Over a century ago, the crow quill pen was developed as a tool for draftsmen and lithographers to achieve super-fine details. Quill pen nibs are tiny and strong, which means they easily produce whisper-thin lines. This feature is handy in many projects, but today I’m going to talk about three specific crow quill-friendly activities: writing a letter, sketching, and making an intricate line drawing. After you read the tutorials — and likely get excited about trying out a quill for yourself — you have an opportunity to enter to win an artisan-made crow quill pen from The Straight and Narrow! If you have any questions about the techniques or projects in this post, of course feel free to comment; otherwise, enjoy!
1. Writing a Letter
I should probably preface this usage suggestion by saying that it’s totally unnecessary to use a crow quill pen to write a letter because, obviously, you can use any pen you want to put your thoughts on paper! But, if you want to be able to use any ink under the sun to write your letter, write at nearly the same speed that you would with a regular pen, and feel cool and traditional while doing it, then crow quill correspondence is for you. I love using walnut ink on blank Rhodia paper with a lined piece of notebook paper underneath it so I have some guidelines; I think it adds to the antique “vibe” of the piece!
Letters created with a crow quill pen have a delightfully vintage feel to them. While modern ballpoint and gel pens have a very smooth, bold stroke, using a crow quill will give you very thin and spidery script that’s reminiscent of olden times in the best of ways!
The kicker with using the crow quill to write a letter is you’ll need to work on smooth, non-fibrous paper. Otherwise, your nib will more than likely get caught in the fibers once or twice, resulting in ink spatter. Personally, I think that adds to the effect and further hints at the unique tool you used to write — but life admittedly is easier if you can use smooth paper. I used Rhodia paper to write this letter, but papers like Clairefontaine or Tomoe River will work just as well!
While you can certainly address your envelope using a crow quill pen, I like to add to the vintage-elegant feel by supplementing it with a pretty dip pen calligraphy style like the Janet.
2. Sketching
The crow quill pen is fantastic to sketch with because it can create super-fine lines; and if you add a bit of pressure, it will respond with wider-stroked lines. The built-in variation in stroke width sets it apart from its modern drawing pen cousins. The great thing about the quill, too, is its tubular nib holds a lot of ink! You won’t have to re-dip your quill in ink much, which is convenient when you want to make a quick, no-fuss sketch.
I love using crow quill pen sketches on envelope art, so that’s the context I’m going to use to show you this concept today. First of all, you’ll want to pick out a subject — anything works! Today, I’ll be drawing a Harry Potter lego figure since I’m writing to my six year-old pen pal, Parker, and I know he’s a big fan. I’m the kind of person who likes using a photo to look at, so I used Google image search to find some photos of Harry in lego form. You should feel free, however, to just draw whatever comes out of your head or draw from life! The real name of the sketching game is to draw the impression of what you see, whether that thing is really there or is just in your mind.
“Draw what you see” is much easier said than done, so try to think of yourself as a projector. You’ve got input coming into your brain, and it’s your job to convert that input into output on the paper. Sketches are quick and unofficial, so if (really, I should say “when“) your sketch doesn’t look exactly like your subject, you shouldn’t feel dissatisfied with it. Quite the contrary! The goal isn’t perfection; you’re just rendering your impression of the subject on the page.
If you have waterproof ink to sketch with, all the better! Once your artwork is finished, you can add a pop of color with watercolor paint.
When your paint dries, you’re finished! If you used your sketch on mail art like I did, you can add a complementary calligraphy style (and possibly watercolor calligraphy) to write the address. I like the way that Kaitlin Style script adds to the messy yet harmonious theme of the envelope!
Of course, you don’t have to use your sketching skills for mail art. At the risk of sounding redundant, sketching is great for sketchbook journals! You can also use it as art to display in your home, or use it to add visual interest to a letter you’re writing. Whatever you want to do with the concept, I’m sure it will turn out cool!
3. Line Drawing
A line drawing is an illustration that uses only lines to let you as the observer know where the shadows depicted in the art piece are (or aren’t). To make a line drawing, I generally start off with a photo reference to save time. You can use a bright window or a light box to make a quick pencil outline of your subject. If you’d like, you can do this tutorial with me! Go ahead and print off this reference photo, which I took this afternoon and am glad to share with you.
Once you have drawn your pencil guidelines, dip your crow quill in a waterproof ink such as sumi or India ink, and draw over the guidelines. I like to exert medium pressure as I’m doing this so the tines of the nib spread slightly and facilitate a bolder line than if no pressure were exerted.
After you have drawn over all your pencil guidelines, it’s time to start drawing in your shadows, a.k.a. shading! Shading is the reason I like working off of a photo reference rather than real life; in real life, shadows change, but in a photo, they are static. First, you’ll take a look at your photo to identify your medium-toned shadows. Next, draw parallel lines spaced relatively far apart to represent those shadows.
I love using a crosshatching technique in line drawings. Crosshatching means that you use lines that criss-cross each other in order to show shadows. Thus, your next step will be crossing the horizontal lines you originally made with vertical lines.
Now it’s time to build up the darker shades! To do that, use your crow quill pen to make dense crisscrosses where the darker shadows are.
Continue to compare the reference photo against your artwork in order to see if you’ve missed any shadows! You can also add very, very light and sparse crosshatching to white areas in your subject like I have done in the tines of the fork below. This is just a stylistic preference; you don’t have to. I personally like the way it fills up the negative space a little bit, though!
The final step is to go through and add very dark lines and values where necessary. For example, you can see that I’ve added shading to the left side of the top three tines and the right side of the bottom tine. I did that because I noticed there were shadows in that area of the photo. That added a lot of dimension! I also added some bold lines to the neck and handle of the fork to make it “pop” a little more.
Line drawing isn’t a super-simple concept, and the technique is subjective depending on what you’re drawing; so if you don’t get it right the first time, don’t worry about it! Just keep trying, be patient with yourself and your quill, and you’ll form an understanding of how to make a beautiful line drawing.
If you’re wondering what to use your line drawing for, there are several things you can do with it! You can frame it and display it in your home (or give it as a gift). If you scan it into your computer, you can use it as clipart for snail mail and scrapbooking. I’m a big mail art lover, so I printed few of my Parisian-themed line drawings onto card stock to make intricate printable cards!
Line drawings, while gorgeous, do take a chunk of time to make. With this in mind, I have made a printable bundle of Parisian line drawing stationery so you can make your own très chic A7 cards, envelope liners, and gift tags. Feel free to add a pop of color and/or some calligraphy!
Crow Quill Pen Giveaway
As you probably know, Rodger Mayeda is one of my favorite artisans and a wonderful human being in general. For the past couple of years, he has been using his woodworking skills to make my favorite calligraphy pens. A few months ago, he started developing a crow quill pen with a dreamy grip and a smooth-as-butter finish. Compared to the quill I was using before I converted, Rodger’s crow quill is amazing!
When Rodger realized he couldn’t keep his Etsy shop (Rodger’s Pen Box) open more than a day or two per month due to the overwhelming number of oblique pen orders, he teamed up with his friend Christine to make an Etsy shop that is open 24/7: The Straight and Narrow. “TSandN” carries Rodger’s artisan-made straight calligraphy pens as well as his innovative crow quill pens.
Rodger and Christine have been kind enough to offer a crow quill pen package giveaway! Here’s what the winner will receive:
- An artisan-made Purpleheart wood crow quill pen ($45.00 value)
- A couple of crow quill nibs, including the Hiro 800 (a nib with great flexibility that is ideal for drawing) (~$5.00 value)
- Nib guide
- Ink sample
To enter the giveaway, you may submit an entry in the Rafflecopter widget below!
As with all TPK giveaways, anyone, anywhere is eligible to win; we’re happy to ship domestically (USA) or internationally! The giveaway will end Tuesday, October 20th at noon MDT (Denver, CO, USA time zone), at which point a winner’s name will be announced on the widget as well as on the TPK Facebook.
I hope that you gained some inspiration from today’s blog post, and again I want to say thanks so much for reading! It’s my absolute and complete pleasure that you’re here. Enjoy your day, and if you get a chance, try out a crow quill in the near future!
Warmly,
what’s the difference between a crow quill pen and a straight holder(say the general’s straight cork holder)?
Great question! A crow quill pen can accommodate tiny crow quill nibs, whereas if you tried to put a crow quill nib in a “normal” straight holder, it would just fall out. 🙂
Hi Lindsey,
I know this is a crazy old post, but I’ve been on the hunt for a mid-priced crow quill holder, and I realized that I don’t even know what a “mid-priced” holder would be. Amazon has Speedball and Hunts, but I’m assuming those are the lower price points. Then obviously there’s The Straight and Narrow Etsy shop for the super nice ones, like the one you gave away last year. Do you know of a good middle ground for those of us who can’t commit to a TS&N one, but would like something a little more comfortable than the cheapie holders?
Yeah! I’d try the Tachikawa T40 holder; they are compatible with a lot of crowquill nibs. 🙂 You might double-check as far as which ones (because I can’t tell you right off the top of my head), but that’s an excellent mid-level holder that is also compatible with “regular” dip pen calligraphy nibs.
Thanks for the great post! I just order my own quill nib & Nikko G 🙂 can’t wait to try them both when they arrive!!
-Amy Leigh ❤
I’m so happy to hear that! You’ll notice a big difference between the two, but I think you’ll love both of them. 🙂
I have a question that is off topic. I have noticed that you reference Harry Potter in some of your blog entries, which makes me think that maybe you’re an HP superfan like I am. My question is…have you ever written “I must not tell lies” in red ink with your dip pen? Silly question, I know, but inquiring minds want to know.
Haha! I’m a superfan of pretty much everything … Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Julius Caesar … you’ll find references to them all around here. 😉 That said, I haven’t written out that iconic HP phrase in red ink; that would be a fun project, though, especially if you were planning on incorporating it into a Halloween decoration/display!
Thank you so much. My art teacher had just showed us how to use this and there are already ideas brewing in my head. Your post was so helpful and I am eager to try the cross hatching for my drawings.
I love the crosshatching technique! I hope you give it a go!!
Lindsey,
Thank you so much for bringing this holder and nib to my attention! It arrived in the mail yesterday and my nibs arrived today. I’ve been playing with it all afternoon. I love it! It was rough going at first but once I found the sweet spot, golden. I was surprised at the tricks and thins I got with it, wasn’t expecting that with the Hunt 102 nib.
I also tried the Brause 66EF in my other holders; got any tricks with this one. It really doesn’t want to start for me. When it does it’s amazing . I usually use a Zebra G and a Leonardt Priciple nib. I would appreciate some tips. It’s extremely smooth once it gets going. Maybe I need to angle it upwards more.
Anyways, thanks so much for this gem.
Amy
Hi Amy!
Schin Loong actually made a great video detailing how to get a Brause Rose and a Brause EF66 to “start” — I think watching that will help you a lot! I’m glad to hear that the other nibs are working well, though, and that you are loving the crow quill!
Rodger’s crow quill nib holder is my absolute favorite. I write and draw with it. The nib holds a lot of ink, so I re-ink less frequently. Wish I’d had the nice wood holder when I was a student. Wish I’d been lucky enough to win a Rodger pen, but I’m happy someone else was luckier. Everyone deserves a good instrument.
Cheers!
I love my crow quill, too. 🙂 I’d like to try it on that mineral paper you sent, but I’m still trying to think up a subject that’s worthy enough to be drawn on there!
This was a wonderful post! I’d never read your blog before and now I’ll be a regular reader. I’ve been using a crow quill pen for decades for drawing. Nothing compares! Now I’m hankering for something other than my ugly plastic pen holder!
I LOVE your blog!! I ordered a set of mind and there was one it that I loved. The package was in Chinese, so I could not figure out what type of Nib I had. I searched and searched and then I saw this post!! I LOVE crow quill nibs. Thanks for your blog.
Lindsey, THANK YOU so much for featuring the store and specifically the crow quill! I love that you show the versatility of it and all of your examples are beautiful. Also, I’d like to thank everyone for favoriting the shop! I know it’s for the giveaway but I’m pretending that I’m just that popular. 😉
If anyone has any questions about the pen (such as the size differences, nibs, etc.), please feel free to message me at TSandN.
It’s my absolute pleasure! I am very grateful for your generosity, and excited to see who will win! 🙂
I often use a crowquill for my envelope and postcard illustrations, but I’ve never tried to write with one. I’ll have to give it a try.
I know that you’d enjoy writing with it! It takes a bit longer to write due to dipping/re-dipping the nib and cleaning, but the result is delightfully vintage. 🙂 By the way, I love your envelope art illustrations!
I discovered your page only some days ago and I am so happy with all that beautiful inspiration and informations you provide. I have got one question: I am lefthanded. Do you think I can use the crow quill pen anyway?
All the best, Dina
Dina,
You can absolutely use the crow quill (as well as our straight or flourishing pen holders) with no problem! The only one that you might have an issue with is an oblique, depending on your writing style, and Rodger can make a left-handed model if needed. My son is also a southpaw, which is what got me interested in fountain pens to begin with…and eventually calligraphy and pointed pens. 🙂
Please feel free to message myself or Rodger at our Etsy stores if you have any questions!
Thank you so much for your reply, Christine. Then I will have another look at your shop. :)))
Hi Dina!
Absolutely! Straight crow quill pens will work equally well for both right-handed and left-handed people, just like any normal pen. 🙂
Your posts have inspired me to give so many techniques and products a try!! They are always well written and even a beginner like me can follow along and learn from them!! Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway!! I am so looking forward to doing the line drawing and writing letters and addressing envelopes!! See you next post!
I think once you do one of the tutorials on the TPK blog, you can officially refer to yourself as an artist — you’re not a beginner anymore! 😉 And of course; I’m so happy to be able to offer the giveaway!
Great post … as always! Thanks for the info about Roger’s new shop and for the opportunity to win the fabulous giveaway package! Love your Parisian line drawings! ☺️
PS I “hearted” TSandN on Etsy but am not sure I entered the correct info for the Rafflecopter.
Thanks, Jo! You always have the nicest things to say. 🙂 And don’t worry; as long as the entry is tied to your email address (which it is), then you’re good to go!
Lindsey, always a worthy read. I so appreciate your posts and the information you share with us. I found so many useful hints today that I never thought of before you sharing them here. One about sketching not being a goal of perfection but personal render; & the simplistic hint of using lined paper under my blank notes I wish to write! You’re a genus and a doll! Thank you for all these amazing shares. PS Grabbed the pack of printables look forward to using over holidays! ?
I’m very happy that you got a few good tips out of the blog post! I am actually really looking forward to using the Parisian motifs on gifts, too! The scenes are just so pretty and idealistic. Probably geeky to say, but every time I look at the illustrations, I feel like I’m in Paris. 🙂
Rodger’s Pen Shop is pretty fantastic! Thanks so much for the chance to win, it’d be great to try this one.
I know you’d love it! You are very welcome. 🙂
How appropriate that I saw “quill pen” and immediately said to myself, “NOW I CAN BE LIKE HARRY POTTER!!!!!!” and lo and behold, look who you’ve drawn in the second project! It’s fate. Im gonna win!?
Clearly, the odds are in your favor! 😉
Thank you, Lindsey for introducing this fun pen! This pen is rarely exposed in asian country. Another amazing stationaries i get to know. For me it is so classic and vintage. Love it!
It’s my pleasure, Christina! Thank you!!
Thanks for all the awesome giveaways! This would help with mail art drawings for sure. I’m using my Nikko G for everything right now. Sometime I’d love to see a tutorial on drawing paisley patterns like that envelope above, I just love it! I can’t thank you enough for the fun things I’ve learned in addition to letterforms from your blog. I’m newer to calligraphy and learning calligraphy from your “for a latte” Kaitlyn guide. You are such a generous creative.
The Nikko G is awesome to draw with, too! 🙂 The paisley is a wonderful blog post suggestion — thanks so much!
Thanks for the chance to win! I’m in awe with the drawing and sketching you have done with the crow quill nib.
It’s a truly enjoyable tool to draw and sketch with. 🙂 I know you’d love it!
I love all your tutorials and tips – very inspirational! I am truly hoping to win this giveaway…I already have a little collection of nibs growing, and my teenager is liking it too!
Thanks so much, Cindy! I love my crow quill, and, while I thought I’d use it occasionally when I purchased it, I’ve been surprised at just how often it comes in handy!