Quill Pen Writing

Quill pen writing can be challenging to master. Students must master applying multiple pen lifts and downstrokes in order to form letterforms and joins.

Quill pens are created from the primary flight feathers of large birds (particularly geese, swan and turkey) with those which have grown back post-molting being ideal.

Ink

Ink is a fluid or paste of various colours – typically black or dark blue – used for writing and printing purposes. It consists of pigment or dye dissolved or dispersed into a vehicle such as water or alcohol for writing/printing applications.

Quill pens first came into widespread use around the sixth century, becoming popular writing instruments until 19th century – such as Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence signing ceremonies. Quill pens are highly pressure-sensitive writing instruments and require gentle handling to achieve success.

The traditional ink recipe included iron salts (ferrous sulfate) combined with tannin from gallnuts and tree gum for particle non-clumping purposes and thickener to prevent rapid drying out of ink particles. At first it appeared bluish-black but gradually turned dull brown with time. Ox gall was also often added to improve ink flow by decreasing viscosity to make more fluid material available to flow smoothly over a surface area.

Quills

A quill is a long, thin feather with a hollow point called the calamus and a slit through which ink flows by capillary action, once widely used as the writing instrument for medieval manuscripts such as Magna Carta and Declaration of Independence. Quills were typically cut from living geese, swans, or turkey during their new growth periods following moulting to obtain this writing tool.

Modern calligraphers and artists rely heavily on goose and porcupine quills for stationery, invitations, and personal artwork. Goose and porcupine quills produce beautiful lettering as well as detailed sketches due to their precision; making them particularly well suited for technical drawing due to their precision. When using a quill pen it’s essential to regularly dip it in ink while holding its tip at an angled position to avoid blotting or splashing; cleaning and rinsing is necessary periodically too to prevent dried ink clogging the slit ink from drying and clogging it’s slit.

Paper

Quill pens can be used on virtually all papers, although novice users should start off on thicker construction or textured writing papers until they become comfortable with their pressure and style. Once that has happened, then conventional papers should be suitable.

Feather quill pens are long pieces of bird feather or bamboo with a small slit cut at one end to hold ink, and should be placed at an angle (advise ranges from 45 degrees downward for right-handed people to 90 degrees).

When writing with a quill pen, apply light pressure as feathers can easily damage paper. Furthermore, monitor ink buildup, as dried ink can corrode a metal quill pen’s nib. To do so efficiently and extend its lifespan. Finally, rinse your quill nib with water once completed to extend its lifespan further.

Nibs

The nib is one of the most critical elements of your pen. It delivers ink directly onto paper, and determines how your writing will appear on it. Furthermore, its shape influences how thick or thin lines will appear while writing.

Nibs are typically constructed of metal and coated for aesthetic or practical reasons. While they will likely outlive their expected lifespan, eventually replacement will become necessary.

As replacement nibs can be easily lost or misplaced, mounting them in a nib holder when not in use is recommended to protect them from accidentally poking you or being carried off by air while writing. There are straight and oblique holders available; some even feature an angle adjuster to achieve optimal calligraphic angles.