Zebra SARASA SE Pen Review and Giveaway

Laurie and Lauren at Zebra Pen Corporation sent me a 4-pack of the Zebra SARASA SE .07 gel pens to try.

(As always, click on any of the pictures for a larger view.)

Here’s a brief description of the SARASA SE from Zebra’s website, “Developed from the feedback of over 50,000 consumers, the SARASA SE boasts features most important to consumers including ink visibility, superior gel ink for a scratch-free write, a strong metal clip and a complex textured grip. This grip stands out among others due to its extreme durability, which can be tested pre-purchase through the package cut outs. Available in 8 vibrant colors – perfect for color coding.”

The 4-pack contains two black, one blue and one red ink gel pen.

The design of the SARASA SE is pretty slick and the textured grip is very comfortable.

I tried them out on both 90lb sketchbook paper and in a Rhodia Webnotebook. They write very smoothly, though there was a bit of scratchiness on the sketchbook paper. One thing I immediately noticed though, was that these pens don’t leave the usual skips in ink (or holidays as my dad calls them) that a lot of gel pens seem to do.

Here is some doodling I did with the Zebra SARASA SE. They did leave a few globs of ink in spots, but are still a fun pen to draw with.

Rumor has it that they can also be used to fight off Godzilla.

Overall I found the Zebra SARASA SE .07 a comfortable pen to use with good quality ink. I’ll use them more for note taking and doodling at work than for finished art. You should definitely try them out for yourself and Zebra has made it easy for one reader of David Wasting Paper to do that.

For your chance to win a 4-pack of Zebra SARASA SE .07 pens for yourself, just leave a comment on this post with your contact email address anytime between now and Friday, August 5, 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, August 6, 2011.

Thanks again to Laurie, Lauren and Zebra Pen Corporation for sending me the pens!

Zebra Pen products can be found nationwide at Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, Walmart, K-Mart, and other office supply stores, discount chains, food and drug retailers, stationery stores and wholesale clubs. For more information on Zebra Pen products, programs and promotions, log onto www.zebrapen.com or visit its online store, www.store.zebrapen.com.

What Is Your Favorite Pen To Use? - Part 2

It's hard to believe it was over a year ago that I compiled the answers to the question, "What Is Your Favorite Pen To Use?" for the first 100 participants of the Cartoonist Survey. Now that there are over 220 sets of answers I figured it was time to post the compiled answers for the next 100 participants. The number in parentheses before the pens is the number of cartoonists who responded that it is their preference. Please note that some of the answers provided did not give a specific brand, but rather specified "dip Pen" or "brush and ink" etc. Also note that not all participants answered this question.

These are the favorite pens of the participants of Cartoonist Surveys #101 - #200.

(15)Pigma Micron
(9) Hunt nib
Breakdown of Hunt nibs;
(5) Hunt 102
(1) Hunt 108
(1) Hunt 22
(1) Hunt 104
(1) Hunt bowl pointed
(7) Digital pen - Wacom
(6) Dip pen
(6) Faber-Castell Pitt
(6) Winsor Newton Series 7
(5) Rapidograph
(4) Brush and ink
(3) Pentel Pocket Brush
(3) Sharpie
(3) Various
(3) Japanese brush pen
(2) Pencil and scan - no pen
(2) Rotring Art Pen
(2) Staedtler Pigment Liners

The rest were preferred by only one cartoonist each;

#3 Sable brush
Alvin Penstix
Artline 200 series
Bic classic
Bic Roller Ball micro
Esterbrook 255 nib
Esterbrook 369 Maritime nib
Gillott 290
Lamy fountain pen
Linoleum Cutter (for Linocuts)
Loew-Cornell 795 #2 brush
Mars Staedtler Graphic 3000 Duo
Namiki Falcon fountain pen
Paper Mate Flair
Pentel Sigma Sign pen
Pilot Precise V5
Raphael #2 brush
Speedball A-5 nib
Speedball Crow Quill
Tachikawa "G"
Tombow GCD - 11 brush pen
Uni Pin Fine Line
Uni Posca Paint pens
Uni-ball Roller
Uni-ball Vision

Since I am a little OCD, I went and assembled the combined answers from all participants of Cartoonist Surveys #1 - #200.

(23) Pigma Micron
(19)Hunt nib
Breakdown of Hunt nibs;
(7) Hunt 102
(2) Hunt
(2) Hunt 101
(2) Hunt 108
(2) Hunt 513EF
(1) Hunt 22
(1) Hunt 100
(1) Hunt 104
(1) Hunt bowl pointed
(15) Digital pen -Wacom
(12) Rapidograph
(12) Winsor Newton Series 7
(10) Faber-Castell Pitt
(9) Pentel Pocket Brush
(8) Dip pen
(7) Sharpie
(6) Gillott nib
Breakdown of Gillott nibs;
(2) Gillot 303
(1) Gillot 850
(2) Gillot 290
(1) Gillot 170
(6) Brush and ink
(6) Rotring Art pen
(4) Staedtler Pigment Liners
(4) Papermate Flair
(4) Various
(3) Esterbrook nib
Breakdown of Esterbrook nibs;
(1)Esterbrook 369 Maritime nib
(1)Esterbrook 255 nib
(1)Esterbrook dip pen
(3) Speedbal Crow Quill
(3) Japanese brush pen
(2) Pencil and scan - no pen
(2) Pentel Uni-ball
(2) Lamy Fountain pen
(2) Bic Classic
(2) Pilot Precise V5
(2) Raphael Kolinsky #2 brush

The rest were preferred by only one cartoonist each;

#2 Cotman Winsor & Newton brush
#3 Sable brush
Alvin Penstix
Anything
Artline 200 series
Bic Roller Ball micro
Brause "Blue Pumpkin" Steno nib
Delta fountain pen
Dixon Markette
Gillott 290
Grumbacher brush
Handmade Japanese pen
Kuretake brush pen
Linoleum Cutter (for Linocuts)
Loew-Cornell 795 #2 brush
Mars Staedtler Graphic 3000 Duo
Medium Ballpoint
Namiki Falcon fountain pen
Nikko G nib
Papermate blue ballpoint
Pentel Hi-Tec-C Slim Knock
Pentel Sigma Sign pen
Prismacolor Fine Marker
Robert Simmons 785 white sable brushes
Rotring fountain pen
Rotring Isograph
Sanford Design Ebony pencil
Sanford Expresso Extra Fine
Sanford Expresso Extra Fine
Speedball A-5 nib
Tachikawa "G"
Tombow GCD - 11 brush pen
Tri-Art markers
Uni Pin Fine Line
Uni Posca Paint pens
Uni-ball Roller
Uni-ball Vision
Winsor Newton Graphic Series 239 brush
Zebra G

Later this week comedy writer, producer and cartoonist Tom Gammill provides his answers to the Cartoonist Survey.

Clairefontaine Sketchbook Review

A couple of weeks ago the very nice Karen Doherty at Exaclair Inc. sent me a sketchbook to try out. It is the 8” x 8” Clairefontaine and it has 50 sheets of 120 g acid-free paper.

Click on all of the pictures to enlarge them.

I was amazed to find out that the paper used in Clairefontaine’s fine art paper is made by a mill almost 400 years old. Learn more here.


This is the back cover. Both the front and back have a nice thick plastic cover in case you get caught out in the rain.


I really like the thickness of the back because I’m usually not sketching on a flat surface.


A blank sketchbook waiting for some ink.

Various pen lines - Lamy Safari fountain pen, Faber Castell Pitt, Staedtler Pigment Liner, Rotring Art Pen, Pigma Micron, Prismacolor, Uni-Ball Vision Elite, Mars Professional

Watercolor pencils - Derwent and Staedtler Karat

Watercolors - Koi 24 color and Winsor Newton Sketchers' Box

Copic markers - they do bleed through, but they bleed through just about anything anyways.

Quick sketches to accompany some quotes from Homer...both of them.

I really like this sketchbook and look forward to filling it up. The paper takes a nice smooth pen line even though it is medium toothed and also handles watercolors well without much buckling. The heavy back cover is definitely a plus.

Head over to the Exaclair Inc. website to see more products from Clairefontaine as well as from Rhodia, Quo Vadis, J. Herbin and more. You can purchase your own Clairefontaine 8" x 8" sketchbook from any of the online retailers here or find a store near you that carries them.

Thanks again Karen!

What Did You Get For Christmas?

I'm taking a short break from shoveling out from the "blizzard" that hit us yesterday into today and I thought I'd show you some of the cool cartooning and comic related gifts I received for Christmas.

First is a Lamy Safari Extra Fine Nib Fountain Pen.

This is an ink converter for the pen that will allow me to use...

... Noodler's Black Waterproof Ink

This is a limited edition large Peanuts Moleskine notebook.

Krazy Kat: The Comic Art of George Herriman

A nifty box of Vintage DC Comics postcards.

This one will take me a while to read through. It is over 1000 pages of Writings & Drawings of James Thurber.

Next is Capacity by Theo Ellsworth. There are some pretty wild drawings in this book.

This book isn't cartoon or comic related but goes along with my other love, the classic Universal Studio Monsters.

All in all a pretty darn good take if you ask me.

So, what did you get? Leave a comment and let me know what cartoon and comic related gifts you received.

Russell Stutler - Cartoonist/Artist Survey #158

Russell Stutler is an artist who was born in Japan, raised here in the U.S. and now lives in Tokyo. In the early 70’s he saw a television series on the life of Leonardo Da Vinci and it instilled in him a passion for sketching and drawing. He went to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh and received an Associate’s Degree in Visual Communication. Russ worked as a graphic artist while earning his Bachelor's Degree in Christian Ministries from Malone College. In 1987 he went to Japan to learn Japanese and work as a missionary. Staying permanently in Japan, he has worked as a freelance illustrator who has illustrated many books and magazine articles. He runs a great website that showcases his love of sketching, watercolor painting and much, much more.

I stumbled upon Russ’s site a few years ago and have spent many hours reading through it all. He discusses the tools and techniques of sketching and watercolor painting, using step by step pictures of his own work. There is a whole section on his sketchbook pages; filled with drawings of buildings, storefronts, houses and people he’s seen in and around Tokyo. His website also features a wonderful online book about sketching that he created and a Sketching Forum. The Sketching Forum is a great resource where people not only display their own sketches but also review the pens, paints and paper they used to create them. Be sure to set aside some time and check out Russ’s website and the Sketching Forum. Go here to buy some of Russ's drawings.

What is your favorite pen to use?
Brush pen.

Do you draw in pencil first and if so do you use a standard pencil or a mechanical one?
Mechanical pencil.

Do you do your coloring by hand or on the computer?
Computer.

What type of paper do you use?
All digital now, no paper.

What thing(s) do you hate to draw?
Backgrounds.

Do you buy your supplies from big chain art store catalogues/websites or a local one that you physically go to?
Local shop.

Are there any rituals that you do before starting to draw?
No.

Do you listen to music while you draw and if so what genre?
No.

Did you read comics as a kid and if so what was your favorite?
Batman

What is or was your favorite comic strip?
Calvin and Hobbes

What was your favorite book as a child and do you still own a copy of it?
None.

Did you have any formal art training and if so where did you receive it?
Art Institute of Pittsburgh

Do you feel that the Internet is a blessing or a curse?
Both.

Did either of your parents draw?
No.

Who in your life is/was the most supportive of your art?
Can't recall.

Do you keep a sketchbook?
Yes.

Have you ever taught cartooning/drawing and if so did you enjoy the experience?
No.

Do you feel that talent or passion is more important in drawing?
Passion.

Do you collect anything and if so what?
Nothing.

If you were an animated cartoon character who do you think you would be?
Don't know.

Are you a righty or lefty?
Righty.

If you weren't an artist what would you want to do for work?
Anything I could find.

In one or two sentences describe your drawing area.
Drawing board.

Do you play any musical instruments?
Yes, guitar.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone who wants to pursue drawing as a career what would it be?
Consider a back up career and make art your hobby.

Who is your favorite artist?
Leonardo, Hokusai

Thanks again Russ.

Up next is alternative comics artist Ed Piskor.

Pens and the Post - Collect, Correspond, Celebrate!

Alright all you ink slingers out there...I just got a nice email from the Smithsonian National Post Museum and they wanted me to let you know about their upcoming event, Pens and the Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate! It is taking place this Saturday, May 29, 2010 at the Smithsonian National Post Museum from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be all kinds of family-fun activities going on throughout the day, including calligraphy demonstrations, card making and Kids Workshops. Here are the details:


The National Postal Museum, along with the Pen Collectors of America and Fahrney’s Pens, are hosting “Pens & the Post: Collect, Correspond, Celebrate!” Pens, postage and mail have long gone hand in hand. Explore the shared history of pens and mail with the whole family.

The following are activities taking place throughout the day:

· Make a creative card to send to a friend with young designer Sophia Breuer

· Watch an expert calligraphy demonstration by expert calligrapher Deborah Basel

· Take a fancy fountain pen for a spin at the “Pen Petting Zoo” provided by Fahrney’s Pens

· Sample a rainbow of ink colors with John Bosley, author of Vintage Inks

· Try out beautiful papers from plain to posh with handwriting specialist Nan Barchowsky

· Just in time for Memorial Day, pen a letter to U.S. military members and learn about World War
II-era correspondence.

· Meet the Pen Collectors of America and find out more about the pen collecting community

· See a pen set belonging to President Franklin D. Roosevelt and beautiful stamps featuring pens and handwriting in a scavenger hunt.

Short workshops provide the opportunity to learn from the experts and try new skills:

· 11:30 a.m. – Pens for Kids Workshop presented by the Pen Collectors of America

· 12:30 p.m. – Cursive for Kids Workshop presented by Fahrney’s Pens

· 1:30 p.m. – Pens for Kids Workshop presented by the Pen Collectors of America

· 2:30 p.m. – The Glory of Pen Collecting presented by the Pen Collectors of America


So, if you are anywhere near Washington DC this Saturday, you should definitely check it out! This is the link to the event's webpage and you can get directions here.

Here is the link to the Pen Collectors of America who will not only be at the event, but will also be streaming the event live on their website.

Fahrney's Pens will be in attendance too, with all kinds of writing instruments for you to try out.

Also check out this Vintage Inks website run by John Bosley who is the author of the book, "Vintage Inks." John will be one of the featured guest at the Pens and Post event.

I Am A Pen-A-Holic.

If you've been reading the Cartoonist Surveys you have noticed that the first question I ask is, "What is your favorite pen to use?" The reason for this is that I love pens! I love the way they feel in my hand and the way they can turn a blank sheet of paper into a work of art. I get giddy when art supply catalogs show up in the mail and must immediately stop everything to peruse them. Well, if you too share my love of pens, pencils and their accessories than you have to check out JetPens. They are a company based in California that sells all kinds of Japanese pens, pencils and such. I have ordered from them many times so I can attest that their prices are great with fast shipping. And if your order is over $25, shipping is free! Take a minute to check them out and tell them David Wasting Paper sent you.