Crow Quill Pen

Crow quill pens are popular tools used for calligraphy and drawing. Also referred to as pangolin nibs due to their similar appearance to pangolin skin, these metal nibs fit seamlessly into mapping nib holders from Speedball; you can purchase one online for $6-20; here are some tips for selecting one of them for yourself.

Origins

Crow quill nibs are popularly used by calligraphers and drawing artists due to their super-fine tip and flexible feel, making them suitable for detailed artwork. Stillman & Birn Zeta offer mapping nib holders that accommodate them while Speedball has been crafting handcrafted nibs since 1910 – they undergo stringent quality standards inspection before going out the door with artists looking for specific width and stiffness combinations; not to mention easy cleaning & resistance to staining!

Nibs

Once upon a time, pen were created using actual crow quill feathers as nibs for writing instruments. As metal manufacturing improved and production techniques matured further, these quill nibs were replaced with steel versions; though their name remained.

Nibs are essential when drawing with a crow quill. Their super-fine lines respond to pressure by changing width in response to different pressure points, and are highly flexible so you can make detailed and expressive sketches without constantly dipping your pen in ink.

Speedball offers an assortment of crow quill nibs designed specifically to meet the needs of calligraphers, letterers and drawing artists, such as their #102 super-fine and flexible nib. Suitable for use in mapping nib holders such as Stillman & Birn Zeta sketchbooks as well as smooth papers it works great for cross hatching and lithography work.

Ink

When using a crow quill pen to sketch, fine line inks are essential. Speedball makes an array of such inks specifically for this use: the 102 Crowquill, Hawk Quill mapping nibs and #108 Litho Crow quills from their Litho Crow series provide ample fineness when drawing intricate details or crosshatching.

The Crow Quill Pen includes a durable nib holder designed to accommodate various sized of nibs. It can hold standard G nibs while small holders accommodate Crow, Hawk Quill and Mapping Nibs (maru/mapping nibs). Made of plastic or wood construction for ease of cleaning and resistance to staining; its use is most frequently appreciated by calligraphers and comic book artists.