An impertinent start
When a Tachikawa School-G is good, it’s very, very, good. When it’s bad, it’s horrid.
I have named my Tachikawa School-G after Akane Tendou, the “uncute” and unlikeable female lead of anime classic, Ranma 1/2. For the first week I had her, even though I plugged in a brand spankin’ new ink cartridge, she just refused to write.
As Akane was adopted from another pen owner, I wondered if perhaps, she froze up for good after not being used for a while. But a quick google search revealed that all School-G pens tended to do that. I put two and two together and gave a nib a quick wash. It did wonders.
While the School-G best serves budding comic book artists and illustrators, it also makes for a great entry-level fountain pen. Some patience required, but quite worth it.
I spent about a month with uncials and Romans with a Schneider Creactiv, so the month of March will be for cursive, with the School-G as my main pen. Let’s see how it goes.
Rome wasn't built in a day
Tips for beginning calligraphers, from a beginner calligrapher.
I swore that I would not buy new pens and inks until my calligraphy got better. I also figured I’d be kinder to myself and start with Roman lettering and calligraphic print instead of jumping into Copperplate. I used ye olde ‘Writing & Illuminating & Lettering’ to start. You can download the book for free at archive.org.
When I write in Latin, I have that scene from ‘Life of Brian’ running through my head.
Some things I figured, while destroying trees (with use of paper) in the name of pretty:
-It helps to start with just the symbols and some flourishing before moving on to the alphabet. It teaches pen control, and builds the strokes for when you finally start on lettering.
-Practice, practice, practice. They’re not meant to be perfect at the get-go.
-Be kind: you can start with Roman print before jumping to Copperplate script. It makes re-learning the script easier, even faster.
-You CAN start with a pencil and a math notebook. Get used to which stroke to start with, then you can practice flex with your fountain pen.
That’s it so far. It’s not much now, but I’m hoping it’ll be better. It has certainly been fun though.
What helped you when you started calligraphy?
Good Starting Calligraphy Resources:
Rome wasn’t built in a day
Tips for beginning calligraphers, from a beginner calligrapher.
I swore that I would not buy new pens and inks until my calligraphy got better. I also figured I’d be kinder to myself and start with Roman lettering and calligraphic print instead of jumping into Copperplate. I used ye olde ‘Writing & Illuminating & Lettering’ to start. You can download the book for free at archive.org.
When I write in Latin, I have that scene from ‘Life of Brian’ running through my head.
Some things I figured, while destroying trees (with use of paper) in the name of pretty:
-It helps to start with just the symbols and some flourishing before moving on to the alphabet. It teaches pen control, and builds the strokes for when you finally start on lettering.
-Practice, practice, practice. They’re not meant to be perfect at the get-go.
-Be kind: you can start with Roman print before jumping to Copperplate script. It makes re-learning the script easier, even faster.
-You CAN start with a pencil and a math notebook. Get used to which stroke to start with, then you can practice flex with your fountain pen.
That’s it so far. It’s not much now, but I’m hoping it’ll be better. It has certainly been fun though.
What helped you when you started calligraphy?
Good Starting Calligraphy Resources:
Akashiya Sai versus Pentel Aquash
I took a leap of faith and ordered Akashiya Sai watercolor brushpens from Artmedia Trading, Philippines. While I learned the hard way that Multiply marketplace has yet to catch up with the times (they don’t have a ‘saved orders’ page the way ebay does), thankfully Artmedia got the order and processed it quickly. Within 24 hours of payment posted, my Akashiya Sai Summer Colors were in the mail and on the way from General Santos City, where Artmedia is based.
If you’re put off by multiply, Artmedia also processes orders and messages via facebook. They also sell copic products and deleter supplies, and a number of others materials you won’t find in your neighborhood arts and school supply stores.
I initially had high hopes for the Akashiya Sai, but was easily tempered upon reading Nattosoup’s review. In a nutshell, some colors work well with that dreamy wash look, some don’t. It boasts to be a watercolor, but it’s marker based. It didn’t blend as well as I’d like.
In the summer color set, I found the Sky Blue color most resistant to wash –
While it’s apples to oranges, I couldn’t help but compare it to the Pentel Aquash, which works like the Sai except that they’re watercolor crayons. They blend well, and are very cooperative with wash.
I haven’t spotted the Pentel Aquash set at the bookstores, but I spotted a few for sale on ebay or sulit. OfficeFab ships it to the Philippines for P299.75.
If having a set of colors is too big of a commitment, you can also buy individual Koi waterbrushes from Artmedia Trading, and use them with your choice of watercolor.
I highly recommend these materials for people who are just too big a control freak for watercolors. These wooed me back to them after years of sticking to acrylics, pastels, and oils.
Let me see how we can put these babies to work.
Where do you buy brushpens in Manila, Philippines?
From one newbie who would gladly help out other newbies and drag them with her down the rabbit hole (mwa ha ha). Also because there aren’t a lot of local resources, so here’s one to start.
You can buy brush pens at National Bookstore, but I can’t say for certain just how widely available they are, as other artist friends have complained that it’s a hit or miss with them. Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pen (PHP99) and Sakura Pigma Brushpens (PHP75, if I recall) are available at National Bookstore Ayala, but I was surprised to find Yoka Medium and Large brushes from National Bookstore Greenbelt One for PHP28. They also sell the watercolor brush pen sets for about P288.
You can also find brush pen sets for about P999 at Scribe in Eastwood. Deovir Art Supplies sometimes stocks the wonderful Pentel Pocket Brush Pen and their refill cartridges. You can visit Deovir stores in North Edsa or Recto, or even order from them online.
I found watercolor brush pens and sets for sale at Art Media Trading, but I haven’t tried ordering from them so I can’t vouch for their system just yet.
Any other shops or art supply stores that fellow Filipino brush and pen fans should check out? Share them in the comments.