I always use the micron pens for quilt labeling. A different application, but I know it's washfast, appropriately archival, and chemically stable. Quilters have gone nuts for the awful frixion pens (it's fine for secret messages? I guess?) to mark quilting lines to sew that APPEAR to disappear with heat application. I like archival quality tools and I don't like the thought that those chemicals are still in your artwork and may possibly degrade your fabric with time... it's been a problem that those frixion lines reappear in quilts that are in shows to be judged because they were transported in airplane cargo holds and the lines reappear in cold temperatures. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it's not there. So uninformed. I'd choose archival everything, in my opinion!
Perfect timing as always: I’m currently diving into REALLY ling endurance periods for art, in this case 2 billion years or more. (You’ll love the punchline.) Thank you.
This is such a timely article for me. Started looking for fine liners, and I took a chance and bought Faber-Castell without really doing a lot of research (just because I recognised the brand). Also me having absolutely zero experience with drawing, I bet I wouldn't really know the difference anyway.
Thanks for the above information, though, very useful!
I use Micron PN (Plastic Nib) for inking drawings when I'm not using the ol' Hunt 102 crowquill. I never use Microns for freehand drawing -- only ruling straight lines or hand-lettering (things I used to do with Rapidograph-style cylindrical nib technical drawing pens -- until I got too lazy to keep cleaning them and was always losing the tiny parts, anyway).
My friend, graphic novelist Ursula Murray Husted, tries to use refillable markers. Her concern is all the empties having a negative effect on the environment. Do you have any thoughts about that?
It's been many years since I've worked with pens, but this post brought it all back. Through your words, I can absolutely understand the subtle differences between these options, and what a difference it can make to both the quality of the final product, and your own satisfaction with the process of creating.
What a great post. I love reading about pens (I had a set that I used for maps and various graphics in my grad school days in geography and soil science in the early ‘80s). Cleaning them was quite therapeutic.
Have you ever tried a brush pen? Kuretake gives the finest of lines, but it takes more control because it has brush bristles and can also do very bold lines if you like. The Akashina ink cartridges are rich, flat black and waterproof
Some very good "points".
Despite not being an artist and not knowing anything about pens, I found this very interesting and informative!
I love reading these kind of “behind the curtain “ things! Reminds me of the weeks-long struggle to find a decent saxophone reed
I always use the micron pens for quilt labeling. A different application, but I know it's washfast, appropriately archival, and chemically stable. Quilters have gone nuts for the awful frixion pens (it's fine for secret messages? I guess?) to mark quilting lines to sew that APPEAR to disappear with heat application. I like archival quality tools and I don't like the thought that those chemicals are still in your artwork and may possibly degrade your fabric with time... it's been a problem that those frixion lines reappear in quilts that are in shows to be judged because they were transported in airplane cargo holds and the lines reappear in cold temperatures. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it's not there. So uninformed. I'd choose archival everything, in my opinion!
Perfect timing as always: I’m currently diving into REALLY ling endurance periods for art, in this case 2 billion years or more. (You’ll love the punchline.) Thank you.
I've also started using the Micron 02 in the last couple of months, and I've greatly enjoyed it more with the 005.
It’s got such a great point!
This is such a timely article for me. Started looking for fine liners, and I took a chance and bought Faber-Castell without really doing a lot of research (just because I recognised the brand). Also me having absolutely zero experience with drawing, I bet I wouldn't really know the difference anyway.
Thanks for the above information, though, very useful!
Literally picked up the Faber castell the other day as a going out of biz purchase at Joann’s. Now then… where did I put that pen…. lol
I use Micron PN (Plastic Nib) for inking drawings when I'm not using the ol' Hunt 102 crowquill. I never use Microns for freehand drawing -- only ruling straight lines or hand-lettering (things I used to do with Rapidograph-style cylindrical nib technical drawing pens -- until I got too lazy to keep cleaning them and was always losing the tiny parts, anyway).
My friend, graphic novelist Ursula Murray Husted, tries to use refillable markers. Her concern is all the empties having a negative effect on the environment. Do you have any thoughts about that?
I do, but that’s going to have to wait, I’m in the middle of hard core edits on a project.
Got it, thanks.
It's been many years since I've worked with pens, but this post brought it all back. Through your words, I can absolutely understand the subtle differences between these options, and what a difference it can make to both the quality of the final product, and your own satisfaction with the process of creating.
You have me digging out my pens to put them back to work. Thanks for nudge!
On aside, I was wondering if "A Distant Soil" was ever offered as a hardcover?
Yes, we have a few library edition hardcovers left.
Oh?!? Do you sell them directly? Please link me to where if that's the case. Cheers.
I do, I will be updating my website shortly, I have a huge project to finish in the coming days and can’t get distracted.
What a great post. I love reading about pens (I had a set that I used for maps and various graphics in my grad school days in geography and soil science in the early ‘80s). Cleaning them was quite therapeutic.
Have you ever tried a brush pen? Kuretake gives the finest of lines, but it takes more control because it has brush bristles and can also do very bold lines if you like. The Akashina ink cartridges are rich, flat black and waterproof
Yes. Often.