Pen Review: Pilot Parallel Pens

The Pilot Parallel Pens are flat out awesome. These calligraphy pens are available in four different nib widths. They are filled with a a cartridge (mess-free). I'm not a calligrapher so was surprised upon opening at Christmas time and now I can't be separated from them. LOVE. And for $8-$9, it is a lot of bang for the buck. If I were only to have one or two, I'd get the smallest nibs. Personal choice, of course, but it seems to me that the smaller nibs can be more widely used. 

The nib is composed of two parallel plates and the ink flows between the plates. You can really play alot with rotating the pen while writing or drawing to vary the line width. 

Each pen comes with both a black and red ink cartridge and filling it is a snap. The same technique is used as in a regular fountain pen.

You can see from my example that the ink is watersoluble. However, if you look at this video you can see alternatives for filling your Pilot Parallel pens.

 

If you are wondering how I achieved the green to purple blending on the above sample, check this video out from the Goulet Pen Company. So cool, you take two pens filled with two different colors, hold them straight up, tip to tip and some of the ink from one pen transfers to the other.

I'm having loads of fun with these pens. If you like to write and draw, you may want to treat yourself to them. There is a box of cartridges also available (Goulet or Dick Blick) with 12 different colors.

Highly recommended.  

Comments

[less]

I adore my PP pen. I've got the widest and use it for quickly flooding the background of my images with one flat lovely color, i feel like the 6mm is like a brush.

[Diana Trout]

I havent gotten that one out yet. good way to use it!

[Paula Anderson Trout]

Diana--Why do men want to make things so complicated:
(referring to video--always wanting to change)Kiss--
Keep
It
Simple
Stupid....
Altho', it was interesting being a Pipefitter, but it still wasn't perfect!

[Jeannie]

Thanks Diana! I picked up some extra cartridges yesterday and now I think I need another pen so I can play with the two colors. Nothing like new toys to make a snow day extra fun. Wishing you a creative week!

[Caroline]

Thank you, thank you! I was looking at these last night and wondering how good they were, and trying to work out how hard it was to refill them with my own ink. Now I know!

[Jolene Eborn]

Diana-I just have to tell you that I finally bought my very own copy of Journal Spilling. It is my favorite art journal book and I just kept checking it out and renewing it from my local library. The librarian (who, by the way, I also got hooked on Journal Spilling) informed me that I have your book in my possession more than any other patron at the library. My sweet husband gave me some book money and told me to just buy it already. Yay! Thanks for a great book that helped to start me on my journal adventure a couple of years ago. I'm forever in your debt.

[Diana Trout]

Isnt it funny? Nothing like new toys for Christmas :)

[Diana Trout]

Good timing! Enjoy them.

[Diana Trout]

Thank you for your lovely comment, it put such a big smile on my face: consider the debt nullified, Jolene.

[Nancy]

I had lunch today with two other writer/artist friends, and we had a great time trying and critiquing each other's pens (among the three of us we pulled about 15 pens from our purses and pockets). I'm going to have to try a couple of these and spread the word about them--thanks!

[Diana Trout]

they are some good lunch buddies! Please let me know about your findings! It would be fun to post about

[smbhax]

Very interesting video links, thanks for the review!

[Diana Trout]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment