A mapping pen, as the name suggests, is designed to produce regular lines and the Clip Studio Paint version does a good job of emulating that, but without the danger of twisting and splaying its long, flexible nib, something I had to be careful to avoid when I used the real thing in my student days. I soon discovered that a dip pen with a Gillot 303 or 1950 nib was a better option for me.
The Clip Studio mapping pen tool gives a more consistent line than the G-pen which I’ve mainly used so far. The G-pen is designed to give the kind of varied, expressive line that is such of feature of comic strip art.
For once, as a change from drawing my hand, the subject I often revert to when I’m sitting in a waiting room, I drew my feet instead, resting on the arm of the sofa.
I wouldn’t try that in the waiting room.
And having sorted out a pen that I like, here’s a final sketch in colour.
I tried all the watercolour brushes available in Clip Studio Paint and decided that ‘Transparent’ was the nearest to the watercolour washes I use in my sketchbooks.
