TWSBI Eco fountain pen review - for artists and sketching
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- If you want to start sketching using a fountain pen, you might want to consider a piston fountain pen, because of their ink capacity - twice as much as a normal fountain pen. But there are lots available and which one will you choose? I've heard lots of good things about the TWSBI Eco and TWSBI pens in general, so I asked for one for Christmas. This is my review - and my conclusion? Its robust, easy to use and good to look at!
You might like to see a sketch done entirely in Kohinoor document ink using the TWSBI Eco here: • Speed sketching with a... and you might like to find out more about black inks suitable for the Eco here: • Black fountain pen ink...
If you look on my channel there are lots of urban sketching films too, alongside watercolour tips and ideas.
If you like line and wash you might be interested in my book called 'Line and Wash Painting', which was published in January 2022 by The Crowood Press (www.crowood.com) and if you want more in depth training please check out my line and wash course over at www.lizchadertonstudio.co.uk. I have also written 'Painting Animals in Watercolour, so you might like that too.
This is the link to The Book Depository (not affiliate) which does free worldwide shipping out of the UK: www.bookdeposi...
I release a film each week here on TH-cam sharing a waterolour tip or technique, usually at 2pm. So please like and subscribe and hit the notification bell. If you have a topic your would like me to make a film about, please leave your suggestion in the comments.
I also run a facebook group which is a lovely place to meet artists from around the world, share your ideas and tips and show your work. You are welcome to join us here: groups/watercolourstudiowithlizchaderton/
#lizchaderton #lineandwash #fountainpenink
The inexpensive Dollar pens can also be easily disassembled without the need for tools. They're good value for the price. I have a TWSBI Mini and a number of other piston or vacuum fillers used for sketching. I haven't yet tried an Eco.
That’s good to know. Hopefully I won’t need to take them to pieces!
I love my TWISBI Eco pens. I have three, each with a different ink. I find that the nib sizes tend to be larger than, say a LAMY. My XF TWISBI = my F LAMY. I've had two inked constantly for six months, and no issues. Toss them in my sketch case and off I go. I love the large ink capacity.
That’s really good to know!
I am very lazy..and just kept the ink in my TWSBI Mini for months without any problem….always started up straightaway again..unlike the Lamys..which soon clog up if unused
That is great to know. I am being very careful (at the moment!)
I love fountain pens, and for sketching too. Like you, not calligraphy. I'm old enough to have used fountain pens in primary school, but not old enough to have had to use the inkwells built into our desks, which apparently had been made to last in the Victorian era and never discarded by the nuns..
my husband used a slate at school!! that always makes me laugh. a fountain pen was a reward for good handwriting foe my son… times change!
I’ve not really been brave enough yet to sketch with a fountain pen (I’m sure I’ll get in a smudgy inky mess on my hands and the paper!). Not having a cover over the twiddly end would worry me…. Never mind kids, it would be me twiddling it without thinking and spraying ink everywhere hahaha.
ha ha 😂 Just give it a go. I am a very messy worker.
Hi Can I recommend the cheaper, clear Wing Sung 3008 which is about £5, sturdy and has the advantage of a twist lock at the end, preventing accidents. The only downside is it only comes in one nib size and some less pretty colours but I do prefer it to the Twisbi. I use it with sketch, carbon and document inks and its held up well for several years even when forgetting to flush it out for months ! Thanks for the review, have fun.
ooh, will have a look! Thanks!
Before I began my watercolor journey I had an arsenal of Twsbi…..F for the line and Stub for the “wash”…..had a lot of fun!
That sounds good!
@@LizChadertonArt it worked too😁
I’m still loving my 80p Dollar 717 pens from fleabay, huge thanks for the tip!
Me too! They are hard to beat 😊
Hi LC.. great review,you probably know already ,if you draw with the back side of the nib you have have the size line..
Bother! I did know that but also had forgotten! Thank you for the reminder
I’m pleased you like the TWSBI Eco. I have one and also a TWSBI Vac Mini and love them both. They have both been inked up for months now and still write first time when I go to use them and I’ve never had to dismantle them which I’m pleased about.
I’ve heard that about them. I have left waterproof ink inside…just in case
I have an ECO pen and I like it just fine. I Love my Noodler’s Triple Tail ink pen! I even enjoy using Noodler’s inks too! The wider range of line weights is very important to me. I am looking forward to seeing you use your new fountain pen in a future video! See ya then!
I’ve just got a couple of flex pens to try and get more line variation, so will try and do a review in the next few weeks, which might be of interest
TWSBI ECO pens are so expensive $78.55 Cdn (shipping and tax)...How do you find the Noodler's pen with Waterproof ink?
Have a TWSBI diamond 580 piston filler pen which I use for sketching. Easy to fill with large amount of ink. Fitted with nib. Pen never fails to write after not being used. Works with more heavyweight art papers. Nib glides over the paper, and is wet. Also have the ECO which works similarly for me with nib. Good pen brand.
yes, I like mine a lot
This couldn't have come at the better time! I was toying with an idea of getting a fountain pen to replace fineliner pens, which I use sometimes, but wasn't sure if this would suit my needs . I've heard that fountain pens only can be used with fountain pen ink which mostly is not waterproof,so it would not be suitable for line and wash, the style I am trying to learn, which would defy the purpose of buying one in the first place.
Also, wanted to ask - I am familiar with dipping pens, used them, when was younger ( romantic aspect, yeah..😂) , is the feel of drawing with fountain pen different? (Besides the fact that you can go on without refilling it every minute. )
Thank you for a lovely video!
All the best!
There are some waterproof inks made especially for use in fountain pens. (But you should care for the pens more regularly.) Platinum Carbon, the Noodlers bulletproof series and more, just google it.
I use Rohrer und Klingner SketchInk, i've got two greys, a black and a bright yellow. All pigmented and waterproof. Until now all works smoothly, but I recommend the same precaution as Liz: Don't leave the ink for to long in the pen without using it.
The normal dip pen (Zebra G) I remember is more scratchy than a fountain pen. And the lines made by a fountain pen nib are more even in width. Both suits me. Give it a try, it's really fun.
Hers a film about fountain pen inks and what to look for: th-cam.com/video/fEpJNlIlrHg/w-d-xo.html So yes, you can get great waterproof inks, but use with caution and never let them dry in your pen. I find fountain pens a lot smoother to use and less blotchy. I love dip pens for the surprise though!
@@LizChadertonArt
Dip pens do bring a lot of surprises, that's for sure! ( Thinks about all the spilled bottles of ink, cats inky paw prints everywhere, oh, what a delightful mess they bring! 😂)
Thank you so much for a film recommendation,I don't know how I missed it... It was very kind of you to provide a link, thank you!
All the best!
@@ellenp7455 Yup! I am a cat sufferer too!
I enjoy your videos very much. I would like to dabble in this area of art. What you recommend for just a starter set? Also pad/paper😊
what country are you in? availability really varies.
I use two Lamy pens, a thirty year old Safari with a M nib and a Joy with an EF nib, both fun to draw with. I refill the empty cartridges with a syringe, ca. 1.2 ml volume.
I like a reduced contrast between the lines and the watercolors and use grey ink, ready made or I mix it myself. And that color is hard to find in a Micron or a gel pen.
I thought about aquiring the TWSBI Eco, but as long as my Lamys work as they do I shy away from the expense.
Thanks for the video anyway.
I really like the piston pen because of the ease and capacity, but if the Lamys are working for you, then why get more? Funnily enough, I have been trying to tract down Lexington grey at a reasonable price, as I want to try waterproof grey ink.
I have a number of fountain pens including two TWISBI’s. I used them when I was interested in Writing and Calligraphy. I never thought to use them in Art. So thank so much for the ideas.
Lucky you! I have a few recent films about sketching with fountain pens - eg th-cam.com/video/j-T3wRSlwt4/w-d-xo.html. They are so versatile and there are so many gorgeous inks.
Where did you buy or order the dollar pens? I’m in the US. Thanks! Loved the review!
The 717i TWSBI. THANKS!
I got mine on eBay in the UK. Sorry I don’t know in the USA
cool comparisons
thank you
They appear to be very nice for sketching but it seems they are delivered by horse and wagon or maybe bicycle courier relay in the US. 😅 Nice review.
oh no!!! hope it's worth the wait
Saw this reply in my messages and decided to check The Google for Twsbi retailers on line. Lo and behold there was an actual store (high end pen shop) within 5 miles I had no idea existed. Popped in and … yes, it writes great. 😊 Glad I saw your reply
Ps. The one I ordered on line from TWSBI, still hasn’t arrived. But it seems to be a UPS issue.
ECO arrived and …. Thanks again 😊
How long did that take in the end? Hopefully worth it!@@ladyhollman9534
@@LizChadertonArt About 10 days from order to arrival. It was shipped UPS ground for faster service & a specific arrival date.
It showed up 3 days late due to a UPS truck delay a few miles from my location. No fault of TWSBI.
So 7 days shipped by UPS ground if all goes well; West Coast to East Coast.
They don’t seem to ship by air within the US.
The pen writes great and I’m having fun sketching with it. Worth the wait. 😊
Never tried a fountain pen for decades! Time to retry.
Be warned - utterly addictive and then you start buying inks and before you know it, you have a HUGE collection! Check out Cult Pens....