Artist Advice

It depends on the nib you’re using. Most nibs I’ve seen are curved to hold the ink, be sure that the open end of the curve is facing the paper and the rounded top is facing up.

These three basic nibs come in a variety of different widths for more line variety.

• “Brush” nibs are flat and square, sometimes they have a chisel edge. These are made for straight lines and sharp angles, trying to make curves with them (though possible) could result in splattered ink or ripped paper.
• “Spoon” nibs are smooth and rounded at the end. I find that these hold the most ink and have a long life. The smooth end won’t tear paper (unless you oversaturate the paper with ink). I use them for filling in areas with ink or shading. They’re easy to use, but not very versatile in line shape.
• “Regular” nibs are the traditional pen tip. It gives a lot of line variety in a single tip size. Applying pressure with this tip will create wider lines, while dragging it lightly creates very thin lines. I recommend using this tip for inking illustrations, but not for mass shading. With practice, you can use cross-hatch detailed areas with it.

Pay attention to when your lines start getting lighter, or you’ll be left with scratchy lines from the last of your ink. Dip often! Remember to clean your nibs thoroughly after each use.

Have fun! Inking is one of my favorite things to do, I hope you like it too.

-Fluffywhite