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. 

Pine Needle Woods

 

It's super fun to try out another Diamine invent ink - Pine Needle. It's a lovely color for evergreens that saturates almost to a cad green, and washes to a yellow green.  I like selecting pens as artistic as the ink, and this one is a beauty.  I'm looking forward to exploring all this ink can do - when I've got a bit more time.  As for now, I've got a robotics tournament to attend with half the family and my grandsons competing!  Painting number 5086 in 5086 days. 

Sunset Sleigh Ride

 

Happy New Year's Eve! I hope you all have an amazing New Year!  Before heading out to celebrate the ringing in of the new year with a family game night, I am sketching a sunset landscape in Sleigh Ride red ink by Diamine, day 15 in the Inkvent Calendar.  The red is lovely and softens when applied to wet areas, getting pretty dark when heavily applied.  It's so fun to play with the inks and pens!  Painting number 5054 in 5054 days. 

Tinsel Santa

 It's so fun to sneak in a quick Santa painting with pen and ink!  This is Surprise Murder Mystery Birthday Party day for our oldest daughter, and we've all been busy with preparations.  The glass dip pen and a little water are perfect to move this ink as I work.  There's always enough time for a miniature painting - even on a day like this!  Painting number 5038 in 5038 days. 

Chickadee Pair

I just barely had time for a quick bird sketch before the big game! With a favorite TWSBI fountain pen and watercolor, I sketched this duo in ink before filling in the color.  We have so many birds flocking to the feeders - it's fun to spend a little painting time with them!  So happy the Chiefs won another Super Bowl!!  We ate living the dream in Kansas City!  Painting number 4051 in 4051 days. 

Meramec River inked

 Love sketching by the river in pen and ink! 

Bliss

 

It's Diamine Inkvent Calendar time again and my Day 1 ink is Bliss - and just look at that beautiful chroma!  Choosing a glass dip pen in a matching color, I sketch my lines with the pen.  I then add ink along the top with a dropper, floating water along the edge with a wash brush.  I add more ink with the dropper, allowing it to mingle naturally.  I did use a little bleach, to see how it would react - but it only lightened, without added chroma.  It's a lovely color ink though, and i think it will may be really great to use in sunny skies.  Painting number 4411 in 4411 days.  #diamineinkventcalendar2022

Santa Inked

Looks like Santa is bringing me a fountain pen - lol!  As much as I love trying new inks, I also love getting back to my favorite Raven Black ink in a favorite, reliable TWSBI Eco fountain pen.  After using glass dip pens most of the month, I really love having ink flow smoothly from the nib - with no dipping!  It is very relaxing to settle in with pen and paper, and create.  Its like an art meditation in the midst of Christmas craziness.  So much fun!  Painting number 3261 in 3261 days. 

Phlox

I love how long these tall garden phlox flourish in years of heavy rain!  These beauties were gorgeous for the Fourth of July, and here it is middle September and still they shine!  I do deadhead them whenever I see the need, which keeps them sprouting new blooms.  I have had them bloom into November before - but that is rare!  So, today I capture them in miniature with ink and watercolor, because once again my time is short.  Thank goodness for garden inspiration on days like these!  Painting number 3160 in 3160 days. 

Jackson Bridge

When I walked down to the bank of this river, the wide sweeping view unfolded before me!  The drought in these parts has changed the landscape of the river beds, creating so much interest - and gravel bars to perch on that normally are underwater!  Intending to add watercolor, I started my sketch.  As I worked, I found the ink more expressive and no longer wanted to use the watercolor.  I think it is important to let the scene "talk" to me, and let the painting lead me where it wants to go.  In this way, I find the truest capture of this moment in this place.  Painting number 2821 in 2821 days. 

Lake Barkley State Park Trail

When I opened my favorite TWSBI pen for a quick drawing, the ink would not flow correctly. Not wanting to climb down the rocks to rinse the nib, I grabbed the next one.  It flowed nicely from my pen but as I looked down, it was also on my hands and it appeared that some had burst forth in the cap!  What on earth?  Just then a visitor starts chatting me up as I nonchalantly try to wipe ink from my hands!  A few minutes later I am using the tiny bit of water in my brush pen to reduce the stains on my hands.  I still didn't want to climb down rocks to wash up in the lake!  I guess the pressure of the previous week's flight to Arizona had wrecked havoc with my pens! They were fine while there but I had not used these since!  Now I will know to check them!  What I intended for a watercolor turned into an ink due to the excess amounts dropped from said pen!  Another plein air adventure!  Painting number 2607 in 2607 days.

High Water

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It was pretty cold out there this afternoon, but I was toasty in my new down coat!  I bought it with future cold weather painting in mind, and it was so comfortable!  I walked the trail today after running errands in town, soaking in that nature and sketching small.  This winding creek in winter is beautiful, the brush so much easier to manage this time of year.  This landscape calls for ink, so I did not even bring my watercolors today. Love spending time out here, even in the still of winter.  Painting number 2576 in 2576 days.

Evans House

While at the show for the Steelville Plein Air event, a man came up to this drawing, looking very closely at it.  After a minute or two, he told me this was his grandparent's house.  His grandparents were married here, and his grandmother's sister died here, it was full of family history.  After asking me to write "Evan's House", he took this drawing home.  I'm so glad this drawing found it's perfect home!  Painting number 2351 in 2351 days.

Barnett House Inked

This private estate was a beautiful place to spend the day, complete with barn, lake, lakehouse and woods along the lake.  I could have painted here all day in such beautiful surroundings.  This pen and ink drawing was my first of the day.  Painting number 2350 in 2350 days.

Farm on Schultz-Portage Rd

Knowing I wouldn't get the chance tomorrow, I went for a run on the North Coast Inland Trail after lunch.  This trail follows an old railroad line that passes town, golf course and rolling farms.  This farmhouse is just past Sugar Creek, and the first farm I pass on my run out of town.  I sketch and paint quickly, because that misty drizzle is no companion to ink or watercolor!  I then tuck my painting in my pocket and get back to my run. Painting number 2121 in 2121 days.

Belton Train Yard

One never knows what a day will bring, and for that I am truly grateful.  Only a short post tonight as the real world knocks at my door.  Cherish your loved ones and give them an extra hug, life is an incredible gift.  Painting number 2104 in 2104 days.

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Weatherby Lake Race

It is thrilling to capture a yacht race in progress with pen and ink!  Today's pen, my newest TWSBI  Go with raven black ink by Levenger.  I LOVE this ink, the rich velvety blackness and the way it moves readily with a little water, put this ink at the top of my list!  And I have probably tried 20 different kinds of black ink!  This pen is serving me well, and at the very economical price, I could put one in each of my sketch bags!  So far, it has not clogged up, and works perfectly every time I put my hands on it.  I can be a very demanding artist of my tools, I simply don't have time to waste on second best of anything. As for sketching lakeside during a yacht race - it is the perfect "office du jour"!!  Painting number 2094 in 2094 days.

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Corner Boutique

Whenever I travel, especially if I'm going to be spending long hours in the hospital, I bring plein air sketches to finish.  Occasionally, I'm in the field and have to leave before the color is added. The endless hours are well spent with a pen or brush in my hand.  The roller coaster ride of the ICU is better when my mind is otherwise occupied.  Hoping the improvement continues and better days are ahead.  Painting number 2087 in 2087 days.

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Albion Courthouse

I love the character of this historic courthouse in Albion!  These small Midwest towns have some wonderful architecture!  I rarely draw a building from straight on, but I really liked this composition.  I am using my TWSBI Go fountain pen, which is a new, economical model with a funky little spring loader for the ink.  That means, to reload, I dip the nib in the ink (which I now carry with me), push down on the button atop that spring coil, release and up the ink goes into the barrel!  It is that easy, and this pen is cheap, so I could carry one in each of my sketch bags!  This drawing has a new home, and is my 2086th in 2086 days.

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Chuys Mexican Food Inked

Tonight's quick paint for the Brush Creek Art Walk wad held at JC Nichol's Fountain.  The setting sun through the buildings grabbed me immediately, so I began my sketch.  Knowing I would need to work fast to get those values down before my painting, I dropped them in quickly.  I keep a Pilot Varsity fountain pen in my easel all the time, which I keep in the trunk.  No matter how that pen has been abused by heat or cold, and laying on it's side all the time, it works every time I remove the lid.  It may not be fancy, but that pen is a workhorse, one that I depend on when I forget my fancy pens!  This painting will have a new home in Canada!  Painting number 2062 in 2062 days.

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