This is the kit I actually use at the desk, and the order I would buy it in if I were starting over.
The first purchase
- One pointed pen holder with a straight handle
- Two or three flexible nibs, because the first one always gets bent
- A small bottle of ink that flows well, not a fancy one
- A pad of smooth paper that does not feather
For broad edge work
- A couple of chisel nibs in different widths
- A pencil and a ruler for guidelines, drawn fresh every session
- Plain ink you do not mind spilling
For brush pens
A small brush pen and a firm one will teach you more than a set of twelve. I keep one of each in my coat pocket and use them on lunch breaks.
A note on paper
Paper matters more than nibs, and it is the part most beginners skip. If your ink spreads into little hairs, the paper is probably the problem. I write about which sheets behaved for me, and which did not, in the articles.
Where I mention a product, I bought it myself. Questions about the kit are welcome at [email protected].