Author Topic: Recommend Supplies for Beginners  (Read 78857 times)

Offline Erica McPhee

  • Administrator
  • Super Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7201
  • Karma: 332
  • Be brave. Love life!
    • View Profile
Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« on: February 26, 2014, 10:24:01 PM »
PLEASE NOTE: I no longer recommend the Hiro 41 nib due to production issues.


List of supplies I recommend on (affiliate link): Paper & Ink Arts

List of supplies I recommend on (affiliate link): John Neal Bookseller.

Paper & Ink Arts:

item # spdper - Oblique Red or Blue Peerless Holder
OR
item # peerls - Peerless Oblique Holder
 
item # walbot –Walnut Ink, 2.6 oz.
item # moonpa – Moon Palace Sumi Ink
item #drmbld – Dr. PH Martin’s bleedproof white (optional)
 
item # nikkoG - Nikko G nibs (5)
item # hnt101 - Hunt 101 nibs (5)
 
item #dinkyd – Dinky Dips 4 square

The total cost is roughly $50 including the bleedproof white.

From John Neal:

H95. Speedball Deluxe (Comfort Grip) Oblique Pen Holders – sized for Nikko G.
OR
H96. Peerless Oblique Holders (Black Plastic) – sized for Nikko G
 
N113. Nikko G Nib (5)
N77. Hunt 101 Nib (5)
 
I53-2.5. Walnut Drawing Ink
I70. Moon Palace Sumi Ink, 2 oz.
I38. Dr. Martin's Bleed Proof White Ink (optional)
 
S852. Small Dinky Dips (S304)

« Last Edit: October 17, 2017, 11:54:50 AM by Erica McPhee »
Warm Regards,
Erica
Lettering & Design Artist
Flourish Forum Shop
Instagram

Offline Marilou Marshall

  • Freshman Member
  • *
  • Posts: 9
  • Karma: 1
  • 2014: this is the year to learn modern calligraphy
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #1 on: March 12, 2014, 04:00:44 PM »
Hello Erica, Will sumi ink or walnut ink dry waterproof for addressing envelopes? I made a mistake and used Higgins Eternal on addressing an envelope and it bled like crazy! Would you have an ink to recommend? How about envelopes? I bought the Value Pack envelopes/card from Michaels and the envelopes are quite thin. Should I try using a fixative on the envelopes or just order some envelopes at envelopes.com. Need your advice! Thanks, Marilou
LOVE what you DO!
pinterest.com/maloumarshall/

Offline jamiemateo

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 64
  • Karma: 1
  • "Vous ętes Belle "
    • View Profile
    • Instagram
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #2 on: March 12, 2014, 06:55:57 PM »
This is very Helpful! Thanks a lot Erica  ;)

Offline Erica McPhee

  • Administrator
  • Super Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7201
  • Karma: 332
  • Be brave. Love life!
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #3 on: March 13, 2014, 03:10:37 PM »
Hi Marilou,
Higgins does tend to bleed more than others. A lot depends on the sizing of the envelope, too. Sumi or Walnut are not waterproof. There are a couple threads which may help.

Bleeding Envelopes
Waterproofing Envelopes

I hope that helps!  :)
Warm Regards,
Erica
Lettering & Design Artist
Flourish Forum Shop
Instagram

Offline JanisTX

  • Super Hero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1305
  • Karma: 65
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #4 on: April 24, 2014, 12:12:27 PM »
Hi, Erica!

How about recommending practice paper, as well?

Offline Heebs

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 461
  • Karma: 33
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #5 on: April 24, 2014, 12:28:27 PM »
Hi, Erica!

How about recommending practice paper, as well?

Hi Janis and welcome to the forum!

Check out the Favorite Practice Paper discussion, there's some good recommendations in there.

Offline theinkrefinery

  • Freshman Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #6 on: June 23, 2014, 10:40:12 PM »
Does anyone know of any online stores that ship to Australia? I live in Brisbane and I'm having trouble tracking these recommended supplies down! Much appreciated!

Offline Moya

  • Super Hero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1539
  • Karma: 60
  • all your gold are belong to me
    • View Profile
    • Calligraphy by Moya
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #7 on: June 23, 2014, 10:50:40 PM »
Hi inkrefinery!! I'm in Melbourne, but used to live in Brisbane.  I wish I did today - it's so cold and windy down here! :)

PaperInkArts has very reasonable shipping to Australia, and usually arrives within two weeks (although sometimes it can take up to four).

I would not recommend buying paper online though - because it's so heavy, the shipping cost outweighs the price savings, usually.  There is (or used to be!) an Eckersley's in the city that sold bleedproof pads, which are great for practice (around $10 each), or you can get Rhodia pads from the Pen Shoppe if you prefer.  Eckersleys or the little independent art shops are great for gouache as well.  I often get little jars and mixing toys from places like the Reject Shop though - I don't need high quality in my plastic tubs and art stores charge a LOT!

The Pen Shoppe in the Brisbane Arcade used to have a fairly wide selection of broad nibs, but very light on the pointed pen selection.  I'm not sure about the one that used to be on Elizabeth Street - they're bigger, so maybe ask there!  But nibs tend to be marked up a lot by the time they make it over here, and they are usually quite cheap to ship - I buy all my nibs online. 

John Neal Books also ships to Australia, but they take some time to calculate the shipping price and they are not as simple to deal with as PIA.  I like to know in advance what shipping will cost. 

Good luck! :)


Offline theinkrefinery

  • Freshman Member
  • *
  • Posts: 3
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #8 on: June 23, 2014, 11:59:10 PM »
Thanks so much for your reply Moya! That's all really helpful. I hadn't realised PaperInkArts ships to Australia!

Now this is going to sound really dim… but is there a way to turn on notifications so that I know when someone replies to a post that I have commented on? I just saw this reply by accident (I'm completely new to this forum business, I'm fumbling around like a baby learning to walk).

But back on topic – I appreciate your tips and will give PIA a go. I found Eckersley's range not as impressive.

Thanks again!

Offline Moya

  • Super Hero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1539
  • Karma: 60
  • all your gold are belong to me
    • View Profile
    • Calligraphy by Moya
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #9 on: June 24, 2014, 01:10:27 AM »
Yeah, unfortunately I don't know of any calligraphy-specific suppliers in Brisbane (and only one in Melbourne - though if you are passing through, I can recommend them to you). A lot if it is only available online and from the US.

I'm a fan of PIA though - they've never been anything but prompt and responsive for me. :)

There is a button at the top of each page labelled 'notify', but I'm not actually sure how well or if it works - I'm on here often enough that I just check the 'unread threads since your last visit' page each time I log on and work through that, and refresh it every so often.  I seem to catch most replies that way. :)

Offline katianaval

  • Junior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 67
  • Karma: 4
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #10 on: June 24, 2014, 06:07:59 AM »
Hi Erica, I think you may have mentioned on one of your comments before about the Hiro 41 dumping ink. Are you guys still experiencing this? We buy this every month for the store but never heard anyone complain yet, and my personal stash of new Hiro 41's are doing okay.

I bought mine from PIA. Hope everything's solved.
Katia | Manila, Philippines
Instagram: thedesignhobbyist

Offline JanisTX

  • Super Hero Member
  • ******
  • Posts: 1305
  • Karma: 65
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #11 on: June 25, 2014, 11:27:00 AM »
I have been using some that I bought from PIA and half of them work & the other half either won't take ink or dump/puddle ink.  I'm cranky about it!!  Going back to my old stand-by, the Brause 66EF!

Offline garyn

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 444
  • Karma: 21
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #12 on: June 25, 2014, 05:31:16 PM »
Katia
I would email PIA and ask them. 
Emphasise that you are in the Philippines, and that shipping replacments to you to replace bad nibs would be expensive.
Gary

Offline Erica McPhee

  • Administrator
  • Super Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 7201
  • Karma: 332
  • Be brave. Love life!
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #13 on: June 25, 2014, 10:14:09 PM »
I just ordered some two weeks ago and the batch I received definitely is better. Still not 100% though. They take a little bit longer to break in and for that weird finish to wear off. But nothing as bad as it was.
Warm Regards,
Erica
Lettering & Design Artist
Flourish Forum Shop
Instagram

Offline PatzyMD

  • Freshman Member
  • *
  • Posts: 6
  • Karma: 0
    • View Profile
Re: Recommend Supplies for Beginners
« Reply #14 on: July 09, 2014, 03:03:01 AM »
Hello, :D
I'm new to the art and I'm a left-handed writer, just wanna ask if it is advisable to buy a left-handed oblique holder? Or will the usual work just as fine?