Product Review: Ohto graphic liner needle point drawing set

The Ohto graphic liner pen set is designed to give the feel and look of using art markers (think micron) in a ball point tip, which is less prone to breaking.

Pen Review- Fisher Space Pen It really writes underwater

The Fisher Space Pen was sent to me for review by Jetpens.com

The pen comes in a sturdy plastic case with the story of the development of the pens and claims of the pens abilities including writing in freezing conditions, boiling conditions, upside down and on grease. Now, with all these claims I knew that I needed to up this review a bit and test the limits of the pen. First, as a general pen, it writes smoothly with a clear line, and a satisfying retro clicking sound as you write (remember government pens?)

Test #1: sideways
My carpool buddy was less than impressed at the Fisher Space Pen's ability to write sideways at high speeds. Apparently, updating a shopping list on the freeway while I'm driving is not an approved car pool activity. However, I was quite impressed at the Pen's ability to keep a constant line horizontally.
Verdict: Pass

Test #2: upside down
I held my handy dandy twenty five cent mead pad up to the ceiling while standing on a chair and drew circles until my arms got tired and my husband walked in and decided I had lost my mind. The line remained constant. Afterward, I realized that I probably could have just sat on the couch and held up the notebook.
Verdict: Pass

Test #3 underwater
I got a container and filled it with water and wrote on cardboard. Impressively, the space pen wrote quite well. I began to wonder if underwater writing was a secret feature of all ball point pens, and I grabbed a red Bic. The Bic wrote well for a second and then seized.
Verdict: Pass

Test #4 oil
I poured some olive oil on a sheet of paper and tried writing. The Fisher Space Pen was not adept at handling oily paper, although it perform better than its nemesis the red Bic.
Verdict: Fail

Test #5 grease
I grabbed a can of WD-40 and sprayed my paper. The Space Pen wrote in a pencil like manner that was readable. The red Bic did not fare as well.
Verdict: Pass


Test #6 Skin
Skin performance is not a feature important to many other than college students for post party pranks, but I still enjoy the occasional sleeping mustache or pen tattoo to kill time. Most pens do not hold up to the challenge, the Space Pen is an outstanding choice. The line stays clear and dark.
Verdict: Pass

Test #7 Parchment
I tried writing on a piece of baking parchment and space pen did well on the paper, which is wonderful for marking flavored butters or items in the freezer items.
Verdict: Pass

With a $20 price point there are a few pen users I would suggest consider dropping the cash for this pen. Astronauts, of course, and workers in conditions that are wet, messy or dirty. If you find yourself using a wall as a desk, or find pens dislike the conditions you choose for writing, definitely give the Fisher Space Pen a go.

I highly recommend Jet Pens. Not because the sent a sample, but because they are the best place to find your perfect pen. They sell pens in every price point from $.39 to a couple hundred dollars. The shipping is fast and accurate, and they have fabulous customer service. I was a customer before this review and will continue to be a customer. I love them.

Product Review-Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen

 The Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen is another Japanese pen intended to mimic writing like a brush with the convenience of a felt tip pen.  The Tombow Fudenosuke Brush Pen is available in two brush types, hard and soft. It is a steal at under $3.

The Bic Mark-It is a great marker for general use.  The line is strong, and the black color is quite dark.  I appreciated the low odor of this marker, as it allows for longer use on a project without a headache from the fumes.  The grip is nice squishy, and the tip wears well.  Due to the amount of pressure I put on writing utensils, I tend to get that odd fuzz ball on the tip of my markers.  If you write like me, you know exactly what I am talking about.  If you don't, then I might sound like a nutjob.              

This marker does have quite a bit of bleed through, which I expect with any marker, however if bleed through is a huge issue for you, then pass this bad boy by. I wouldn't use this as a daily marker, but it does give Sharpie, my favorite marker, a good go.  The color is super black, which I like. My Starbucks has retractable versions of these, which is pretty cool, especially if you are writing on stuff all day.

Pro:

Color

Line

Grip

 

Cons:

Bleed through

 

Overall Rating 3/5

 

 

Product Review: Pilot V-Pen

The Pilot V-Pen Disposable Fountain Pen is one that I ordered to fuel my fascination with fountain pens. I associate them with the 1920's. Can't you just picture writing with your fountain pen as you wait for a car to pick you up in your long coat and short hair to socialize at the speakeasy? It's just me? Ok, well then...

Product Review: Stabilo Bionic

 

 

This is my favorite pen, the Stablio Bionic. I adore this pen, despite its flaws. This pen is my go-tothat I miss dearly when I cannot find it at the bottom of my bag or drawer.

Product Review: Ohto Fude Ball Liquid Ink Rollerball Pen

The Ohto Fude Ball Liquid Ink Rollerball pen is a fun pen for sketching, artwork, and crafting. They were designed as a rollerball alternative for decorative envelopes given out in Japan. This, This, and This  are great blog posts explaining traditions with gorgeous examples. Typically, these are decorated with a brush pen, but the Ohto is supposed to give a brush look to a rollerball. This pen is a very thick 1.5mm, and the ink is dark black.

I wouldn't suggest this for anything but an art/craft pen. It gives beautiful lines, but it is so large that you really wouldn't want to use it for an everyday pen, unless you write extra large. To give perspective, I tend to write pretty large, and it was too bold for me for daily use, and I rarely say that about pens.

Pros: The ink flows nicely, and I think the lines are gorgeous. 

Cons: I dislike the grip on the pen, but it is fine for artistic and occasional use.

Rating: 4/5

Product Review: Pilot Petit 1 Fine Nib Blue Black Ink

I have been playing with fountain pens since I picked up a Varsity pen at Olyphant Art Supply in Olympia, WA.  I like the way fountain pens look when I am journaling. I also like the way I feel particularly sophisticated when I use a fountain pen.

The Pilot Petit 1 is part of a collection that includes fountain, sign, and brush pens in eight colors. I chose the blue-black because I enjoy having unique pen colors for mundane tasks, but find that for some reason, the grown up world does not look upon purple as an appropriate choice of ink.

The pen is small and compact, and refillable.  I liked the blue black ink, as it was dark, but with a cool greyish feel that would look good on manila or antique paper.

The nib is sturdy, and it glides nicely over paper.  The pen itself is light, and has a clear body that allows you to see how much ink is left in the cartridge.  There is minimal bleed through and the Pilot Petit does well with both larger and smaller print.

The ink is advertised to be smudge free, but I am clumsy and managed to smudge the ink on the test page twice, so if you are a left-handed writer, this may pose a problem for you.

Pros:
Refillable
Clear Body
Light
Under $4

Cons:
Ink smudged in my test
Slight bleed through

Overall, I rate this a 3/5, and would use this for general writing, or journaling.

Roses for Monday

I have been playing with line and contour lately. My inspiration is Art Deco designs from the 1920's and these really large contrast paintings that were on the wall of my high school that had to have been painted in the late 1970's or early 1980's. I find Art Deco designs gorgeous, and the contrast paintings at my high school, I'll abide by not saying anything if I can't be nice.

It is fascinating how line and contrast interact. I have many pre-sketches of this work, and subtle differences in each bring a different feel to the image. Sorting out ideas in a sketchbook helped me put together the elements. I'm working on a post about how I use sketchbooks in art and scrapbooking later this week.

~Venetia

Supplies:
Stabilo Point .88 Fineliner
Bristol Paper

Stablio Point 88 Fine Tip 0.4

Stablio Point 88 Fine tip 0.4

The Stablio Point 88 from JetPens.com is a great little workhorse for the price… less than $1. The Point 88 has a smooth line that writes well on the tip, but not as well if you angle the pen much (about 75 degrees from the paper).  Expect a solid fine line, and surprising versatility in the line width. 

The pen performs well with both large and small print, and is appropriate for both general writing and pen sketching.  I would hesitate to use the point 88 as a pen with any sort of watercolor wash, as it is a water-based ink, and will smudge slightly if wet.  There is no smudging with normal use. The pen does bleed through on normal weight paper, especially when building up color. I would caution anyone who needs to work on both sides of a paper.

 

The pen is light, and has a hexagon shaped barrel that feels like a pencil.  This is a good choice for ruler or stencil work, as the tip is protected in a metal case.  I accidentally left the pen out for quite a few hours, and the tip did not dry out.  The pen also withstood the preschooler test, which involves a sort of write/pound/scribble gauntlet. The tip did not demolish after the preschooler test, which comparable pens like the Sharpie do not survive (RIP brand new red Sharpie).

Overall, at $.88, this is a great little everyday pen. I recommend this for people who love or need a bold line. If you are one of those organizational wizards who like to color-code everything, the point 88 comes in 25 different colors. If you forget your caps, or lose them like I do, the point 88 is a very forgiving pen. For scrapbooking, cardmaking, art journaling, or drawing, this is a solid choice, due to the lighfastness of the ink. The pen does not make claims to be acid free, and I am not suggesting it is.

Overall Rating 4/5

This pen was provided for review by JetPens.com