TWSBI Fountain Pens!

 

We're doing something new and fun at Urban Sketchers KC!  Fountain Pen Friday! Here's my first sketch to kick off the fun!  I'd you'd like to join the fun, post and use the hashtag #urbansketcherskc and #fountainpenfriday!  This idea popped up during our planning meeting yesterday for the Urban Sketchers KC 2026 calendar.  So, for our initial post, I grabbed a few of my newest pens loaded and unloaded, to sketch!  Once I fill with an ink in a matching color, I stand them in the tea box, nib up. Those new ones are laying on their sides, waiting for my attention.  So, THIS is the perfect in process sketch!  Painting number 4721 in 4721 days. 

Chicadee and Pine

 

The little chicadees kept me company as I worked in the garden, and then I painted one! I'm using three inks, Diamine Nutcracker, Robert Oster's Detox, and Levenger Raven black on a watercolor paper I thought was handmade..... but now I'm not so sure sure... It should be cotton, but I don't think it's 100% based on the ink and water reaction.  It's not bad, but it's different, and every new paper is an exploration of how it handles my specific technique.  I love spending time in nature, and the birds are begging to be painted!  Painting number 5184 in 5184 days. 

Butterfly and Hydrangea

 

I remember the days I longed for hydrangea to paint, and now they bloom abundantly and I'm out in the garden painting!  It's all about the little things, after all.  I ripped this paper down to fit a frame I have, so it is an usual size at 4x2.5 inches.  Additionally, I am using new handmade artisan metallic watercolors that I bought from Chubby Mermaid, and they are amazing as they add a little sparkle to the petals and leaves.  I'm going to have fun exploring these beauties! I think this one is destined for Powell Gardens one of these days!  Painting number 5133 in 5133 days. 

Young Bucks

It is super fun to sketch young deer at play, with three fountain pens loaded with different inks, adding water for flow within the masses!  I have an assortment of fountain pens that I loaded with some of the amazing Diamine inks from the 2021 Inkvent Calendar, and I took three with me - a blue, brown and yellow.  With these three inks, I sketched and added water to move the ink while I worked.  The deer had bolted before hardly any of their color was on,  but I always paint the animals first in a scene - as they often drift right out of sight! The sketch and color is loose - just like the quick moment I caught them at play! Painting number 3664 in 3664 days and day 16 of the current #stradaeasel challenge.

Oranges on the Branch

We slept on the enclosed patio, and it was delightful! All night long, the sweet aroma of orange blossoms wafted in, as the Arizona winds blew and rain fell sporadically.  I love the sounds and scents outdoors at night, they lull me like a lullaby.  And, waking outside was amazing.  I studied the form of the branches, blossoms and oranges, from my pillow.  As I leisurely headed in for hot tea, my mind was already on painting.  With ink and watercolor I rendered the scene, and went back in for another cup of tea with fresh lemon from another tree.  What a perfect way to start a day!  Painting number 3373 in 3373 days. 

Brushes

This day started with the memorial service of a dear artist friend's father, a local watercolorist icon and generous soul.  The whole family then gathered here this afternoon, for the first time since Christmas, silly covid.  Now the house is quiet, Mike and Michael out helping Cooper with a desk, all is clean, so I come to my easel.  I'm so thankful for these days spent together, sharing joy and sadness with those I love.  Life is made up of so many little moments.  Playing peak-a-boo with little Quinn, walking Casper as we kick the little soccer ball outside, holding Layne as his clear blue eyes stare so deeply into mine, Nolan setting timers on my watch - counting down to "hug time", and little Gus packing a car full of his pups as we played with the train set.  Food, fun, laughter, and many voices filling the house as Alastair seeks a quiet place and Alan plays on his computer in the midst of it all.  The older kids play a new board game in the kitchen as Mom pets the dogs filing over for attention.  Trav's new puppy is scared of it all, but she'll soon come around.  Life is short, and as I cherish every moment, I pick up my favorite TWSBI Diamond fountain pen and start to draw.  Ink and paper are old friends, and so together, we draw one of my jars of countless brushes.  Drawing feels like wrapping myself in a warm blanket, which suits me perfectly tonight.  Painting number 3328 in 3328 days. 

Yellow Moon Cactus

After a nerve wrecking Chief's game, I am drowning my post game sorrows with a little ink and watercolor tonight.  I love the vibrant yellow color of this moon, and it is fun to sketch with ink.  Pen and ink is good art therapy, with a little watercolor wash to ease the mind.  Painting number 3315 in 3315 days, and day 29 of the #stradaeasel challenge.

Mums!

I got these fabulous chrysanthemums from Suburban Lawn and Garden nearly a month ago - and they are still spectacular!  The very large flowers are bold and bright - lighting up my kitchen table!  I'm painting in miniature tonight, because once again I have worked myself into the late hours.  I had just boxed my last commission up when I sold another painting and got another commission!  I hadn't even made it to the UPS store - lol!  It's a good problem to have and I do like to keep on top of things.  So, that leaves only a little painting window, and I'm using ink and watercolor on handmade paper, and trying to capture those vivid hues.  I hope these sunny blooms last long into winter - and I can try them in oils!  Painting number 3230 in 3230 days. 

Geraniums

As I work in my gardens to put my beds to rest for the season, I am busy bringing in my favorites to winter over indoors.  I simply cannot leave these beauties to the Jack Frost. I bought this one and another fushia geranium at Suburban Lawn and Garden in the spring, and they have flourished - despite being forgotten by my husband while I was away painting.  So, they deserve an extended season, and I'm hoping to get to paint their blooms all winter long!  After this long gardening day, all I can manage is a miniature painting, using ink and watercolor for this floral.  So nice to get a painting in - even if it's a tiny one!  Painting number 3219 in 3219 days. 

Park University Campus

I love painting the architecture of the grand old buildings on the Park University Campus!  Sitting in the shade of a tree, I do my line work with De Atramentis Archive Ink, following with Levenger's Raven Black in this pictured fountain pen with a broad nib.  This is my first pen in all these years to have a broad nib, and in only a few paintings I have grown to love it!  It drops a smooth, rich line, more intense than the medium nib. On smoother papers, the line may be too bold, but the majority of my papers are rough in texture, so the broad nib really helps speed the drawing process.  I love my fountain pens!  In fact, I have a brand new one just out of the box, just waiting to be inked! Painting number 3143 in 3143 days.  This painting now showing at Cathy Kline Art Gallery through October! 

Flaming Flag Tulips

I love these fancy tulips in the garden!  My first of the season, the Flaming Flags really show off their stripes - and they close up with the sun!  I have two new fountain pens - TWSBI Minis, one with a broad nib and one extra fine.  I love the rich line of the broad nib for edge work, and the extra fine is perfect for those sketchy lines making up the composition.  I have the white one loaded with my fav Levenger's Raven Black and the silver is filled with De Atramentis Archive Ink (which does not move with water).  I really love the rose gold details of the white pen, and both are super smooth writers.  Super fun to spend a little time in my garden today with a couple of new toys!!  Painting number 3015 in 3015 days. 

Trees Inked

I love studying the nature of trees in pen and ink!  With just a little time left before sunset, I jumped right in with a quick sketch of this stand of trees. Using one of my TWSBI Ecos with medium nib, I sketch what is before me, only glancing at the paper.  Using sketchy little marks, I get the place captured, then coming in with a little water in a brush pen.  I think the ink in this pen is almost entirely Levenger's Raven Black.  Pretty sure I didn't rinse out the barrel before reloading ink in the field.  Love the velvety richness of that ink!  I'm on my third large bottle of this ink, and I've not run out of any other inks.  That's I pretty good indication of how much I use this ink!  Painting number 2988 in 2988 days.  I'd like to spend more time on sketching trees before their leaves return.  I really like the forms of trunks and branches and feel like I need more practice! 

Stella D'Oro and the Bee

The very best thing about Stella in the garden is her long bloom time.  A reblooming daylily, this one has an extended bloom time.  And that cheerful bright yellow is a real show stopper in the beds!  Shorter and more compact that my tall vintage ones, I place these towards the front of my beds.  Working larger, I first ink my composition, adding in the watercolor afterwards.  I had every intention of washing in a dark background to represent the shadows, but I hesitated.  So, if in doubt, don't.  I'm not sure if that was the right decision, I may just do another in that way.  Painting number 2718 in 2718 days.

January Creek

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I keep multiple sketch bags in various sizes in several locations, as to always have a bag at the ready.  Today, I picked up a small leather bag that I use when traveling to amusement parks or the zoo, anywhere I might need to be hands free - but still have supplies for small paintings with me.  While digging through the "pen pocket", I found my favorite fountain pen on it's side at the bottom!  I keep all my fountain pens stored nib up, ready to use.  I did have to swish this one through the water a couple times before the ink would flow correctly, but oh how I've missed the smooth nib action!  Pretty sure I have a different ink than my norm, and the paper was different, too, but it was a pleasure using this pen again!  Painting number 2574 in 2574 days. 

Sleeping Nolan

This little darling reminds me so much of his daddy!  Tonight, pen and ink are my medium on this handmade cotton paper.  I'm using one of my favorite pens, loaded with cosmic black, which is wonderful to manipulate with pen or brush.  A little water moves the ink, I just need to be careful.  Ink is permanent, so there can be no false marks.  If I'm in doubt, I lay down very light marks until I'm sure of my footing.  This is only my second ink portrait, so in exploring with the marks, perhaps a little looser on this one.  I'm thinking of dropping some lines completely.  There's something to be said for drawing only what is important.  I'll keep playing until I find my way!  Painting number 1836 in 1836 days.

Augustus!

Little Augustus is SO expressive!  His thoughts are written boldly across his face!  After getting a little baby time this afternoon, I take up the fountain pen to render this little darling in ink!  Though I've done many portraits, I've never done them in ink - something about the permanence of it all!  There are no erasers for fountain pens!  So, I made a few tick marks in pencil (like the top, bottom, sides of the face, eye, nose, lip shadow dots) to give me a visual map to start with.  With these dots, I adjusted accordingly as I lay down the ink.  I think I could have done these ticks in ink, and probably will the next time.  I guess I just needed the crutch to get me going!  Once the drawing was in, I used a wet brush to move the ink a little, softening lines and adding shadow planes.  This is a one shot deal.  If I miss the placement of those planes, there's no going back.  No eraser!  I REALLY love the depth of the black ink - I will definitely be doing this again!  Painting number 1826 inn 1826 days.

Tangle of Roses

Burning the midnight oil tonight with my new assortment of inks and pens!  Trying out each one to see how they work, for every ink is different and responds to water in a wide variety of ways!  More to come later on my personal ink preferences!  Painting number 1698 in 1698 days.

ink on paper, 8x6
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