Cleaning your Pilot Parallel Pen

I recently had a question from Anonymous on cleaning pens, so I’m linking to a recipe for Pen & Brush cleaner which I found on Mary Lawler’s blog. I normally clean my nibs by soaking them in solution of glass cleaner (which contains ammonia) and water. This looks like a stronger version of that, which I’ll try if I have a major pen problem. Another option is Spray Nine, which works really well when a strong pen cleaner is needed.

Also, Anonymous, take your Pilot Parallel pen apart as far as possible... that means right down to pulling out the two metal plates which form the nib. Soak the parts, then rinse and reassemble. Should work.

Another reader also suggested using a ultrasonic cleaner, which I haven't yet tried, but which sounds great.

More Malik

For those visitors who listened to our CBC radio interview, here’s a direct link to the pages of Malik Anas, who continues to produce amazing contemporary Iraqi calligraphy.

Monograms

I’ve been creating monograms lately ... using the 6.0mm Pilot Parallel pen and my favorite colour of J.Herbin ink, “Ambre de Birmanie”. Some letters are just so much fun! Like N and K.

On Air!

Sheryl Mackay, host of CBC Radio’s “North by Northwest” program tells me our “calligraphy conversation” will be on-air tomorrow just after the 7:00 news. So if you’re up at that hour, tune in!

Summer’s over... back to work

Okay, so I’ve been neglecting this blog! Blame it on the sunshine, the lure of a Canadian summer... maybe too much time spent on facebook or youtube...

Anyway, summer is pretty much over, so I’ll start sharing some of the new links and work I’ve discovered. Let's start with the interesting work of Nikheel Aphale (not Nikhil!) of New Delhi, India. His blog felt so familiar to me... and I love his pieces which combine photography and calligraphy, like this.