Using a Fibre Pen for scratching Hair/fur

beanpoleuk

Air-Valve Autobot!
I tend to use a 2mm fibre pen for hair/fur using a fibre pen rather than the more traditional Exacto blade or scalpel for scratching, the results seem fairly good so thought I would share how I use the pen.

All I ever use is a 2mm fibre clutch pen ..
clutch pen.jpg

The first thing I do is position the refill so only about a 1mm or so is exposed then hold the pen 90 at right angles to a piece of 400 grit emery cloth and sand the tip down until it is flat with the end. This gives me a nice flat end to the cluster of fibres and a sharp edge .
0ne_mm.jpg
flatten.jpg
flat.jpg

To get a nice fine line you don’t want the fibres spreading so I position the tip so that just 2mm or so is exposed , this means the clutch mechanism is keeping the end of the fibres close together, then I just use only the edge of the tip (hold the pen at approx. 45 degrees), so that just the sharp edge is scratching the surface.
edge_of_pen.jpg
Using gentle light sweeping movements you can get quite nice fine hairs, as the fibres wear and the edge dulls so I just turn the pen tip a little bit and use another part of the edge.
fine_hairs.jpg
more_fine_hair.jpg
In my opinion this produces nice fine tapered hairs with a soft look rather the stark scratched line you get with the end of a scalpel blade.

By just ‘dabbing’ the surface you get very short hairs such as those around the nose of a furry animal
short_hairs.jpg

Bear in mind all these examples are just one layer of hair texture, you would then mist over these textures with a colour then add another layer and keep going until you get the depth you want, (I usually put down 3 layers).

If I then extend the tip and allow the fibres to spread it is then possible to produce softer wider hair textures.
long_tip.jpg
soft_wide.jpg

These techniques with the fibre pen work as shown here on Claybord, Gesso coated MDF and synthetic paper , you just have to be a little careful with schoellershammer g4 paper otherwise you will tear the paper and a more pressure is needed.

Varying the amount of pressure you use also affects the final result, use a very , very light touch you can achieve super fine gently hairs.

Hope this helps :)
 
Great write up BP, i love the fibre pens too, as you mentioned all the tools have a place in our art, Dru's latest workshop hes using a coffee stirer to make feathers and they look stunning - as expected:thumbsup:
 
Excellent write up, the pictures make things very clear. Is the bottom pic purely done with splayed fibres or had you placed some fine lines down first?
 
Thanks for that bean, you little leg end. I was trying to use mine on schoelleshammer. Will get me a 2mm pen and try this out on some clayboard or mdf. I wouldn't have thought of the sandpaper either.

You are a true gent!
 
Excellent write up, the pictures make things very clear. Is the bottom pic purely done with splayed fibres or had you placed some fine lines down first?
Just the fibre pen, but varying the pressure that way some of the fibres bite more than others :)

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I've been using the 4mm. and the 2mm. on my scratchbords but haven't used them on any airbrushed pieces yet. I like the gesso boards and will try them on that also on the next airbrush project. I bought some Yupo paper but haven't tried anything on it yet. I'll give that a try and see if it works ok with that paper.
Thanks for the info and tip on how to set them up for scratching.

Richard
 
It also works great on canvas. On my 24" x 18" tiger from last year that was all I used. It really gave a great effect with the fur.
 
Good man yourself bean, i have one of them but the fibres irritate my skin so havent really given it a proper go but ill have to try your techniques [emoji1303]


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Good man yourself bean, i have one of them but the fibres irritate my skin so havent really given it a proper go but ill have to try your techniques [emoji1303]


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Try holding the pen end and not the fibreslollol
 
I use a large make up brush for brushing the fiber 'dust' off the substrate. Cheap from the $1 shop. Don't be tempted to raid the girls makeup bag, you could wind up with some funky colours being put on your substrate even after its washed
 
This is a very useful description! I think this will be my next investment!
Normally I use a 4mm pen, but the 2mm do open a new dimension of precision.
Thank you!
 
Thanks for this!
Where can I buy this?

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Thanks for this!
Where can I buy this?

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Normal cluth pencil form a stationary store or art store, 2mm fiber erasres I know you can get through Foxy art studios... There is also a place in Australia that does them, I'll see if I can find the link...
 
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