I was given a glass dip pen and OMG I wish I had known?!

31/1/2023

I feel absolutely horrible...

One of my students, Stephne Nash, sent me a gorgeous glass dip pen last summer and I haven't even had time to play with it until now. First of all, THANK YOU STEPHANIE for the extremely thoughtful gift! Today's video is for YOU and ALL the fountain pen ink lovers out there!

If you're new to my world, I'm OBSESSED with fountain pen ink, have a zillion colors, and use them exactly like watercolors!

That's right, I create fountain pen ink paintings!! If you didn't know this was a thing, and love watercolor, this whole concept might just blow your mind!! If that's you, check out this Fountain Pen Ink Painting playlist to see how I do this, get tips on how I store my inks in vintage perfume bottles, plus even do a fountain pen ink painting tutorial right along with me!

Super quick announcement: All product links are Affiliate. I may earn a small commission if you choose to order through these links but by law there is never any additional cost to the consumer for doing so. I thank you for your support.

How to Use a Glass Dip Pen

Truth be told, I've NEVER worked with a glass dip pen before today. I KNOW!! This is another reason I felt it was important to do a video on the subject.

Whenever I'm learning something new, I LOVE to share it in case it inspires you to get creative or try something new too!

The glass dip pen I'm working with today is by Luxiv. Right out of the gate, I'm in love because not only is the pen itself gorgeous, there's a magical unicorn on the box!! It's like a sign :)

I've planned to play with my new dip pen on a sheet of Fabriano hot press watercolor paper (smooth, without texture) because I already know my non-glass dip pens work best on smooth paper like bristol.

As soon as I dip my pen into the ink and get going, I see the whole process is SUPER SIMPLE (yay for us!!). All you have to do is dip the tip of the pen into your ink, give it a tap on the side of your ink bottle to tap off the drips, and then just go to town.

As you can see in the pic above, this particular glass dip pen has all these swirlies that extend up and around from the tip. These are what hold the ink, and you're supposed to kinda turn the pen as you use it to empty out all the ink from each dip.

You've gotta see the demo today, because I was seriously shocked at HOW WELL this dip pen both held the ink from one dip, and HOW LONG it lasted!! I wrote and doodled all over a single sheet of paper from just one dip into my fountain pen ink!

Drawing with Fountain Pen Ink

After I discovered how much fun it was to write and doodle with my glass dip pen, I decided to pull out a fresh sheet of hot press watercolor paper to just play!!

I've got a new apothecary lesson I'm working on for the Celtic Collective (my fantasy art membership with Lucy Brydon over at Awesome Art School). Since I have glass bottles on my mind, I decided to doodle a few onto my page using my glass dip pen and some permanent, black ink.

After I covered the page in fun bottles, I pulled out my Polina Bright watercolor brush (the ONLY watercolor brushes I use now - learn more about why in this video; grab one for yourself and get 10% off here), and a few of my favorite fountain pen ink shades to paint liquid into each bottle illustration: Meadow by Diamine (green), Noodler's Ink Blue, Noodler's Ink Atlantic Salmon (pink), Noodler's Ink Saguaro Wine (dark pink), Noodler's Ink Purple Martin.

I seriously had SO much fun just playing today. I hope you will give this a try at home. I think you'll just love it!

Wanna TAKE AN ONLINE ART CLASS
About Fountain Pen Ink Painting?

I thought you'd never ask :)

Check out the Mixed Media Society with me over at Awesome Art School! I've got an entire classroom dedicated to fountain pen ink painting with SUPER FUN projects ready and waiting for you to create!

In the Mixed Media Society, you'll also learn about a TON of other mixed media art supplies and more importantly HOW TO USE THEM to create mixed media masterpieces you can be proud of!

We're having a blast and would love you to join us... but don't take my word for it :) Check out this beautiful piece by one of my amazing students...

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Thanks for hanging out with me today!!

12 Comments

What Fans Are Saying

Karen, you are absolutely fabulous! You make me feel like I can draw anything. I have recently retired and finally have the time to do some of the art that I have loved since I was in school. I am really at the beginning of my art journey and I hope to learn as much as I can. Thank you for all you do.

-Jill Y.

I ordered your Fun Fab Faces book and loved it! I was having a little trouble getting the noses I wanted and now it's easy! Also, I love how you stressed how important having the three tones in your drawing is. Thanks a bunch!

-Donna L.

Thank you Karen! I never though I could do faces. You broke it down so it was understandable! And I love your book! I got it yesterday! Can't wait to start practicing! It's so much fun!!!!!

-Debbie M.

Thank you for the encouragement to get back into my drawing and painting. After being away for 35 years. THANK YOU.

- Teresa S.

Diane Ingram

1/2/2023 03:05:35 pm

I have a few glass dip pens (a beautiful box set... also a gift) that I absolutely adore but don't use enough....I was also blown away by the weird magic that makes all that ink that suspend on the nib....it is magic, not science, .... isn't it??? 😁
Love your cute bottles!

Karen link

7/2/2023 12:21:18 pm

Diane, of COURSE it's MAGIC and not science with the ink suspended on the nib :) I hope this post and video inspired you to pull YOUR glass dip pens out to play. I truly had a blast with mine! Happy Art-ing!!

Krista Bridges

1/2/2023 04:35:43 pm

Send it

7/2/2023 12:22:15 pm

Hey Krista! What can I send ya?

Doreen Desjardins

1/2/2023 04:40:05 pm

I had never even heard of glass dip pens until just now? I am very curious to learn and see ut in action. So I will go back to watch your video. on the subject. Thank you Karen for sharing ...

7/2/2023 12:23:53 pm

Doreen, I was SO curious too!! I hope you had fun watching the video. It was totally fun playing with my dip pen! And they're honestly super affordable if you're thinking about trying one and playing along. Thanks for reading & watching!!

Marcee

1/2/2023 06:08:00 pm

I have Jane Davenport’s glass dip pen which looks exactly like yours, but the end is a mermaid tale. I love it!! It works beautifully. I also have one from Amazon that has a very short point and doesn’t hold ink long enough to finish one word. Not good.

7/2/2023 12:25:36 pm

Marcee- how FUN that the end of your glass pen is a mermaid tail! I love that idea:) If your mermaid pen or the other amazon one you have don't hold ink for long b/c the points are too short, you should totally check out the link above to the one I've got. It seriously goes on FOREVER!!

Jamie

2/2/2023 07:07:26 am

I have been curious about the dip pens… I will have to get one to use with my favorite inks from Birmingham Pen Co. Their colors are so rich and funky.

7/2/2023 12:30:15 pm

Hi Jamie!! I know, I was so curious too:) This glass dip pen was so fun to draw and write with! I haven't heard of Birmingham Pen Co. Now I'm gonna have to check them out! I LOVE rich and funky!!

Shelly M

2/2/2023 11:09:46 pm

I use a dip pen, but not a glass. I've heard a lot of good things about them. I am ordering one asap. lol. Also what inks do you use? Acrylic, alcohol, india ink?? Are they waterproof once they dry? I use acrylic inks by Senlier, Dr.Ph.Martin, Artist Loft, Daler Rowney FW. I've never used alcohol. I do mixed media art. Acrylics & watercolor, so would Alcohol inks be ok with that? So many questions. I'm sorry for that. I just don't know who else to ask. Thank you for sharing your video! You're an amazing person.

7/2/2023 12:40:58 pm

Hi Shelly!! Thank you for your sweet comments!! So first off, as you'll see in the video- I totally use fountain pen ink. The black one I demo'd drawing my bottles with was waterproof. The Noodler's is watersoluble and works just like watercolor, so it will totally react if you rewet it. You can totally use fountain pen ink in tandem with watercolor but they will activate one another so just remember that :) Alcohol ink shouldn't be used in mixed media projects unless it's with other permanent inks. It doesn't play well with others! The alcohol can also eat thru acrylics and can't be combined with oils so I only use it as a base layer and separate from other mediums :)

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