Not really gold leaf but it is a good substitute for Momigami paper. Acrylic ink and a paper bag are all the materials you will need. Cut it into any size and decorate your journal and collages with a touch of gold. It is simple and easy to make based on the tutorial from jocelynbenford on Instagram.
This really works!
The esterbrook_official account on Instagram has posted some videos of fountain pens used in journals that have been embellished with ephemera. Also known as scrapbooking, this method of decorating a journal employs colors and shapes to make appealing designs using stickers, stamps and seals.
Fountain pen writing is not required when creating a layout. Here are two of mine that didn’t need words.
Although I used a Traveler’s Notebook, any journal will do including those that did not take well to fountain pen ink. You don’t have notebooks with less than stellar paper do you? Ha!
For years my planner has been divided into sections defined by washi tape and often stickers. Full-page layouts are a natural extension of that and are very satisfying to make. If there is interest, I will write a post about a few techniques, tools and products.
Very highly recommended activity if you need/want/crave another hobby.
Spectrum Noir sent a generous supply of ArtLiner pens several months ago and they have been good tools for doodles and lettering. However, for a different perspective, my daughter Tessa, the artist in the family, agreed to take them for a spin and write about her experience. Please enjoy her art and comments.
The Spectrum Noir ArtLiner 6 piece set is a nice addition if you do art in ink.
I primarily used the 005 (finest tip) and some of the 01 (second finest) along with the brush pen for the thicker strokes. The strong point of this set is the variation in the size of the tips. I will say that it wasn’t an opaque, true black, but particularly for the finer lines, I don’t mind. It just depends on your preference. The crowning piece was the 005, used all throughout her skin. It was a lot of fun for detail, and is a pen I will definitely use in the future. I did notice some build up of ink, which is noticeable in certain lighting (I believe this is from the brush pen, and can be seen around her eyes), so that was a bit strange, but didn’t bother me. It might even be an asset to some.
I’m curious to use them more, and I do think the pens (even if not all) will make their way into my usual tools. I’m excited to see what else I can do with them.
For the mixed-media piece, I used a combination of the black, finer point ArtLiner pens and the brush pen for the line work. The coloring of the face was done with Prismacolor colored pencils. The hair was done with ArtLiner’s color brush pen set (and the black as above) with a combination of the dark blue, pink and purple. They draw almost like they’re running out of ink when tilted, which could be beneficial to some. I don’t have a background in painting, so it’s not my area of expertise. Regardless, they are fun to use and the colors are really nice.
Images courtesy of Tessa Maurer. Follow her on Instagram and Facebook.
Teoh Yi Chie reviewed these art pens on YouTube. The Art Gear Guide has a video review, too.
Mattias Adolfsson is a Swedish illustrator who uses fountain pens for detailed drawings. I became enchanted with his work via Fountain Pen Network ten years ago when he posted a drawing done with a Namiki Falcon and Diamine Monaco Red. The duo is lovely for drawing and elegant for shading as well as simplicity.
Sometimes I let the nib release a little extra ink and move it around with a swab, toothpick or small brush. Otherwise, the expressive line from the nib is gorgeous on its own. Any ink will do, though J. Herbin Lie de The is an especially good alternative. My Stillman & Birn Sketchbook loves the attention and with Mattias for inspiration, it’s a win-win activity.
Tools mentioned are available at Amazon: Pilot Namiki Falcon SF, Stillman & Birn Sketchbook, Diamine Monaco Red, and J. Herbin Lie de The.
YouTube was just the right speed for me this past week…
Want to expand your collection? There are eight reviews in this lot to help you choose what’s next.
From the archives…
Total cuteness at the first link. Total yum at the last one…
For your shopping needs this holiday season, please consider using the Inkophile Amazon Portal. The commissions are tiny, but they do help bankroll new products to review. Your support is greatly appreciated.
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