The Pilot Parallel Pen

Welcome to Draw Tip Tuesday!

Today, it's all about the tools I use for drawing. I'm often asked about my favorite tools, and I believe that whatever feels right for you is your perfect tool. Today, I'm diving into the Pilot Parallel pen, an exciting, bold bold fountain pen that can add expression to your drawings.

The Pilot Parallel pen has a unique design with two flat steel nibs made from two steel plates, parallel together. It allows for versatile line work. The pen is available in 4 pen widths. Great for those who love bold lines.

The pens come with their own cartridges of ink. The ink is water-soluble. If you, like me, want to use waterproof ink (I use Platiunum Carbon Black Ink) to combine your line with wet media, you'll need to find a solution. Refilling these pens can be tricky, so I went on a quest how to make it work better for me.

I've discovered some tips and tricks along the way exploring alternative refill methods, and I'm sharing it all.
I've also experimented with the Opus 88 Demonstrator, an eyedropper pen that holds plenty of ink, so you don't need to refill after each drawing you make. While it's a pricier option, I am enjoying the functionality of it.
Plus, I'll reveal a neat hack I learned form Eleanor Doughty, to customize your Pilot Parallel pen for smoother, more fluent drawing. It's a game-changer!

This isn't a sponsored post, just me sharing my experience with these tools. Check below for links to resources and tutorials.

Your assignment this week:

Try something new with your own drawing tools.
Find a pen in your art supplies that is broad or has a certain kind of boldness that you rarely use. It could also be a bamboo dip pen. I think working with that is quite comparable. Or even just a twig. That can be so much fun. No need to rush off to the store to buy a Parallel Pen.
Have some fun with your ink lines this week!

Everything about the parallel pen:

Watch this video from Jet Pens to learn about the pens
Opus 88 is a Taiwanese manufacturer, specialized in eyedropper pens with great nibs.
The ink is put straight into the barrel, instead of using a cartridge or ink converter.
Pilot is a Japanese manufacturer. The parallel  pen has two steel nibs made from two steel plates, parallel together. The parallel pen is available in 4 pen widths.

Opus 88 Demonstrator

The Parallel pen nib only fits with the Demonstrator model of Opus 88. Trust me, I made the mistake of ordering a cheaper model before ordering the Demonstrator - and it didn't fit.
I got mine at CultPens.

How to Change the nib

It this video, you'll learn about the Parallel pen as well as the Opus 88 Demonstrator eyedropper pen. 00:02:55 - you'll find a clear instruction on how to change the nib from the supplied opus nib to the parallel pen nib.

Nib Modification

Then there's the nib modification, which you can do with a piece of light sand paper.
You can download the Eleanor Doughty's PDF which includes the pen modification but also inspiring instruction on drawing with calligraphy pens, here: https://handtopaper.gumroad.com/l/calli-pen 
Also, follow Eleanor on her Substack https://handtopaper.substack.com/subscribe and on Instagram.

For the record, Eleanor  learned of this nib "hack" first from her friend Aaron Lampell . Find him on Instagram.