Still struggling with the fude. Thames Barge. by Martin Norford

I think it's a very good end result despite your struggles

Martin I like this, keep at it! I have two Fude pens which I’ve had for some years and they have both dried up. If I want to use them I have to clean out and wrestle with them to get going again, so usually I give up! Not great.

Like this Martin, the longer you look the more you see.

A great result. Everything there lightly sketched. One of your best I think.

thanks all I really struggled against the pen, until I realised I wasn't really filling it up properly with ink and was actually running on empty. !@!

Doesn't look like a struggle at all Martin, great sketch.

Martin it’s a great sketch!

I have two fude pens - a Sailor, made in Japan, and a rather impressive Hongdian - I think that's Chinese. I use Carbon black with them; neither has dried out. (These words seem very familiar to me, I must have said this elsewhere too.) They certainly do need to be charged with ink - whether Carbon black, or their own cartridges - the Hongdian cartridges can be use with a water-brush, the Sailor ink is a bit more resistant to dilution. You can also use fountain pen ink, e.g. Waterman's, or a range of inks from Diamine, Robert Oster, and others. I'm very taken with them; not everyone gets on with them, and when you first see the nib, you're almost bound to ask 'how the devil can I draw with that?': but the fact is, you can - and, because they're not exactly needle fine (or anywhere near it) you can combine them with other pens, crow quill nibs etc; I've been using them with the Ackerman pen, generously given to me by the lovely Alan Bickley, Hero of this Parish. And of course you can use them with dip pens, fineliners, whatever you like. The Carbon black ink allows for watercolour washes on top. So if you've had trouble, my advice is - persist. Ink the pen fully, explore the thick and thin calligraphic lines that can be achieved, and - I see you're getting on with them already. I wonder which make of pen you're using? I haven't yet had to wash mine out, just keeping it full of ink has so far been enough.

Robert I have been using the sailor pen from cult pens. Possible on your recommendation. Which I believe is sound advice. With Winsor & Newton Black Indian Drawing Ink. And a pen pump. But honestly I didn't realise the ink pot was almost empty 😕

A good sketch of a busy scene!

Busy sketch full of interest. I use Fude pens regularly and find carbon ink usually works very well. Can be grumpy ie. Less flowing on some textured watercolour papers