink<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choosing your own ink to fill the pen with, you can decide on the quality and colour<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- The pen gets better over time and becomes nicer to use<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Fountain pen sketchers are in a scene! There\u2019s quite an enthusiastic community surrounding the use of fountain pens not only for writing but more specifically for drawing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Which Fountain Pen is Best to Sketch With?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
There are a few factors to take into account when selecting a fountain pen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nib size<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Choosing a nib size can be quite difficult, especially if you have no frame of reference to make your decision. I bought my Lamy Safari with a medium nib<\/strong><\/a> because quite honestly at that point I had no idea there were other options. Over time I began to realise sketchers used other nib sizes. After a little investigation, I found I could simply just buy a different nib for my Lamy pen (and not a whole new pen) as changing nibs on the Lamy Safari is very easy. This is not the case with all fountain pens so best to research your specific pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It took a while but I found a nib at Cult Pens<\/strong><\/a>, a company in the UK (where I was living at the time). I bought an extra-fine (EF) nib based on the fact I thought my medium nib produced far too thick a line, and this is why I did not use it as much as I would have liked to sketch with. I was pleased with the EF nib, although the line was still thicker than I had expected! I wondered why this was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As it turns out, nib size completely varies across manufacturers. An extra-fine nib for a Lamy Safari will most likely be a different line width to an extra-fine nib for a Pilot pen for example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
A lot of pen makers will manufacture their own nibs in-house and there is no international standard for what line width an extra-fine, fine, medium or broad nib should produce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are two countries who mainly manufacture nibs, Japan and Germany. You will find the Japanese extra fine and fine nibs actually have a finer line than their German counterparts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are other factors which affect the performance of a nib, such as the ink used, the paper and even the writer\/sketcher themselves (like the angle you write at, the pressure you place on the pen and the speed you write at).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
An incredible place to start when considering nib size choice is the Goulet Pens website. They have an area called \u2018Nib Nook\u2019<\/a> where Brian (the owner of Goulet Pens) has personally written with every single nib for every pen, using the same ink and on the same type of paper. This as good a resource as you can imagine without doing the same test yourself, which would, of course, be fairly impossible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\nDo you want to learn how to sketch your own adventures in ink & watercolour?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
GET 50% OFF FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY!!<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
I will show you my exact sketching process in ink and watercolour<\/strong>. I have travelled around the world in the last 3 years and this is my go-to system of creating beautiful yet quirky illustrations to capture the magic of my discoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We will work through 3 projects, step by step<\/strong> (pictured below), all of which are real-life examples of things I have sketched along my travels. I provide the photo references you can work from.
We will start by choosing a composition, laying in the initial pencil sketch, adding ink lines, layering watercolour and adding the final touches.
This and much more are included in my course, Sketch Your Adventures<\/a><\/strong>, click the button under the image to find out more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Sketch](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/projects-web.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n\nFIND OUT MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\nNib flex & material<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
As well as size, the amount of \u2018flex\u2019 a nib has is also a factor to consider. The more flexible the nib is the more you can vary your line width by applying varying amounts of pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gold nibs will always be more flexible than stainless steel nibs given the nature of the metal, however as I am sure you can guess, gold nibs are more expensive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fude Nibs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Fude nibs are nibs that look bent or curved at the end. You can vary your line width by the angle you use the pen. Traditionally used for writing calligraphy, fude pens are great for sketching loosely with. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/fountain-pen-nibs.jpg\")
(Left) Lamy Safari with Extra Fine nib and (right) Sailor Fude De Mannen <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n I have a Sailor Fude De Mannen, the green one with the nib bent at a 55-degree angle (the black version has a 40-degree angle nib). I bought it from Amazon<\/strong><\/a> but have since found them available at Cult Pens (UK)<\/strong><\/a> for those of you based in the UK.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a nice cheap pen to start with but from what I\u2019ve read it\u2019s not the best option. I suppose this is not all that surprising considering the price. It\u2019s a stepping stone – if you like the idea of the pen or the style of sketching with it you could always upgrade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From my research, I think a good step up would be the Duke 551 Confucius Fude Nib Fountain Pen<\/strong><\/a>. It’s not even that much more expensive than the Sailor. It’s on my list and I hope to be trying it soon – I shall update this post with my thoughts about it when I do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nCheck out my ebooks with hundreds of ink & watercolour travel sketches from all over the world. Get some inspiration for your next trip…
<\/h2>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ebook-bundle-thumb-1280x720-web.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nFIND OUT MORE<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nDesign of the Pen<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
This is where trying out a pen in real life would certainly help. It is tricky to know whether you will find a fountain pen comfortable to use based on photographs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Some sketchers like the long narrow bodies of pens like the Lamy Joy<\/strong><\/a>, Platinum Carbon<\/strong><\/a> and Rotring Art Pens<\/strong><\/a> as they are nicely balanced. It may start to drive you crazy if you cannot place the cap on the end. I tend to lose pen caps if they\u2019re not wedged on the end of the pen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Lamy Safari \u2018triangular\u2019 grip is very comfy for a lot of people. Fineliners can be uncomfortable to use for longer periods of time because they are completely round and don\u2019t have any sort of ergonomic grip. Some fountain pens are the thickness of a fineliner and others have larger barrels. If you have big hands a more substantial pen is probably going to feel more comfortable than a light thin pen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Depending on your hand strength you may prefer the feel of a lighter or heavier pen depending what\u2019s most comfortable for you. A heavier pen may be uncomfortable for longer sketching sessions if you find your hand generally fatigues quickly from sketching anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Price<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
The price of fountain pens can vary phenomenally. In the video below you see Peter Draws and fellow Youtube and pen enthusiast, David from Figboot on Pens, experiment with pens up to US$2000 in price. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you want to nerd out for an hour or so, be my guest and watch the video below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- You can achieve more expressive lines by being able to vary line weight (the thickness of the line)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/lamy-fountain-pen-converter.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/filling-a-fountain-pen.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/sailor-fountain-pen-converter.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/lamy-safari-fountain-pen.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/urbansketchingworld.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/fountain-pens.jpg\")