Discover the joy of writing. We don’t expect you to throw out your tablet or stop streaming music. We just want to help you slow down a bit. We think you’ll feel better because of it.
Making putting pen or pencil to paper part of your daily routine can not only help you get organized, it can also provide a boost to your mental and emotional health.
If you plan on using a fountain pen, there are a few important details to note.
Do you typically write very small, or are you more comfortable with big broad strokes? Are you a cursive writer or like block letters? The size of your handwriting typically indicates what nib size would best suit you.
Extra-Fine : It's the finest and most delicate of them all. The benefits of the extra fine is it gives you very clean and precise lines, and quicker drying ink.
Fine : One of the most common and versatile nibs available. A fine nib will give you a line between 0.5mm to 0.7mm, depending on the brand.
Medium : A good ‘middle of the road’ nib, where you are starting to get more ink flow out of the nib that allows more colour on the page, but not so much where things start to bleed together.
Broad : Provides a generous ink flow, that will keep up with quick, gestural handwriting.
Stub (1.1mm, 1.5mm, 1.9mm) : The stub or calligraphy style of nib has a distinctly different shape that gives it it’s flair. Instead of a round ball tip, it is a rectangular shape.
Ink cartridges can more convenient than other filling methods. Once a cartridge is completely used up, you can insert another fresh one. To do this, simply unscrew the top and bottom portions of the pen, simply insert another cartridge and keep writing.
What is a converter? If you’ve used nothing but cartridges, your new best friend. Different types of converters come in different shapes and sizes, but the most common type will often be in the form of a piston mechanism. Twisting the knob at the end of the converter moves a piston inside the converter up and down, creating a vacuum that draws ink up into the pen.
If you're planning on purchasing cartridges or converters, please make sure to check if your pen is compatible with international short/standard cartridge or it might need brand specific proprietary sizes.
Platinum Converter : This gold-accented converter turns your Platinum cartridge pen into a plunger fountain pen. Fits onto any Platinum cartridge/converter pen. Holds up to 0.6ml of ink.
The Pilot CON-40 is a proprietary twist-style piston ink converter that is compatible with most current Pilot and Namiki fountain pens. The converter holds 0.4 ml of ink. Agitator beads inside the ink reservoir help maintain steady ink flow by preventing ink from accumulating on the converter's sides.
The Pilot CON-70fits Pilot Custom 74, Explorer, Justus 95, Kakuno, Metal Falcon, and many Namiki fountain pens including the Chinkin, Nippon Art, Yukari, and Yukari Royale series., Kakuno and Falcon Metal
LAMY - Z28 Converter exclusively for LAMY fountain pens. Compatible with the LAMY AL-star, joy, Lx, nexx, safari, studio, and vista. Holds up to 0.8ml of ink.
Kaweco Mini Converter : The small barrels in the Kaweco Sport and Liliput models don’t take traditional converters - the barrels are too short. The Mini Converter is a piston style converter that fits all Sports series ( Classic Sport, Skyline Sport, AL Sport, Brass...)
Platinum Pen Adapter: With the Platinum Cartridge Adapter, you can use standard international cartridges in Platinum fountain pens, which greatly expands the ink cartridge selection available for the pens.
If you really want to keep your hands clean and skip all of this converter business, be sure to check out our Inks & Cartridges section on our website, but you'll have to take into account that some cartridges our proprietary and might not fit your fountain pen.
Fountain pen ink has two main ingredients: water and colorants. They can also have some other minor ingredients like preservatives or surfactants. Any ink that has other stuff in it--if it’s alcohol or oil based, or if it has insoluble binders like gum arabic or shellac--should never go in a fountain pen. At best, it won’t work well. At worst, it could ruin the pen for good.
Bottled inks are ideal for intermediate users and intrepid beginners who don’t want to limit their choice of colours. They come in an order of magnitude more colours than cartridges, and they include specialized options like waterproof, shimmering and colour shifting properties.
Flow—or “wetness”—refers to how quickly an ink flows through a pen. The wetter an ink is, the more quickly it flows and the more ink is put onto the paper as you write. In general, wet inks feel smoother than dry inks, but dry inks are less likely to feather or bleed through average-quality paper.
Diamine is a UK-based company that produces a vast array of water-based, non-toxic fountain pen inks known for their high quality and performance. The company offers over 100 colors in both traditional and contemporary shades, including standard dye-based inks and special pigment-based lines
These Platinum Pen ink cartridges are compatible with all Platinum Fountain Pens. This includes the Platinum Curidas, Procyon, Plaisir and Preppy pens, as well as the Platinum Maki-e Brush pens.
Pigment ink is brightly colored and hard to spread, so you can make clear edge of the line compared with dying inks. Pigment ink is lightfast, retains its original colors and resistant to water. Once it dries, even if it gets wet, it will prevent the color from spreading and vanishing. Although maintenance can be a little bit more troublesome, due to its ingredients, pigment ink can make clear characters.
60cc pigmented rather than dye-based for fountain pens. This ink is trusted by many artists since it's great for mixed-media. It is permanent & lightfast, water & heat resistant great for fountain pens and brush pens.
The main benefit of mechanical pencils is they don't need sharpening. This saves you a lot of hassle and mess. More importantly, it means mechanical pencils provide more consistent lines, enabling you to create more precise and accurate drawings, and neater handwriting.
- The GraphGearseries offers students and professionals automatic drafting pencils for technical drawing and general writing. The 500 series has a metallic mesh grip on a slim, beveled barrel with a 4mm fixed sleeve. It is available in .3mm (bronze barrel), .5mm (black barrel), .7mm (blue barrel) and .9mm (silver barrel) points.
- Pentel Leadsare formulated under an exclusive process to improve strength yet retain blackness and smoothness. Excellent for technical drawings, fine art, writing and more; create dark, clean lines with just a touch of pressure. Formula reduces the risk of lead breakage, Packaged in protective plastic tube.
2mm Mechanical Pencil & Leads ; Often referred to as a lead holder. A versatile, durable, and professional-grade writing and drawing instrument. Unlike mechanical pencils with thinner leads that advance incrementally, most 2mm versions use a clutch mechanism that drops the lead freely, allowing the user to control the exposed length. most 2mm Lead Holder
5.6mm Clutch Pencils & Leadsare best suited for tasks like bold sketching, shading, and woodworking because its thick lead is durable and can create wide, dark lines quickly. It is also useful for general drawing, drafting, and crafting, and can be used for writing by those who prefer a thicker, bolder line.
The E+M ballpoint converter for 5.6mm clutch pencil has a very quick and convenient clamp mechanism that allow swapping from graphite lead to ballpoint pens in seconds!
Pencil enthusiasts rejoice, Blackwing pencils readily available both in standard series and limited edition volumes. With a rich, balanced graphite composition, it makes them the perfect pencil for art & writing.
The 4 classic Blackwings
Blackwing produces four classic pencils with different lead grades:
The softest is theBlackwing Matte, which is comparable to a 4B pencil. The Matte pencil writes with a smooth, dark line that’s great for shading and drawing.
Next is the Pearl, which has a balanced lead: still dark and soft, but with a harder point that stays sharp longer. The Pearl is similar to a 3B or 2B pencil.
After the Pearl comes the Blackwing 602, the original Blackwing pencil. Ideal for writing, the 602 has a firm lead that’s a little smoother and darker than that of a typical writing pencil. It’s a versatile pencil whose lead is similar to a B or HB.
The hardest Blackwing pencil is the Natural, with extra-firm lead. This is a great pencil for writing and for drawing fine lines, and is closest to an HB or H pencil.
Perhaps most sought-after of all are Blackwing's limited edition pencils. Four times a year they create a special new pencil in limited quantities as part of their Volumes program. Each volume celebrates the story of a person, place, or event that inspires a creative lifestyle. Their colorful designs have honored cultural icons including artists, writers, and musicians; places and technologies that have impacted the arts; and important creative and political movements. Blackwing fans love to collect these limited editions, which are always carefully and cleverly designed.
Now be careful, since collecting Blackwing Volumes is highly addictive, and these tend to sell out quick, so be sure to check back regularly for new drops.
Lined, dotted and plain notebooks to help you record your thoughts. Some types of paper don’t mesh well with certain inks. When this occurs, it’s typically in the form of feathering, which is when your writing comes out fuzzy and blurry, as the paper has absorbed the ink like a paper towel instead of allowing the ink to dry on top of it.
Leuchtturm notebooks are premium stationery products renowned for their thoughtful functional details, quality craftsmanship, and versatile appeal to a wide range of users, from writers and students to bullet journalists. The German brand, established in 1917, operates on the philosophy that "details make all the difference".
Midori notebooks, from the esteemed Japanese stationery brand established in 1950, are celebrated for their exceptional writing quality, minimalist design, and "MD Paper,"a proprietary paper engineered for a superior writing experience.
Denik is a lifestyle brand that produces stylish, high-quality notebooks, journals, and sketchbooks with a powerful social mission: to prove that "art can change the world". Denik supports artists by featuring unique cover designs from a diverse array of artists worldwide.
Index clips, blotting paper and other things to help you get organized along the way. Surround yourself with office supplies that reflect your personality from cute animal paper clips to classy brass accessories and rulers.
Midori index Clips are ultra-thin, minimalist metal page markers designed to organize notebooks and planners without adding bulk. They are a popular alternative to traditional index tabs and sticky notes for people who value a sleek, tidy aesthetic in their stationery.
Paper Clips, A sure way to put a smile on your face when stocking up on office supplies. These reusable animal shaped paper clips are sure to brighten your day.
To-Do Lists are important for prioritizing tasks, increasing productivity, and reducing stress by providing a clear plan of action. They help you manage your time effectively, focus on important jobs first, and serve as a record of accomplishments.
Herbin Blotting Paper, is a high-absorbency paper used to quickly soak up excess ink from fountain pen and calligraphy writing, preventing smears and smudges.
Midori Clip Rulers are versatile and ultra-thin, multi-functional tools made of durable brass. It combines the functions of a ruler, bookmark, and template in a single, compact design, making it a popular accessory for notebooks, planners, and bullet journals.
Sticky Notes from Midori feature an exquisite die-cutting technique and high-quality paper suitable for various writing tools. They are ideal for leaving messages on daily and office occasions, sticking to gift wrap to send greetings, and decorating journals and planners.
Stickers These peelable stickers are a fun way to decorate the margins , dates or line of your diary, planner. The key to the design is the hand-drawn animal expressions that make you want to add speech bubbles.
I really hope you enjoyed this brief and semi comprehensive guide on all kinds of tools and materials that may lend themselves to your practice and art endeavours. Please let us know if you have any thoughts or questions about the information contained within the document. Shoot us an email and we'll be sure to get back to you!
