I’m trying out the Hero M86 pen today as a sketching pen. It can make a variable width line depending on how you hold it. A steep angle makes a very thin line. A low angle makes a thick line. This is because the nib has a unique swoop on the end of it.
I bought the pen for $10 ($6 shipping) from isellpens.com. It’s made in China. It’s a remakable pen for $10 – well made, heavy, and comes with a piston feed, but it also can use cartidges. I filled it with Noodler’s Bulletproof Black ink. It flows very nicely unless you let it sit unused for several days. You can easily get it started again by dipping the nib in water.
It takes some practice to draw with this pen as you have to change the angle as you draw to vary the line width. This takes some getting used to, but I like it. One refillable pen gives me unlimited line width.
I did this sketch standing in the greenhouse. Total time was less than 20 minutes. Later I added the sketch of the pen and it’s nib.
Here’s a cellphone photo of the plant. I took it after I was done sketching.
And here’s my two page journal spread with my notes.
Moleskine watercolor journal, Hero M86 pen with Noodler’s Bulletproof Black ink, Lucas tube watercolors – Light Yellow, Cobalt Blue, Alizarin Crimson, Burnt Sienna, Payne’s Grey.
Jim