Rapid sketches of landscapes with fountain pen

A fountain pen is a nib pen that, unlike its predecessor the dip pen, contains an internal reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The pen draws ink from the reservoir through a feed to the nib and deposits it on paper via a combination of gravity and capillary action. (WIKIPEDIA)

 FIGURE 1. Lake Capern, Sweden, 2004.

FIGURE 2. Central London, England, 1998. 

FIGURE 3. Yorkshire, England, 1998. 

FIGURE 4. Juva, Finland, 1998.

These four sketches are examples of fountain pen drawings. I tend to carry this tool and a small (10.5 x 15 cm) sketch pad with me when travelling in Finland or foreign countries, either for duty or during vacations, since 1996.

This medium is very suitable in situations when the time limitations allow only rapid sketches (FIG. 1 and 2) as well as when focusing on the landscape or object without hurry (FIG. 3 and 4). No pencil is needed for sketching if the main horizontal and vertical lines can be found. Details will come later with ink, and no rubber is needed at all. This is the way I make sketches with permanent ink, either with fountain pen or calligraphy felt-tip pens.

I recommend all to try the fountain pen! It is easy to carry and contains usually ink enough for several sketches.

The only occasion when fountain pen caused me problems was when travelling back from my business trip to Shenzhen, China, some years ago. I have bought an inexpensive pen, filled with ink, and carried it in the pocket of my shirt. The left front side of my shirt was all black after the flight, obviously because the air pressure alterations and their effect on the soft (!) ink container of my pen...

My drawing table

I will tell shortly about my working manners. I prefer to draw during night-time (whenever it is possible). Day-time is too confusing and I cannot reserve several hours' period for these tasks before midnight.

Drawing with the left hand is somehow challenging because the tendency to progress from left to right (as we western people tend to write). Sometimes it is better to start from the right side of the picture and progress to the left but - very often - I will forget it and need a rubber to clean "extra colors". Drawing gets even more difficult when I use ink-based tools (fountain pen, calligraphy felt-tip pens). Better to remember the working direction and - at least - let the ink on the left dry before the continuation of the drawing to the right. This is why also keep all the pens on the left side of the table.

Some additional tools are also needed: a coffeepot, a cup and a my old SELENA short-wave radio, which has served me in an excellent way during the years gone.