Higgin's Eternal and King Arthur.

This new edition of Sir Thomas Malory's LE MORTE D'ARTHUR was a terrific project to work on. Penguin USA wanted a new cover and type treatment for this classic.

My tools of choice for this project was my old Speedball nibs and handles, a bamboo reed pen and sumi brush with Higgin's Eternal ink.

Working from my thumbnails, I knew bold rough marks were needed to go with the broken gothic mix of typography I had in mind.

This 140 lb Lanaquarelle watercolor paper is terrific stuff. Really tough and can take the roughest, scratchiest marks without feathering. Washes are a breeze. I got this large 113/4" x 15 3/4" from Legion Paper; a fantastic company for quality art paper.

My roughs for King Arthur started...well... rough; dunno why I started on a white legal pad. I used a Sheaffer NoNonsense fountain, Pentel brush pen, Faber Castell Pitt brush pen and a Sharpie.

My Sharpie is contained in this snazzy Sherpa pen shell. A great holder for Sharpies and other pens; they come in different colors and designs. I picked it up at Fountain Pen Hospital.

As usual, the thumbnail process sets the tone for the whole project.

After the project was completed, I thought it would be great to make woodblock prints of the approved and alternate cover designs. I'll have a future post of the finished blocks and prints along with the details of the tools and material that I use from McClain's Printmaking Supplies.

This Shina Polywood cuts like butter.

A completed block, before printing.

Pilot Envelope Address Gel Ink Pen

These Pilot Envelope Address Writing Gel Ink Pens were a great find at Jet Pens. They are designed specifically for kanji writing for postcards and letters during holiday time in Japan. It has an oil based, waterproof ink that dries fast and works without smearing. I tried them out with Pitt Brush Markers in a Moleskine sketch.

They draw really smooth with a nice dark wet line and come in three sizes Fine, Extra Fine and Broad. And for two bucks each they're not a bad buy.

 They're great for quick sketches on location, like capturing this dancing hippie.

Retro 50 Tornado fountain at Rock & Wrap It Up.

This Retro 50 Tornado is one of my favorite fountains under fifty dollars. It took a while to get used to the cap not staying posted very well, but with time it did improve. I got mine from the Fountain Pen Hospital some time ago (not sure if the red model is still available.)

I used my Tornado to sketch at a Rock & Wrap It Up event. It was an awards and concert benefit that featured performances by Jackie Greene and ALO; awesome musicians and great showmen. I have larger drawings that I'll post another time.

If you haven't heard of Jackie Greene you should really check him out. He's the real deal; musician songwriter and awesome performer.

The medium nib makes a generous wet line. It's all metal except for the grip and has a nice weight and feel, it's been one of my carry pens for a while. 

Mingling before the jam session.

I carried a Cachet Studio 10 x 8 sketchbook. They have 80 pages of 70lb paper that takes ink, pen and washes very well.

Cocktails before the concert.

Syd Mandelbaum, the founder of Rock & Wrap It Up

During the bidding at the memorabilia auction.