Artist Roy Superior and Montegrappa Pens

Renowned Artist Roy Superior uses Montegrappa Pens for drawing and illustrating.

When Montegrappa learns that its creations have inspire new applications this invariably creates a warm feeling a certain measure of pride. Montegrappa have always envisaged their pens being used for personal communication, for note or letter writing, for signing documents, for maintaining diary entries. Montegrappa as creators of exquisite writing implements for nearly a century now also appreciate that different types of pens perform often-unrelated functions to conventional writing. Artists supply shops are full of pens dedicated to unique roles.

What they did not expect to learn was that the Artist Roy Superior had chosen to use their “domestic” pens for the professional use of drawing and illustrating. A series of drawings reached Montegrappa’s factory, including a number in the style of Leonardo Da Vinci, of sublime quality. They were staggered to learn that the artist used writing implements intended to create letters for the implementation of such finely detailed images. American Artist Roy Superior who is also a painter and sculptor was born in New York and based in New England. His illustrious career includes a large number of exhibitions starting back in 1963 and continuing today, along with grants and prizes for his works.

Artist Roy Superior said, “The world knows about Montegrappa’s reputation for the highest quality writing instruments, but I don’t think that Montegrappa’s valuable use for drawing has been emphasised, exploited or publicised in a comparable manner to the calligraphic function.

I have always loved drawing directly with a fountain pen since the confidence one develops with a medium that can’t be easily altered is a powerful tool of expression. I have been searching for a truly reliable and faultless fountain pen since my graduate school days at Yale University. I didn’t know about Montegrappa then and my first really good pen was a Montblanc, which I traded for in a shop in New Haven, Connecticut. I have since collected and used pens by Pelikan, Waterman, Graf Von Faber, Visconti and others. I became a fountain pen freak! I even did some design work for the Sheaffer Pen some years ago at their factory about an hour away from where I live.

My Pelikan pens worked well for a while but soon developed mechanical failure, tended to clog and were comparatively relatively poorly made for the cost. I was faithful to my Mont Blanc for many years until the piston finally gave out and I was frankly surprised and gratified when I sent it back and they sent me a brand new one with the stipulation that they wouldn’t do it again! However, it never seemed to be as comfortable or as easy to break-in as the original pen.

On my first trip to Florence, I purchased a Visconti which was nicely coloured but sadly never seemed to function well and ended up in my jar full of defunct pens. I am sure that my usage for both writing and drawing is rougher than the average for a fountain pen, BUT when I found my Montegrappa, it was true love at first sight. I was in the shop for hours trying every Montegrappa pen they had—they even sent a runner to fetch a few more from another shop in Florence.

At that time, it was an extravagant expense for me and I had to be absolutely certain that I was not throwing my hard earned money away. It has since proved to be one of my single happiest and productive investments. My enthusiastic praise for Montegrappa is genuine. When I am working, I do not want to be aware of the tool in my hand and if it hesitates or ceases to flow consistently, I become distracted from the passion I put into my work, the thrill of having a direct connection with the marks and the paper. There is nothing as important to a draftsman as the feeling that the instrument is an invisible extension of the hand, eye and soul. So far, my pen has performed almost flawlessly. I maintain it well and keep it clean. The nib has adjusted to my grip, style and graphic movements. It is truly the most responsive pen I have ever owned.

I thank you for reading this far and so patiently—the point of this complimentary rambling is that perhaps an enthusiastic artist can convince other artists that one really great pen is infinitely better than a host of second rate instruments. It’s like buying one car that will only get better as it is used. The bonus of a lifetime ‘drawing instrument’ is that you can also write with it.

Writing – especially calligraphy, the art of beautiful writing – is a form of drawing. I taught drawing for years and can see a possibility of conducting drawing workshops throughout the world (naturally, I would start with Italy), in which drawing directly with a non-erasable instrument is emphasised. It should encourage the students to want a really good pen – a Montegrappa, of course. And then there is the supplementary supportive material such as a collection of quality prints or a beautiful book of drawings (my drawings to start with!) an annual calendar or portfolio to sell or bestow and the appropriately passionate endorsement that you see I am quite capable of expressing.

I can envision a whole new line of Montegrappa Drawing Instruments geared specifically toward the needs of artists and architects! Classical musicians have different requirements from their instruments than jazz musicians – I think artists feel the same way about their tools.”

Montegrappa said that they are overjoyed, flattered and deeply touched to learn that an artist as skilled and talented as Roy Superior has found their pens to be the ideal tools for his life’s work.

Artist Roy Superior in his own words:

My entire life has been devoted and committed to art. I make it and teach it—indeed, my very survival is dependant upon art. I enjoy every aspect of art from its’ history to the tools, techniques and materials required to produce it.  I draw, I paint, I work in wood—making both sculpture and furniture. I choose my medium according to circumstances and need. For example, when traveling, since woodworking was out of the question—except for once carving a cane—I made drawings and watercolors.

You can learn more about the Artist Roy Superior at http://roysuperior.com