"Rosina", after JSS

It's a great result Marjorie. I tend to use ballpoint permanent markers quite a bit, but you've done a great job anyway. Nice work.

Looks great! Well done

Beautiful drawing and great likeness, Marjorie.

Thanks Jim, cesare and Timothy. I'll try and get into the habit of using pens. For this I used one I already had, a Pilot drawing pen, sepia. I did buy a set of Faber Castell, B M S and F. The only two which I would use are the S and F but I still don't like them too much. What exactly do you use Timothy?

No second chances with pen, Marjorie...but you didn't need one. Tonal values are very good, and a excellent drawing.

I can't see any issues with the way that you have approached this Marjorie, direct and positive work with outstanding results.

You have done a wonderful job, I really like the shading giving credible contours Marjorie.

This is soooo well done, Marjorie. Great pen work and lovely portrait.

It has a lovely feel to it Marjorie, it reminds me of a Pre-Raphaelite drawing, love it. 😀

I use black Staedtler pigment liners, Marjorie. They are strong and really suit my quick and rough scratchy style. They come in nib sizes 0.05 to I think about 1.2 and the chisel liner is useful for thicker lines and filling in. They are not cheap but they seem to last long as do all Staedtler products (my son is still using my old old Staedtler circle compass I used in Engineering Drawing classes at school years ago.

Looking good Marjorie, I think it is superb.

A lovely job Marjorie

Well done Marjorie

Thankyou for the thoughts everyone. I've not been able to get Staedtler yet but did buy some finer ones today , Derwent Graphik.

A beautiful result Marjorie.

Great work

From your description, I'm assuming you 'went in' without a pencil rough. Difficult. However, whether you did or not it's a very fine drawing. I struggle finding a decent pen, the 01 size is the one I'd prefer to use, but I'm so heavy-handed I keep breaking the tip. I think a dip pen and ink is probably the best, it allows a varied line...but my heavy hand means it allows ink blots as well. Brush pens are supposed to do the same thing, but are much too thick for me. When you find one that works for you, perhaps you'd let us know. By the way, I love you wonderfully varied gallery.

Thanks Fiona and Russell. My new pens are 01, 03, and 05.....we'll see.

Thanks Lew, I forgot to say.

A good one.