Playing with a Sheaffer Calligraphy Pen

When I was packing up the house for a possible move back into town, I came across this Sheaffer Calligraphy pen set I bought back in 1996.  I used to create miniature tags with fabric angels for Hospice patients while living in Texas.

Thought I would play a bit with one of the pens using it to sketch with.  As you can see the ink is definitely not waterproof.

The brown leans towards red.  Nice color for a change.

Ooops......I'm a day behind.  Just noticed I wrote yesterday's date.

CJ Ink and Wash - Using Hero 578

Here is another quick ink and wash still playing with the Hero 578 (bent nib) pen and Lexington Gray ink.

Stillman & Birn Alpha series journal.

Pen and ink first followed by the watercolor wash.

W&N:  Fr Ultra, Cob Blu, Raw Sienna, Bt Sienna, Light Red

#10 Round

The Light Red and Fr Ultra were used in the distant land area.  Cobalt was used only in the sky.

The boat is using the figure 8 method of drawing boats. 

All from imagination starting with the boat and then I just added elements around it to complete the illustration.

Beached Boat

Once in awhile I get lucky coming up with catchy titles; but, that doesn't happen often, I'm afraid. And this is definitely not one of those times either!

Anyways......

I started this out not knowing what I was going to do.  I first wet the entire paper and put in the sky and the land masses.

Sitting there looking at it I wasn't sure where to go next so I actually did something I don't normally do.  I did a few thumbnail sketches of possible ideas to finish it off.

Here's the progression and results........

Fabriano Artistico 140lb Cold

W&N:  Fr Ultram, Light Red, Burnt Sienna, Raw Sienna
DS:  Sap Green

1" Flat for putting in sky; 1/2" Flat for land masses; Wizard brush (bristle) for foreground, and #8 Round

Also used a 3/8" Angular Flat for lifting the moon shape while the sky was damp plus the moon reflection.

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Samples of Journaling by Subject

Depending on what I might be interested in painting at any given time, I like practicing subject elements like the boats shown here. Great practice for when I wish to create a full composition. These cameos are also known as doodling.