Last week Nicole from Pentel sent me some pens to try out and review. Included in the package was a 4-pen set of Pentel Hybrid Technicas in sizes 03, 04, 05, 06; a Pentel Brush Pen and a Pentel Stylo Sketch Pen.
(As always, click on any of the pictures for a larger view.)
The Pentel Hybrid Technicas and the Pentel Brush Pen that comes with two refill cartridges.
The Pentel Stylo Sketch Pen.
Here are the pens out of their packages.
The nibs in relation to each other.
This compares the line widths.
At first I wasn't sure about the Stylo Sketch Pen, but after playing around with its flexible nib for a while, I really got to like it and found it quite comfortable to use. The Hybrid Technicas have very smooth ink that doesn't skip. The Brush Pen has a great feel to it, but since I don't usually use a brush to ink, it will require me to work at it. I'm sure that if you ink with a brush all the time it will quickly become a convenient go-to item when you don't feel like carrying around both a brush and a bottle of ink. All and all I highly recommend all of the Pentel products that were sent to me with the Stylo Sketch Pen being my favorite of the lot. One thing I will have to check out is how the Stylo will hold up when using it with watercolors or an ink wash because it is a water-based, dye ink.
This is a quick sketch I inked with each pen for comparison.
The book below is by Sherm Cohen (Cartoonist Survey #120) and is what I used for backgrounds when taking the pictures of the pens. Due to the fact that I am getting old and forgetful, over the years I somehow managed to purchase multiple copies of this great book. One lucky reader of David Wasting Paper will benefit from my absent-mindedness and will win their very own copy.
For your chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post with your contact email address anytime between now and next Friday, July 22, 2011, prior to midnight Eastern Time. Only one entry per person and this giveaway is limited to US residents. I will choose a winner randomly from all of the comments using Random.org. I'll post the contest winner on Saturday, July 23, 2011.
Thanks again Nicole for sending me these wonderful Pentel products to try out!
Great post!
ReplyDeleteThe Stylo, from what I can see of the nib looks like an older Pentel plastic fountain en I've used for years but is increasingly harder to find, the Tradio. Fun to ink with but the ink will not survive a wash of tone or color.
paul@paulmccall.com
The "Stylo" also seems familure to me, though as the Fountain Pentel. The FP was my 2nd love back in the 80's (chronologicly speeking - 1st being mustang and 3rd being my wife). I was lucky enough to get a box of 12 when Hooks/CVS disco'ed them in the 90's. I ALWAYS keep my markers in a Rubbermaid (r) sealed container, so they haven't dried out in the nearly 18 years that I've had them. I'm down to my last one though. I love them because, unlike my experience with Microns (r), they vary from a razer thin line to about a 0.5mm thick line. Also excelent for hatching and cross-hatching type work.
ReplyDeletePlease put me on SquareBob Shermpant's (LOL) book - jjackle at insightbb dot com.
Oh, as Columbo used to say "Uh, just one more thing..." how dark is the pen brush? The scan doens't look that dark, but it could be the scanning. I'm looking at good brush pens and differant brands rage from $3 to $35.
ReplyDeleteHey jjackle,
ReplyDeleteThe ink in the brush pen isn't quite as dark as I would like, but I've read in a couple places that you can re-use the cartridges and add your ink of choice with a blunt ended syringe....mine would be Noodler's Bulletproof Black.
Here is one of those discussions.
Thanks for always posting these product reviews. It helps to see how they work before buying. I love Pentel products and for drawing I love the Pentel Stylo sketch pen, although I've had a little problem with "splatters" occasionally.
ReplyDeleteSorry I forgot to post e-mail info for strikecreative:
ReplyDeleteJohn
strikecreative@yahoo.com
I like the Stylo pen very much with it's flexible nib - I can do thick to very thin lines just by rolling the pen in my fingers. The Brush Pen is a nice little tool - I'll have to try the trick mentioned with refilling the cartridges. The Hybrid pens I don't care for at all - don't like inking with a rollerball type pen. Great site, I come here often.
ReplyDeleteI hope the sketch pen is the one I have been searching for all these years. It certainly sounds like it might be. I just ordered one, so we shall see.
ReplyDeleteAs we are pals, I guess it isn't fair for me to participate in the giveaway, but I don't care- I want that book! :^D