Someone recently asked if we could post examples of lines drawn with various dip nibs so they could determine what nibs would work best for them. It sounded like a good idea at first, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized pictures of line examples would not have much value to someone starting out.
Most pen and ink artists already know their favorite dip nibs and what type of line they want to get from them. The major differences between nibs are not so much in the line that is drawn, since that is up the artist. Two artists working with the same nib can get dramatically different results. The important difference is in the "feel" of working with a specific nib - how stiff it is, how much hand pressure it takes to flex the tip, and how to keep the nib charged with ink. These subtle distinctions are not possible to depict in pictures.
That's why we recommend our customers know about dip nibs and identify the ones they want to use before they buy one of our pens dedicated to a specific nib.
I am sure this information is not what the inquirer wanted to hear, but it encourages me to think about creating a "starter kit" with one nib holder and the four or five most popular dip nibs.
More as it unfolds . . .
