I love a good ink pen. There are so many different brands on the market; however, I have found that some do not have a lot of ink in them. I also see the difference when they smudge. I love getting different sizes. Just like a pencil, pens come in all kinds of different sizes. You have 0.5 and the 0.8. If you are a beginner, get a pack with about six different size. Do a sample page and put the point size beside it so you can refer back to the pen size. I love the micron pens in different sizes. I can order them from amazon and replenish my stock quickly. It also makes a difference what kind of paper you are using. I used drawing paper in the past because I could not afford anything else. But if you are going to do a project with a pen, I suggest using bristol paper. It is durable and thick enough that it does not bleed through the paper. If you are using watercolors or markers before you ink, test a page. Sometimes bristol paper will be destroyed under the weight of liquids.
One of my favorite things to do is illustration. I love to color the blocks with watercolor and then go in afterwards with my black ink. It always pops off the page. Since I received a cricut machine, I have not stopped doing the pen and ink art. I love getting a shadow box, putting the artwork inside and cutting out vinyl letters for the glass. It is too much fun.
I practiced typography in school with pens. It was a challenge. We had to create our own fonts, and I remember enjoying that part. But when it comes to artwork, I’m too scared to try typography on a piece that I spent forty hours drawing. So in the age of vinyl lettering, I say keep doing those pens and inks. And get yourself a vinyl cutter.
