There Are Choices To Make When Purchasing A Calligraphy Pen

| by Damieng | October 13, 2008
It’s a good idea to start off your calligraphy career with an inexpensive calligraphy pen.. After some constant practice at the newly acquired calligraphy skills and the basic pen techniques are mastered the next phase is to think about stepping up to the next level. It's going to be more expensive and you're going to have to learn one or two new skills but there's no reason not to purchase a new calligraphy pen.

Some choices will have to be made over whether you buy a calligraphy pen with removable nibs or a pen with a fixed nib. Naturally, it will come down to your own personal preference. Some calligraphers like the convenience of simply picking up a different pen depending on what nib width they need to use. Others prefer the familiarity and feel of the same pen holder and replace the nibs to suit their work. Putting on and taking off pen nibs will become easier and easier as you become get used to your pen. If you're working with removable nibs you will have to take a little care in the beginning to ensure that the nib has been positioned properly in the holder. Failing to do so will affect your work.

Next, you may be faced with another choice to make. Do you buy a removable ink reservoir or one that is attached permanently? There is an advantage in the permanently attached reservoir in that it holds more ink, reducing the interruption of constant refilling. Charging the ink reservoir, whether with an eye-dropper or by dipping the pen allows the calligrapher exercise more control over their work. As you get accustomed to your pen you will appreciate this control too.

It will take a little practice to add ink to your calligraphy pen to get it right. Making an error could affect your work with inconsistent lines, particularly if the nib is overloaded. You must also be very scrupulous when repositioning removable ink reservoirs, that the flange is correctly located every time. It only has to overhang the nib by a tiny amount to cause thin or ragged edges on one side of your lines.

There may still be a lot of maintenance required to keep your pen in good working order. The pen nib is one piece of equipment in particular that will require constant attention. Pen nibs are prone to getting choked with dried ink, some faster than others which depends on the sort and quality of ink you employ. By keeping a clean absorbent cloth and a glass of water close by while you work, your pen will remain as reliable to create sharp, clean lines as it was when you bought it.

The quality of calligraphy that you produce will depend heavily on the calligraphy pen you use. The better the choice and maintenance of your pen will mean that you have the best chance to create work that you will be proud of and that the work you produce will last a long time.

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About the Author

Damieng invites you to find out more about calligraphy and what to look for in a calligraphy pen by visiting his site at http://thecalligraphypen.com » Read more articles by Damieng
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