Inks and Dip Pens:
Left to right: Oriental ink and brush set, colored inks, calligraphy pen, dip pen with nibs, bamboo pen
Dip pens do not have a built-in ink reservoir and must be dipped into a container of ink to pick up a new supply. Their steel nibs are removeable and come in many shapes, giving you a range of possible marks.
These dip pens are made from a slender stick of bamboo. The bamboo is sharpened to a point and split, creating a reservoir for the ink.
These are brushes that lend themselves well to drawing with ink. You can get soft, medium and hard tips.
There are a variety of brushes and pens that are used for calligraphy. The brushes come in many shapes and sizes, and the pens have a variety of nibs to create different ornamental effects.
These are made up of fine carbon pigments. When buying black ink, look for a manufacturer’s date on the container. Inks that have sat on the shelf for longer than two years may have separated and therefore will not be suitable for use.
Many colored inks are made of impermanent dyes and should therefore be used only for work that does not demand permanence.
These inks work well in technical pens as long as you choose colors that are labeled as transparent.
Inks and Dip Pens:
Left to right: Oriental ink and brush set, colored inks, calligraphy pen, dip pen with nibs, bamboo pen