The small notebook man

It's paralleled my move from bigger sketchbooks (letter size) to smaller (A5) to even smaller (A6) sketchbooks: Most of my notebooks are now pocket sized. I've had a pocket-sized Rite In The Rain notebook in my back pocket for a decade or so, as this all-weather book is great for quick notes. But up to...

A fountain pen update: A tour of starter pens

Pens from left to right: Platinum Preppy 03, Platinum Plaisir, Teranishi Guitar, Waterman Allure/Graduate, Sailor Hi-Ace Neo, Kaweco Sport (plastic and brass) I've had an obsession with stationery since I was a wee lad, roaming the streets of the Lower Naugatuck Valley back in Connecticut. Any visit to a store like Kmart or Caldor involved...

A late September art update, right before Bikeartober

Making postcards during the San Juans Tour in August It's been a few months since I checked in with you fine folks about my continued journey with art. So far this year I've used both watercolors and dip ink pens for the first time in decades. This felt good, and I kept on experimenting with...

A May art update: More dip pen action

Esterbrook 356 nib, once used by Carl Barks (not this nib, but the nib in general) Hello folks. Last month I let you all know that I got back into dip pens. After pretty much avoiding them since high school, it's been fun to work in the true "pen-and-ink" medium. I started off with a...

Shake-ups in my art kit

Another addition to the kit are these Papelote elastic pen holders that go around a sketchbook. So convenient! For many a decade, I've been pretty boring when it comes to art supplies. In the latter part of high school, I discovered disposable felt-tip pigment pens. Micron is the most prominent make of them, but I've...

Analog dilettante, and avoiding rabbit holes

You've probably guessed by now that I have an appreciation for "analog" things, the things that we used before digital became our reality. I still listen to terrestrial radio, send actual letters, and have gotten into film photography. And I also appreciate old proven technology, whether it be three speed bicycles or shaving with a...

Items for Sale: Shirts, Notebooks, Pen

Hello, friends! The endless purging of unused items continues. This time it's a grab bag of clothing and stationery. All prices are USD, and do not include shipping. Shipping will be anywhere between $1 to $8 USD, depending on what and how much you get. Payment via PayPal. Interested? Drop me a line at urbanadventureleague@gmail.com...

Finding my way with fountain pens

Since I've been drawing more regularly (thanks to Inktober 2019), I've been giving a lot more thought to the tools of art. I'm not much of an object fetishist, nor do I need the "best" or most expensive things; in the end, it's the art that matters. But that doesn't mean tools don't matter. New...