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When I started my calligraphy journey, I was quite overwhelmed by the amount of nibs out there. So I started experimenting with different nibs that I could get my hands on, and figured out which worked for me and which didn't. In this post, I'll be sharing my small and intimate nib collection and give a brief description about them!

TACHIKAWA NIB

The Nikko G nib was the first nib I ever owned and tried from the Tachikawa brand. A lot of calligraphers recommend this nib for beginners because its sturdy enough to help you learn how to control those thick downstrokes and thin upstrokes. Depending on the paper written on, the nib can collect pieces of fiber on the tip and cause clumping. I'll come back to this nib everytime I try a different calligraphy style to help maintain control over the down and upward strokes.

HUNT NIBS

The Hunt nibs are a hit or miss for me. Depending on the paper or surface written on, these nibs could scratch, pool, clump, splatter ink, or not hold enough ink. However, when these nibs decides to work with me they make the best strokes, which is why I need them in my collection.

Starting with the Hunt 101 nib, this nib is very flexible which allows it to create a thicker downward stroke compared to other nibs. I use this nib for spot calligraphy when I want thicker words. However, as much as I want to use this nib on handmade paper, it tends to collect paper fibers at the tip of the nib, as well as, clump, and splatter ink. This is a problem when working on custom quotes on expensive handmade paper. Still, it makes impressive strokes, so I can't let it go.

The Hunt 22 nib creates finer strokes compared to the Hunt 101. It is also a lot more smoother and flexible to use. This nib holds a fair amount of ink and has not clump on me so far. I just recently discovered this nib and its starting to grow on me. This nib tends to do a lot better on handmade paper compared to Hunt 101, but I'll probably use this nib for script writing.

BRAUSE NIBS

The Brause nibs would probably be my favorites nibs to use. These nibs are all very smooth, flexible, and write beautifully. However, they do vary in sizes and can't all fit in the basic nib holder that I have, so I am currently searching for an adjustable nib holder that can hold all the nibs in my collection.

The "Blue Pumpkin" or the Brause Steno 361 is my favorite nib ever! For technical reasons, its smooth, flexible, holds a decent amount of ink, and has work on all surfaces and papers. I never had a problem with the Blue Pumpkin clumping, splattering, or pooling and hope I never do. Its the nib I use for all my special projects like envelope addressing, wedding invitations, spot calligraphy, and copperplate calligraphy practice. Also, for personal reasons, the Blue Pumpkin was the nib I used to create the holiday cards that lead to the birth of C'est Calligraphy. So yes, I have a very deep emotional tie to this nib!

As for the Brause Rose 76 nib, it is very similar to the Blue Pumpkin but a bit more flexible. It creates thicker downstrokes like the Hunt 101 does, but doesn't create the same problems. This is the newest nib in my collection, and I've only used it maybe three times to test how it writes, but I do know that this nib will be used very similar to how I use the Blue Pumpkin.

The Brause 56EF or the Brause Arrow is the tiniest nib that I own. Due to its size, it doesn't hold a lot of ink, but it is my go-to nib when working on textured surfaces like agate slices, marble, stones, and tiles because it writes so smoothly. However, there was an incident when this nib had fallen out of its holder while in the middle of writing a custom quote which cause the ink to splatter and I had to redo everything. It really is a great nib though, but I'll use it more often when I get the right nib holder.

LEONARDT NIBS

I first came across the Leonardt nibs when I saw a set of them in a local art shop. After testing them out, only two of the five nibs gravitated to me that I repurchased them. The first is the Leonardt 41. Its almost a flat headed nib, but it writes smoothly, is very flexible, and holds a decent amount of ink. I use this nib a lot for spot calligraphy and copperplate calligraphy practice.

The last nib in my collection is the Leonardt 33. The Leonardt 33 is another tiny nib. I use this nib very similarly to the way I use the Brause EF56. Works very well on various types of textures and surfaces. Due to its size it doesn't hold a lot of ink and it also requires a specific nib holder. Fortunately, the nib holder came with the set so I've been using that for now.

I hope you enjoyed my small but very intimate nib collection! If you have any recommendations of any nibs you think I should try, leave a comment down below! I really love experimenting with new nibs. Also, let me know your favorite and least favorite nibs! Until next time!