We previously reported on esteemed cartoonist Jim Woodring's efforts to raise money towards the construction of an insanely large, seven-foot steel-tip dip pen. The creator of Frank and Weathercraft said he needed $4,500 to complete the project that they said couldn't be done, but done it he has. As part of an event he's calling Nibbus Maximus, Woodring will unveil the colossal steel-tip pen and wooden handle at a demonstration at Seattle's Gage Academy of Art on January 9. Woodring will chat with awe-struck attendees while he creates new works up to 4 x 6 feet large.




As indicated in the press release from Woodring's publisher Fantagraphics, the artist's goal to building an enormous seven-foot dip-pen was thought to be but the fevered dream of a madman. But Woodring claims that prototype tests have gone well despite everything the so-called experts think they know about the relationship between scale and fluid dynamics.

The pen itself is a mastery of design and engineering
The nib is sixteen inches long and made of brass-pated, hand-engraved cold-rolled steel. The handle is lathe-turned poplar, painted with black lacquer. The ink is a specially formulated acrylic blend. A vase functions as an inkwell.
Godspeed, Jim Woodring. But please be careful, you could poke your eye out with that thing.