How to Get Started with Fountain Pens for Drawing and Watercolor

Fountain pens are great for drawing. In this video, I demonstrate how to get started with fountain pens and how to set them up for drawing.

Most fountain pen inks are water soluble so they'll run if you try to apply watercolor over the top of the ink drawing.

There are waterproof inks that work with fountain pens. The Platinum Carbon ink that I used in the video creates a nice dark line and it's waterproof when it dries.

I think these fountain pens have an advantage over the disposable technical pens. For one, you can refill them, but they're also better for drawing. Technical pens eventually dry out and the line becomes lighter as you use up the ink. But another problem with the felt tip pens is sometimes you can't get a good line unless you hold the pen more vertical. Fountain pens don't have this problem and you can hold them with a more traditional grip with the pen at an angle.

ART SUPPLIES USED IN THIS VIDEO
*The links in this description that lead to Amazon or Blick Art Materials are affiliate links which means that if you click on a link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no cost to you.

🖌 FOUNTAIN PENS
Below are the fountain pens that I used in the video. You'll want to make sure that the nib size matches what you're looking for. I used the medium nib for the boat drawing. The Lamy Safari is available in a wide range of colors.

Lamy Safari Aquamarine
Goldspot https://bit.ly/3qpufTF
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p1zy
Amazon https://amzn.to/3qsCcaK

Lamy Safari Blue
Goldspot https://bit.ly/3L47uyb
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p209

Lamy Safari Yellow
Goldspot https://bit.ly/3TWnTIV
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p21n

DRAWING INK
Platinum Carbon Black is the waterproof drawing ink that I use with watercolor. It's waterproof when once it dries.You want to make sure that it doesn't dry in your pen. Clean it out frequently and if you don't plan on using it then it's best to clean it and store it without ink.
Goldspot https://bit.ly/3ezKpaq
Amazon https://amzn.to/3BuEUCU

CONVERTER FOR SAFARI LAMY
If you want to use your own ink with a fountain pen, then you'll need to buy a converter. Check to make sure the converter works with your pen. The Z28 is what works with the Lamy Safari.
Goldspot https://bit.ly/3RBwcs8
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p20y
Amazon https://amzn.to/3RQTxFV

SKETCHBOOK
I've been using the Stillman & Birn sketchbooks for years. They hold up to ink drawing and light washes of watercolor. They may buckle slightly but the pages seem to flatten out after it dries and you store it on a shelf for awhile.
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p20k
Amazon https://amzn.to/3quFLNH

WATERCOLORS
The small white watercolor palette is from a set of student grade Cotman watercolors which are made by Winsor & Newton. When I used up the pans of watercolor, I filled them up with the QoR watercolors from Golden. You can make your own pans of watercolor by squeezing out watercolor into empty watercolor pans and letting them dry out for a day or two. Maybe I should make a video about that someday. 🤔

COTMAN PANS OF WATERCOLOR
Amazon https://amzn.to/3TXKhSj
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p20p

QoR TUBE WATERCOLORS
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p20s
Amazon https://amzn.to/3B4wMYl

BRUSH PEN
I love this brush pen for sketching and for making bold lines. It comes with two refills and it's easy to load. The brush tip makes it easy to achieve variations in line thickness.
Amazon https://amzn.to/3B6Jp5i
Blick http://shrsl.com/3p20v