Ballpoint pen art, or Brio Art, has gained popularity with artists. The ability to do fine dark lines as well as light half tones gives the ballpoint an advantage over many high dollar technical pens.

Ballpoint ink is oil based unlike gel pens that are water based. I have recently become a ballpoint convert and trust me; I have tried all sorts of pens from technical to the basic crow quill and find the simple ballpoint the most versatile tool. Don't misunderstand me, line drawings done in pen and inks are a unique and skilled medium, but ballpoints give the artist another step in creating half tones. Working with a ballpoint is almost as dramatic in tones as a pencil except you do have the ability to go darker. You may loose some of the very fine and light gray tones, but you can produce very dramatic and detailed work.

The downside to ballpoint pen art:

Not all ballpoints light fast. They will fade if kept in direct sunlight or under harsh lighting. It varies also as to their longevity.

I am still researching this issue and was under the impression that all ballpoint ink was light fast. I apologize for the misinformation. Right now I am currently doing my own experiment with different brands and hope to find more definite answers.

But all is not lost on the ballpoint being a medium. Since collectors will be hesitant to purchase a piece that may have dubious archival quality, prints are the best option.

When I gather enough information I will post what brands of ballpoints are best and their longevity.

Here is a list of archival inks in ballpoints:

Papermate Stick 2020 Fine Red P27325DIN standard ink for high standards of performance
Papermate Stick 2020 Fine Grn P27345
DIN standard ink for high standards of performance
Papermate Stick 2020 Med Grn P27645
DIN standard ink for high standards of performance
Papermate 2020 Blue 1.0 tip Stick
DIN standard ink for high standards of performance
Stick Ball Pen Medium Red
forgery-proof paste conforming to ISO 12757-2, line width M
Stick Ball Pen Fine Blue
forgery-proof paste conforming to ISO 12757-2
Stick Ball Pen Medium Black
forgery-proof paste conforming to ISO 12757-2
Stick Ball Pen Fine Black
forgery-proof paste conforming to ISO 12757-2
Stick 2000 Pen Medium Blue
DIN standard ink for high standards of performance
Stick Ball Pen Fine Red
forgery-proof paste conforming to ISO 12757-2
Staedtler Mars Multiple Casings or body designs, 430

The first patent on a ballpoint pen was issued on 30 October 1888, to John J Loud, since then the ballpoint grew in fame with a new design was licensed by the British, who produced ball point pens for the RAF , who found they worked much better than fountain pens at high altitude.

The simple ballpoint became a staple of our culture with numerous manufacturers producing the inexpensive writing instrument. Today the ballpoint is still growing strong even against its brother gel point pens.

Printing:

To be honest, line with pen and ink remains the main stay, you do not have to screen line art. That is why it has become the most prevailing in illustrations and comic book art. Ballpoint falls into the halftone area, it will have to be screened. Screening artwork is more expensive, yet with today's advances in printing via the digital age, half tone art isn't as hard or as expensive as it used to be. Even color seperation is not what it used to be years ago thanks to computers but it does run into extra dollars.

There are sites on the web that will print and sell your work with no out of pocket expense such as Cafepress. This gives the artist less to worry about though you have to price your work over Cafepress' markup. Depending on how much time you spent on your piece and the market you have to be rather objective about how your price your art.