How to Pen & Ink

[telophase]

One of the new features added to TpopSpace was the ability to post reviews. I've just posted one for Digital Manga Publishing's How to Pen & Ink, which was recommended highly to me by vom_marlowe. If you get my TpopSpace RSS feed, theoretically you should be getting that, but I'm not sure that's completely working.

In other news: at the ref desk this Sunday night, accompanied by what I tink is a migraine. Ow. Have taken relpax, we'll see if it makes me better, in which case it was a migraine, or not, in which case it's a hell of a tension headache.

Comments

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

So glad you enjoyed it! I am still on the hunt for Pilot Drawing ink because of that book. You'd think I'd have enough ink, right? I have a lead on a Japanese art store in Chicago that might carry it.

I recently got Shojo Beat's Manga Academy. It's much more basic and general, but has a similar format with interviews of working mangaka. It's also got a supplies list in the back. Very interesting! Not as good as Pen and Ink, but plenty good. There's also a bit about digital coloring that you might especially find interesting. *Enables like an enabling thing*

[telophase.livejournal.com]

This store seems to have some: http://www.artbrown.com/Namiki-Pilot-Ink-Black-P1859C124.aspx

or if you're willing to order from the UK:
http://www.pilotpen.co.uk/products/index.php?size=&search=Refills

Hrm.

I'll take a look at Manga Academy. I'd flipped trhough it once before, but it seeed like a reprint of the pages in the back of the Shojo Beat magazine. If it's got more in it, it might be worth another look. :D

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the links, but they seem to be refills for the Pilot fountain pens. Darnit.

I don't get Shojo Beat magazine (the pink ink, it burns) so it may very well be reprints.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

SB used not to have pink ink. Then my subscription lapsed for a month, I re-subscribed, and OH GOD IT WAS NOW PINK. I shall not be subscribing again - the money saved in reading the books in serial form is not worth the eyestrain.

Although I think that may be their profit strategy.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

I would really look hard at the Namiki ink (http://www.namiki.com/parts/bottledInk.php). Namiki is what Pilot Pens was named when it was started in Japan, according to the Namiki web site FAQ (http://www.namiki.com/aboutNamiki/faq.php). :)

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

I think the Namiki ink is the a member of the fountain pen version of Pilot ink, not (as far as I can tell) the drawing version. The bottle shape is different, and the size, too. You can see Pilot's Japanese line of inks here:
http://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/index.html

The little beastie I have my beady eyes on is this one:
http://www.pilot.co.jp/products/pen/fountain/ink-30-drawing/index.html

According to the fountain pen importer I talked to, Pilot has a very weird distribution system and just plain doesn't release a ton of their Asian products into other markets; they require the Pilot US to liscence them somehow. He said you can get the fountain pen ink version, but not others. Very weird. I did email Pilot (US) eons ago, but they claimed to have never heard of the ink. I even included the link to the Japan site.

Also, I do not need the Firefly Raden Namiki pen, I do not need the Firefly Raden Namiki pen, I do not need the Firefly Raden Namiki pen. *Chants to self, wipes drool off keyboard*

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Heee. :)

There's a couple of people on my f-list in Japan this very minute - homasse and m00nface (and a couple of others too, I think). Neither of them is in a big city at the moment, but they may be amenable to running by an art store the next time they're near one. If we can come up with a general cost for it, and a way of getting money or barter to them, I can ask if there's anyone in Japan willing to get a bottle and ship it.

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Ooooooh, what a wonderful idea! I would be happy to send whatever goodies (hard to find in Japan American goods, or cookies, or BPAL imps, or whatever) or paypal cash they wanted in return. No idea what the ink costs, though.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Asked! Now to sit back and see if anyone bites. :)

[telophase.livejournal.com]

Namiki has a form on their website where you can contact them - I'd think they'd know if there's a special drawing ink and if it's only available in Japan.

At any rate, if you've got $47 floating free, tehre's always the big Ink Sampler Book (http://www.inksampler.com/). XD

[vom-marlowe.livejournal.com]

Excellent idea! I will email Namiki--maybe they will know more than the Pilot US guys I emailed last time.

*Looks at book, runs away very very fast* Must not buy. Must not buy. Must not buy. Oh, the pretty.