This started as a play with my new Octupus inks Octopus Write and Draw Inks, waterproof fountain pen ink: Octopus Fluids (octopus-fluids.de) and some photos taken of Durham by my friend John Warburton.

One piece led to three so now I have this amazing bevvy of bright and cheerful street scenes. I love them and together they really pop so if anyone is interesting on giving these pieces a new home then they will be available on my HERE.

All pieces are 12 x 16 inches so they have real impact. Would look great in a line as a tryptic or scattered about your Durham penthouse.

Hope you like.

Please join me for the first and hopefully not only Boatober 2022. Your chance to draw a boat a day for everyday in October. I knew you would be thrilled!

So put on your lifejacket grab a cocktail and let have a game of deck quits while we await the first photo prompt.
Use #boatober 2022 and mention me @doug_jackson_artwork if you want me to have a look at your masterpiece.

Remember it is about the practise and the mental health benefits of a daily drawing practice. There is no good or bad, right or wrong. Just the pleasure of creating and relaxing.

Good luck and bon voyage.

​I will admit I have a bit of a thing for old technology. I think my lascivious desire for objet d'art seems to focus on rather traditional things like pens and watches rather than newer 'cold' technologies.

What are Fude pens?
Fude pens are normal fountain pens (I now have about 16 fountain pens!! Issues??) with bent nibs. The bend at the end of the nibs allows the user to lay down a fat band of ink rather than a thin line. One of the nice things about fude pens is the ability to use a variety of line widths on a sketch without having to change the pen your using. So if your heading out for the day and fancy taking minimal sketching gear then just a fude pen and a sketch book allows you to do a lot and pretty quickly too.

Normal fountain pens have a fixed line width with small variation. Pressing slightly to spread the tines or even using the other side of the nib will give you some variety but not a huge amount. One of the best reasons for using a fude pen is that they introduce a bit of character to a sketch. Working quickly and confidently with a fude nib definitely adds further dimension to the line quality of your work. They are also good fun to work with. If you are looking for a consistent line thickness then using a fude nib is not advised as they can be a bit messy and wayward if you are not very careful.

Can you use any paper?
A fude nib is effectively a small metal brush. If you use super smooth HP paper you will get consistent thin or thick lines. Using rough paper really varies the line character as the flat nib skips and bobbles over the hi spots in the paper. Lines become even more characterfull and jagged depending on how hard or how fast the nib is moved. My fude pen on Khardi cotton paper feels more like painting than linework, its wonderfull. With practice it can be very expressive.

Pitfalls?
Fude pens lay down a lot of ink so care has to be taken to prevent smearing. They are also pretty thirty beasts so you may need some extra ink in the field. Apart from the above points they have all the usually benefits or drawbacks of a fountain pen.

Which pen should I buy to try?
If your buying something as an experiment and can't borrow one from a friend then you really don't want too much skin in the game. For around £15 quid here are a couple of pens that are available. 

Duke Fude - There are many Duke pens with Fude nibs and (as far as I know) they all have similar nibs. These are far better than the Sailor nibs as the are not super pointy and scratch the paper. The end of the nib has a small bulb on it so that that when using the nib upright or upside down you get a thin but smooth and consistent line, even on rough and soft paper. The thick side of the nib although not quite as wide as the Sailor is almost as wide and far smoother. 

This pen is easy to use and a brilliant introduction to the world of fude pens.

Well I hope someone found this useful. Enjoy your art!

Want to buy fabulous original art for a good cause? Check out the Originals page for details.

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I’m absolutely delighted to announce that I’ve been invited to join #sketchersforukraine a group of like-minded fellow UK artists supporting a worthy cause.

We have come together to create one big collaborative piece of work to support the UKRAINE HUMANITARIAN APPEAL organised by the DEC. 100% of all money raised will be donated to the appeal.

Eight separate pieces of original art, each in the artist’s individual style will be joined together to create a unique version of one of Yorkshire's most iconic views.

The framed artwork will be approximately 1.5 metres wide and will be accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.

The finished work will be auctioned very soon, with information on how to bid posted on social media. Watch this space.........

#SKETCHERSFORUKRAINE are
@kenyounglineandwash
@crmflinders
@b.ramsey1973
@lefoxscribbles
@johnharrison
@doug_jackson_artwork
@fritzfittonart
And conceived by @jdwartist

I was delighted to be featured recently in the fabulous Artpost. Doug Jackson, Artist Biography and Gallery| The Art Post

The Artpost is a post card subscription service that gives you mini masterpieces to your door every month. For more information visit The Art Post Sheffield
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