Although I haven't been totally consistent with it, I've been trying to spend at least an hour drawing without a plan before I get started with anything else in the morning. It is sort of hit and miss, and frankly, I think the best stuff usually happens when I am drawing outside of that hour. (The little "morning in the life of a space astronaut" all came out of a few rides on the M Train.) But whatever the case, it has helped to get me back into the habit.
I've been trying different materials, and have come up with a few combinations I've been really liking. Most of the line work here is done with either a Tachikawa G Model nib with DR. Martin Black Star Ink, or with a LAMY Safari fountain pen with Noodler's Polar Black Ink. After a few months of success with the Noodler Ink, I had a day or two where the ink seemed to stop being waterproof. I have no way of explaining this, but I've gone back into research mode looking for a good ink for fountain pens. On the plus side, following up on a three year old conversation from Carol Fabricatori's Drawing class, I tried preloading an extra water color pen I had with diluted sumi ink. The effect was great, although it will take a little practice to get control over, and after a day or two the mix seems to have darkened. ( The last three drawings were all shaded with that method.)
