What makes me a pen freak? The fact that I know the difference between a calligraphy pen and a fountain pen. The fact that I know what the difference is between a roller ball and ball point pen. That  I know what makes Parker pens awesome and even if it is a knock off.

Yes, I am a pen geek.

Let`s start with these. Calligraphy pens usually have a variety of pen nibs made for the purpose of create stylized lettering. Fountain pens are usually narrow nibbed pens made for every day writing and sketching, you could quickly dip on a ink well (does dip pen sound familiar?). Yes peeps there is a difference!

When it comes to those pens, the older the better. The pen above is about 100 years old, from the Warren Manufacturing Company and it is my favorite!

I love this glass pen!! It`s a replica of a trend that was very popular on 17th century Venice. These pens had grooved nibs that allowed you to write longer without having to dip the pen on ink. It is a classic and I love it very much! Grooves are hard to clean :(

Roller ball and Ballpoint pens are essentially the same mechanism wise. The difference is in the ink. Roller ball pens have watery ink that runs out quicker. Gel pens are made this way as well. The ball point pen is an oily, goopy type ink that basically gets rolled-on to the paper. On cheap pens, the continuity of the ink is awful, the ink skips or blotches your writing. The best ball point pens are made by Parker Pens.

How to spot a fake….
These pictures aren`t very good, but a real Parker pen has deep grooves on the pen clip as well on the push button, and the barrel has a very obvious engraving that says “Parker Made in UK P.1” Fakes do not go through all the trouble to engrave all the detail.

Sometimes you need a pen that has the ability to withstand watercolors being brushed over them. This type of pen will do it.
 I prefer to buy these pre-filled pens because the ink is super messy and hard to clean.

Or a pen with a brush nib! Both have water proof ink.

I also love brushes as pens. They make it easy to stylize your writing!! Above you see a 5 round Royal & Langnickel brush and a Loew -Cornell Spotter 10/0.