How to Use a Dip Pen

As the name indicates, they are designed to be dipped in a jar of ink or ink well. A hundred years ago, everyone knew how to use a dip pen. Now, it's a special skill. Here are the things you need to know:

 When you receive your dip pen the nib will be taped to the side of the pen so that it isn’t damaged during shipping.  Remove the nib from the tape and slide it into the slot on the pen handle. Your pen nib will be split down the center, to allow ink to flow.

 1) If you dip your pen in ink and try to write like a ballpoint pen, the ink will run out too fast and blob all over the place. Dip pens should be held at a flatter angle than regular ballpoint pens. That means that rather than hold the pen with your finger tips, it should really be held with the thumb and middle finger along the sides and the index finger on top. This gives the pen a lower angle of 45 degrees or less.

 2) Use a light touch. Unless the pen nib is clogged, ink will begin flowing as soon as you touch the paper. Pressing down like you would with a ballpoint pen can damage the nib of a dip pen.

 3) Strokes that pull rather than push work best and are easier on the nib. And keep it moving. A dip pen works by capillary action. If you leave it in one spot on the paper, all of the ink will deposit itself there.

 4) Clean your dip pen nib after every use. Some inks clean up with just a wash in some water, others need a little soap action.

 Beyond that, practice makes perfect. Work on practice sheets before you do anything important. Just draw and draw, and let yourself have some fun with it.