I have used a brush pen and several sizes of micron ink pens.  After several pages worth of effort, I'm not satisfied.  I want to try actual brushes and nibs, and see if the traditional tools produce anything closer to what I'm looking for.

So, do any artists here have recommendations as to what brands of brushes and nibs are good for starting out?  Also, what nib types are common?  Also, is there a common pen size for lettering, or is that generally nibs as well?

Any advice would be great.

Jonathon:

For years, all I would use is a Windsor-Newton Series 7, No. 4...which is what I had read that Dick Giordano used.  I consider, and still do, Giordano to be one of the best inkers in the business, and I had also read that Dick inked straight lines with his brush.  So...I set out to buy those brushes and work with them until I produced results that to my young, impressionable mind, liked kinda like Giordano's brush line.  I continued, for a long time, inking ONLY with a brush.

Then I meet Joe Kubert at a convention.

Joe reviewed my portfolio and show me some tricks and tips and whot not, and then drew me a picture of HAWKMAN...WITH A BALL POINT PEN!  After seeing that I asked Joe, "What types of tools do you use when doing your artwork?".  I had always thought that Joe was an ink only type of guy.  Joe said, "Whatever gives me the line I'm looking for...brush, pen, marker, toothpick...never limit yourself, kid.  Use everything."

I've followed that advice ever since.

I've also, since then, discovered that lots of artists use just about anything to get that "line" that they are looking for.  The late, great Jeff MacNelly--editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune, and creator of the comic strip SHOE--before he complete switched to doing it all digitally--used BALL POINT PENS in his artwork.

Bruce Timm, and the late Alex Toth, almost exclusively use markers in their artwork.

Sergio Aragones uses a Pelikan fountain pen.

Good luck!

MPH

P.S. For lettering, when I don't use the computer, I use a Speedball B-5 or B-6 for lettering.  Charles Schulz used a C-5, I think, for his lettering (and his is among the best in the biz in my mind).  Todd Klein uses Rapidographs for his handlettering.

Bruce Timm, and the late Alex Toth, almost
exclusively use markers in their artwork.

****

Line forms on the left for everybody who wants to
tells us what hacks they are/were for doing so.

++++++++++++++++++

I LOVE pointing this out to people who say that your use of Sharpies or PITT pens is "BYRNE just not caring about his art" or some such thing.

MPH

I'm a raphael guy, too. Not to take anything away from Joe Kubert's advice about using anything, but I think learning to get the line you want from the traditional tools first is the way to go.

Get the basics down and then start experimenting.

I still prefer a W&N Brush, however, I just did a week's worth of Dick Tracy dailies and I used a Raphael, not to bad, but it konked out on me after I finished the final daily.*

MPH

*And, NO, I don't professional draw the Dick Tracy strip (yet, SOMEDAY, though)...I was doing it for "sample" purposes.

Slightly warm water and soap.

MPH