Using a ruler pen

[Mary Lever]

Hi
I've just bought a ruling pen (LIon 1375) and some Lion metallic ruling ink having seen decorative lines and washes been drawn on mounts on a recent course I attended. It looked easy enough when I was watching but when I attempt to draw a line using the ruling ink, it seems to come out unevenly....sometimes too much ink comes out and then nothing at all. Bascially the ink flow is not steady. The pen did not come with instructions. I've searched the Internet for tips on how to use a ruliing pen but can't find anything. Is it the angle I'm holding the pen at or what else would account for uneven ink flow. For some strange reason, it seems to work fine with watercolour paint but I need to draw a gold line. Any ideas?? or anywhere you can direct me for detailed guidance as how to use a ruling pen. Thanks.

[John]

Hi Mary,

This topic was recently discussed on the forum and lots of sound advice given here.

[prospero]

Hi Mary.

A new ruling pen can take a while to get broken in. If you are new to using one it does take a lot of practice to build up your confidence. Try using artists' Gouache. It's basically the same as watercolour but has more 'body' to it. Dilute it heavily (I mix it up on a white plate). Load the pen by stroking the side with a brush. Don't try to do too wide lines at first and don'y try and get a lot of paint in the pen at once. Have a little scrap piece handy and do a little tryout before ruling on the mount.

One thing I have found is if you are using Gouche/watercolour, don't be too fastidious in cleaning the inside of the blades. A thin acretion of dry paint helps hold the wet paint.

If also helps if you can attain a very relaxed state and move slightly in slow-motion when ruling. Think of it as Tai-Chi for framers.

[Roboframer]

I've never found a gold ink or paint I'm totally happy with, if it flows well it has little or no shine and most of the ones that don't flow well but shine nicely have metalic particles suspended in the liquid and they all drop to the bottom of the nib.

There are ways of defying gravity and maybe there are better products around since I gave up looking, but I gave up looking because every time I do a gold line now it's a real gold leaf of fake gold foild line.

I apply a line of size (glue) such as wundasize or better still acrylic gloss medium, with the ruling pen, let it go off and then apply transfer gold or gold foil - transfer gold make for less flumbs but of course is more expensive.

Here's one I did earlier - chevron on the right.

[Mary Lever]

Thanks Prospero and Roboframer for your advice. Went and bought today some Gouache paint and did not experience the problems of gaps in the ruling line. All seemed to work well and took your advice Prospero of working slowly. Job completed but I now just need to practice getting equally dense lines...persumably this is due to me inadvertently altering the pressure with which I apply the ruling pen. The density of the ink did not alter within a line, just notice on looking carefully that there is a slight variation in density in some of the lines. As a matter of interest, are Tombow pens eschewed by experts and considered to give a less professional finish??