Image: My Trusty Pilots - almost out of ink!
Pilot G-Tec Needle Tip Pens
Although I’m a big fan fountain pens for urban sketching, I’ve also got a soft spot for the Pilot G-Tec C3 (3mm) and C4 (4mm) pens, which are needle tip fine point pens. They create a consistently smooth fine line without blobbing.
What I love most is that they work on any paper surface.
Some of my fountain pens struggle on my rougher surfaced watercolour papers, but I know I can pick up the Pilot G-Tec and it’ll work on any of my sketching surfaces.
The challenge is they have water soluble ink, and if you try to apply watercolour on top of them too soon, the ink bleeds and feathers. If you leave the ink lines long enough, you can apply paint without affecting the integrity of the line. So these pens are ideal for location sketching, when you don’t plan on applying watercolour until much later, at home.
In-depth Review of this Pen by fellow blogger Making a Mark Reviews
Just recently I’ve been using these Pilot pens for quick sketches at home, and I’m too impatient to let it dry before going over it with paint. So I end up with feathered lines. I’ve even tried using a heat gun to dry the ink, but that doesn’t work.
Other Needle Tip Pens: Uni-Ball Signo
I’ve been on the lookout for other needle tipped pens, and it these two Uni-Balls look like a great option, as they both have waterproof ink:
- Uni-Ball Signo 207 Needle Retractable Rollerball Gel Pens, Blue Ink, Medium Point
- Uni-ball Signo Needle, which is a Signo DX with a needle tip instead of a cone tip
Only trouble is, I haven’t been able to find them in Portugal.
Other Needle Tip Pens: Pentel Technica
I did manage to find a Pentel Hybrid Technica 0.3mm, which has a strong needle-point tip and creates fine lines. The water-based pigment ink is water-resistant and fade-resistant, and provides a smooth writing experience. It has also has a rubberised grip, but the barrel is slightly chunkier than the Pilot Pens. Available in 0.3mm (extra-fine), 0.4mm (fine), 0.5mm (medium), 0.6mm (bold), and 0.8mm (extra-bold).
