Diamine Ink in Zeta Sketchbook

After seeing how the ink behaved on Fabriano Artistico (old stock), I wanted to try it out in the Zeta sketchbook.  Definitely behaves differently and takes a bit of adjusting with amount of water in brush for the wash.  And each ink color behaves differently in how it washes out.  I find the Graphite washes out a little easier than the Tobacco Sunburst.  Part of me wonders if it might also depend on how the dip pen nib moves across the paper surface.  I felt like the nib was somewhat gouging or scoring into the surface of the Zeta paper....like scratching a thin surface film (hard to explain).

In addition, I thought I would experiment using one of the inks and watercolor after the ink was washed out over the surface of the subject and dried. 

Door Entrance Downtown Leesburg

Down the street from where the sketching group went last Tuesday is a rather plain looking building with this door entrance.  The door itself really stood out to me against a plain outer wall because it reminds me of a clock with hands pointing around 3:43. 

KG sketchbook / Pilot Falcon / Lexy Grey ink / QoR and DS watercolors

FAST Sketch Outing - Victoria's Antique Warehouse

Our FAST sketching group met up at a local antique's warehouse yesterday.   There were four members who made it......Connie, Patricia, Lee, and Shari.  I wasn't able to go but had photos I could work from from previous trips.  Instead of sketching what's indoors, I decided to sketch the building itself.

KG sketchbook / Micron 01 / Holbein watercolors

In the Mood for Graphite

Last couple of days I've been more into sketching with pencil than painting.

Worked this one early morning from one of my photos when our group met up at Simon Seed Gardening Center in Leesburg early last year.

First I worked a quick sketch trying to get the main shapes down.  Then I went back and refined adding other items, more detail, and shading.

Worked on the back of Grumbacher watercolor paper, which is extremely smooth. 

3B Mars Lumograph

This next one is worked on Stonehenge 90 paper following an assignment in a book I've borrowed from one of my sketching pals from our group.  Also used the 3B pencil.

I really like this paper for graphite work as the slight tooth shows texture that I like.  Love the feel of the pencil moving across the surface.

The book is called Ernest W Watson's Course in Pencil Sketching (Four books in one).   The author shares various techniques with examples and then shares a photo as an assignment with similar subject matter for the reader to practice.

From the photo I tried my hand at, I only worked a small section of the building rather than the entire street scene and building.

Hard Lesson Learned - Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Inks

I SHOULD have known better than jumping into filling SEVERAL pens with a new ink brand claiming to be safe for fountain pens.  I SHOULD have only tested in one pen rather than filling nine with different colors.

When I read about Rohrer & Klingner's Sketch Inks and compared the price against other well known bottled inks, I was excited.  I was excited with the choice of colors and jumped right in filling pens and testing them out between illustrations and writing.  I had even bought more Lamy Safari pens with different color barrels or clear barrels to see the colors they held.....just to house these inks.

WHAT A STUPID THING TO DO ON MY PART without first testing with one pen only !!!

Now, with all my other pens that range from Pilots to Lamy to TWSBI, as well as Noodler's fountain pens, I treat them all the same.  I'm not the greatest at regular pen maintenance and I have several filled with Lexington Gray or Platinum Carbon inks allowing them to sit for weeks and even months without being used.  I even have a Platinum Carbon Desk Pen filled with brown ink known to cause havoc in some pens that doesn't cause me grief.  The worst problem I've ever had was having to dip a pen feed/nib into water to help get it "jump" started (and part of that may be due to how I store my pens, which are standing - cap end up - in a pen display).  I've NEVER had a problem with total clogging and not feeding the ink.

Then Sketch Inks come along.  I found that even sitting a few days unused, they started showing problems of wanting to write or feed ink.  When I first saw that happening, that SHOULD have alerted me to clean them out immediately.  Unfortunately, I did not do that.  They sat for weeks unused....dreading having to clean them all....and now I'm paying the price, which MAY prove to be a costly one.

First I worked on cleaning one pen and immediately found it was going to be quite a task to do so.  The ink dries inside almost like a glue.  I couldn't get the nib off the pen even after soaking in warm water for hours (renewing warm water as it got cold) and flushing using a bulb to force water through the end of the pen feed/nib section.  I found the converter was just as challenging to clean out all the ink.  I cleaned the best I could still not being able to remove the nib.  I did NOT use a cleaning solution but only plain tap water.

I tried filled this pen with my trusty Lexington Gray Ink and it would not feed the ink.  I thought for sure the pen was trashed.

Yesterday I took on the task of cleaning all the pens I had loaded with the Sketch Ink.  Instead of warm water, I used hot tap water......replacing as the water got cold.  Off and on throughout the day I soaked and flushed with a bulb and syringe forcing hot water through the pieces.  After several hours of doing this, little slivers and specks were showing up in the bottom of the containers I was using.  

Next, I used fountain pen cleaner solution purchased through Goulet Pens that smells like it has ammonia in it that I forced through the feeds with the bulb.  Soaked and flushed some more with plain hot water.  Even more flecks and slivers showed up.

Then I tried removing the nibs again, including the first one I tried cleaning (I hadn't totally given up on it yet).  I finally got all the nibs off but took me having to pry them with a knife.........trying not to damage the feed.  I was right........they were basically "glued" in place with dried ink even after all that soaking time.  I had to take a brush to the feed where the nib sits as well as the little metal nibs to remove the stuck on ink.

Container with six of the nine pens I'm having to clean......hoping to work again:

Flecks showing up with plain hot water soaks:

After several hours soaking and then taking cleaning fluid and bulb to flush the feeds:

Here we are more than 24 hours later of soaking/flushing and I still have ink showing in the channels of my feeds.  Now I'm taking a blunt needle syringe and forcing cleaning solution and hot water from the hole in the end of the feed where the nib sits trying to loosen what's in those channels.  Then flushing using the bulb from the other end.

I wish I could remove the feed so I can brush the grooves and channel; but, even when not stopped up with ink (that binds like a glue) they are not easy to remove from Lamy pens.  It's possible and I've watched videos on how to do so but if I had to pry a nib off that's suppose to remove easily, I don't dare try to remove the feed.

UPDATE:  The first pen I cleaned and tried to use is now working again using Lexy Gray ink.  Because it's a black pen and I cannot see through to the feed, I don't know if it's flowing at full capacity or not.  BUT, it's working so far and I truly thought I would have to trash the pen.

As for the remaining eight pen feeds and converters.......they are still soaking.

Will try to update the results in another post once I finish the cleaning and if or when I fill those other eight pens with colored inks from another brand.  I don't need eight more pens filled with Lexington Gray or Platinum Carbon ink so may be awhile before I learn if they will ever feed ink again for sketching and writing.

So be warned by my stupidity not to always believe what a manufacturer claims as safe for fountain pens.  Test only ONE pen and one that doesn't cost a fortune if it's ruined or you can't purchase replacement parts.

September Challenge Between Friends

For September, the challenge between my friend in the UK and I is working with darks only.   To make it even more of a challenge, we were to do so with hatching rather than solid areas.

To practice, I first worked with solid inking with the buildings.  I found working these took even longer than if I were to just sketch what I saw lights and darks alike.

For the actual challenge, I chose to work this portrait.  To help with placement of facial features, I also used the grid method so this was a dual challenge.  And in hatching, I decided I wanted to use a single directional stroke.  I had no idea if it would work out or not but I'm actually pleased with the results.

Discovery Gardens

This is from the Thursday quick trip after breakfast when Shari and I met up.  It was unfortunate that it decided to rain when we made it over to Discovery Gardens.  I did, however, manage a few photos before having to leave.

Worked in the Fabriano Venezia journal with Sharpie pen.

One of the plants that caught my eye was the Yellow Mussaenda.  Besides the yellow star shaped flowers, this plant had white floral sepals that really stood out against the dark green leaves.

We plan to get our sketching group back out here as we noticed one of the gardeners there was putting in their spiral gardens.  Can't wait to get back to see what they chose to plant there.

Breakfast and Quick Outing last Thursday

A friend and I met up Thursday morning for breakfast at a place called Billy's Cafe in Tavares.   Shari tries her best to get me out of the house so we are going to try to meet up once a week now while the sketcher's group is taking a summer break (due to the heat and other activities going on).

After we ate breakfast, we compared two type of water soluble markers brushes.  I brought a few Zig Real Brush markers and she brought Jane Davenport's MM Mermaid marker brushes.  We compared on Stillman & Birn Beta paper.

After we played a bit with the markers, we drove across the street to Discovery Gardens to see what might be blooming now.  We started walking around when it started to rain.  So that visit was short lived and Shari went to get her hair cut and I made my way back home.

Worked in the Fabriano Venezia sketchbook with a Platinum Carbon desk pen with Lexington Gray ink.

Rohrer & Klingner Sketch Inks

Playing with Sketch Inks on different paper surfaces.

These two pages are Fabriano Artistico 140 lb Soft Press paper.   The inks are being applied either with Lamy Safari EF fountain pens, a dip pen, or a glass pen.  Large areas of color washes are created by scribbling the ink on white plexiglass and using a waterbrush to pick up ink to paint with.

This next example is using the Stillman & Birn Beta journal using different pens for application testing drying times for each.

These next two pages are worked in the Strathmore Visual WC journal.  After playing with these inks, I've decided to get the remaining three colors in the near future.  I want to load each in their own pen for general sketching when I don't need the ink to dry slow.  If I want to work a line and wash effect, I'll use the glass pen.  But even with that, depending on paper surface, the ink dries almost immediately as happened with the barn.  At least I can create pools of ink color and apply with a waterbrush if nothing else :-)

Trying to Get Back into the Swing of Things

I haven't managed to do a whole lot of sketching since my last post.  We ended up making a trip to West Virginia on May 17th and talk about a rough trip!  Stormy weather topped with accidents made for a very long drawn out trip but we made it safely.

During our time there visiting Mom in the hospital, I only managed a partial sketch.

We made our way back home a few days later and that trip wasn't as bad.  We chose to drive at night and except for a few spots of light rain, the weather was clear.  We're learning driving straight through between Florida and WV is getting more and more difficult to do.

Now that I'm home, I'm trying to get back into the swing of things.

For a few days we are keeping my youngest son's dog, Lola while he and my middle son make the trip to WV for their dad's 65th birthday and to visit their grandmother who's been moved from the hospital to a rehab center in Huntington.

This puppy is so full of life..........a play monster for sure.  Our 9 year old dog is not crazy about  her being around either.  She sees Lola as a bull in a china shop and just wants to be left alone.  Lola on the other hand wants desperately to play.

There's an overpass in Charleston that we traveled each day to and from the hospital.  Each time we drove over this overpass, I was drawn to all the rooftops one sees and took several photos.  This sketch is from one of those photos.

A Place that's About to be No More

The trailer or mobile home park that sits off Lake Eustis near Ferran park now basically sits empty of their occupants.  I learned that the property is being purchased for a new gated community called Eustis Lake Club.  There will be 86 single family homes (what they are calling bungalows) built on 11.5 acres of land and will have a Key West style with soft colors.  They plan to have a pool/ club house and lakeside boardwalk, as well as cobblestone and sidewalks.

Thought I would capture this scene before it no longer exists.

Fabriano Venezia sketchbook and Sharpie pen

Tribute to Mote-Morris House in Leesburg

We learned this week that another historical landmark may be demolished. 

We lost an Orange Packing Plant last year with the College buying the property and leveling the packing plant for their use.  This other is the Mote Morris House that is 125 years old and owned by the City of Leesburg renting out to the Chamber of Commerce.  Unfortunately bringing it down will not be by choice.  A fire broke out causing significant structural damage.  As of this writing they are not sure if a vagrant set the fire or if it was due to some other cause (arson, electrical?).  A few weeks ago a vagrant was caught and chased off trying to light a fire (to keep warm I guess) on the gazebo that sits on the property.

Here is a sketch I just finished today as a tribute to a building several in our sketching group hold dear and for one reason as mentioned below.

Monthly Challenge Between Friends - February 2018

I have a friend who's more like a sister to me, who lives in the United Kingdom.  We met through Peter Saw's Paint Doodles forum many years ago.

She sets herself yearly challenges similar to what I do for myself.  Well this year she suggested we set monthly challenges for both of us to accomplish.........each taking every other month to come up with a task we must complete in the month.

Our first challenge for January 2018 was the Indirect Self Portrait.  This month, Clare set a challenge where we choose a poem, a story, a play, or song, and come up with at least six doodles/illustrations that fit the source we choose.

I had a hard time with this as I don't listen to music and when I do, I only "hear" the melody and beat.  I don't pay attention to words.  And most often songs are about people and feelings or actions anyways.  I don't get into poetry or plays either.  And as for reading, I'm a visual reader where I pay more attention to illustrations than words......especially the older I get and the difficulty in seeing.  So this felt impossible at first.

I spent hours pouring through poems, quotes, and song lyrics.  Nothing grabbed me.  Then I thought about children's nursery rhymes and songs.  I found that they often dealt with things......people, animals, etc. 

After searching various children's rhymes and songs, I settled on one that I could relate with and with subjects I love............animals. 

Throughout my life I've always been attracted to barns and farm lands.  Maybe because my grandfather was a farmer and the fond memories of visiting him and Grandma Cain.  And, it hasn't been long ago that I made two trips to Heather Oaks Farm here in Florida with animals so this made things a little easier for me........more personal.

Do you recognize the song?

Downtown Leesburg

This is a sketch I worked today from  a photo taken months ago of a building that captures my attention every time I go in town.

We lived in Fairmont, WV for 18 years.  Downtown Fairmont is all old buildings that the one here reminds me of that is located in Downtown Leesburg, FL

Pencil first / pen and ink with Platinum Carbon desk pen and Lexy Gray ink / W&N watercolors

I used an angular flat for the entire painting (for a change).

Stillman & Birn small portrait journal/sketchbook

Sketches Dec 3 and 5, 2017

Most recent journal sketches........

Sunday, Dec 3 from Terry's and my outing on the pontoon boat.  We decided to launch at Lake Eustis in Tavares and try out Dora Canal that connects to Lake Dora.  Once in Lake Dora, we headed over to the lighthouse in Mount Dora.  It was nice seeing this view from the water!!

Handsewn journal (Fabriano) / Pilot Falcon / Lexington Gray ink

Tuesday, Dec 5 from sketch walk outing with the LAL sketchers' group in Mount Dora.  We sat at the park looking across the street at this historical house called the Donnelly House.

Beta journal / Lamy Safari / Lexington Gray ink

Rooftop in Procreate

This is from another photo taken while we were at Disney Springs for the USK 24 Global Sketchwalk.

This one was worked using the grid method with photo on computer with grid lines and grid on Procreate with layers added above it as I sketched the lines.  Removed the grid and added color.

2017 Inktober Sketches - Days 25 through 27 and Other

I've been on a roll with sketching the last few days.

Day 25 -  Photo taken at an old abandoned cemetery.  A section of wall that's still standing.  Not sure what the wall went to.

Day 26 - Opal sitting in a miniature chair I found at Hobby Lobby.  Experimenting a bit with different brushes in Procreate.

Day 27 - was up through the night so I sketched.  I decided to try stippling in Procreate.

Other sketches I've worked on.

This one printed off onto Strathmore Texture inkjet paper (which is 80lb) and applying watercolor.  Think I like the Epson Presentation paper better.  Although a heavier paper, it still buckles and the paper grabs the pigment like the Epson Presentation paper does.   I worked wet in wet for this to help move the pigment around.  Once dry, it's down to stay.

A few of my miniature critters.  Still working to improve with pen pressure.  Procreate went through a major update and it seems some of the brushes have changed or the pressure sensitivity has changed.  Of course it could be my imagination too........lol

Another I worked on through the night.  

And here's one I don't think I posted that I did earlier this month.  A paper twist Halloween witch I made almost 30 years ago.  Back in my craft making days.

I've learned too how to incorporate the gridding method of drawing within Procreate.

I can set a photo up on computer with a scanned grid overlay.

Next I can import a grid scan (I made different size grid/blocks on acetate that I scanned) to work in Procreate.  What's nice is I don't have to worry about pre-gridding paper with a pencil before sketching and then having to erase those grid lines completely or taking care not to ruin the actual sketch.

Here I've added a layer that I tried working what is called a texture brush so that it might look like it was on textured paper.  I still need to practice with obtaining the look I want.   

I'll print this out and add watercolor to it.....one reason I didn't add hatch shading to this.

I am really enjoying the Procreate software app.  The biggest plus to using this sketch app ........... I love the pressure sensitivity of the pen brushes that I cannot easily get with the fountain pens I currently have.  The closest two flex nibs I have just don't quite make it.  My Noodler's Creaper nib doesn't flex like other people who have the same pen/nib.  And my Falcon with the gold semi-flex nib is more or less a medium flex but you have to really press hard to get the wider lines.  Then you have the problem of damaging the tines, if too wide of a spread or working fast, the ink railroads on the paper surface.  If I want true flex ability, I have to use a dip pen and then you have to worry about dipping into ink frequently throwing your workflow off (at least for me), knocking the ink bottle over, ink blobs/splashes, etc. etc. (although I do like facing those challenges once in awhile as well.)

Working digitally is most definitely a nice change of pace giving a different feel and facing different challenges I'm enjoying.  I'm printing off everything I do and placing in an Itoya Presentation Book to have a flip through book just like you do with a journal book or sketchbook :-)

75 Day Challenge - Days 66 through 72

Here is where I am at with the challenge with only three more days remaining.  All were done using the Lamy Safari.  The more I use that pen, the more I love it because of better control I have on ink being laid down on paper.

Day 66 - When nothing else jumps out at me to sketch, I can always sketch my little bears - S&B Beta

Day 67 - Revisiting past sketch ideas but laid out differently on the page - S&B Beta

Day 68 - From a trip we made to Crystal River - S&B Beta

Day 69 - Salvaging through a drawer of odds and ends looking for sketch ideas - S&B Beta

Day 70 - From trip to Barberville Pioneer Village - S&B Beta

Day 71 - Figurines I have for Autumn - sketched on the back of a statement and cut/glued to journal page.

Day 72 - From photos I have of a Betta I used to have after moving here to Florida.  Sketched on the back of a statement and cut/glued to journal page.