A ruling pen, also known as a ruling writer, has multiple uses within the art industry. This pen can be used with India ink to produce wonderful calligraphy, but is also used to create straight lines both in painting and traditional drafting. While many of these uses have been eliminated by computers, many artists still prefer to use a this pen and have also discovered other uses for the tool. Some artists use this in oil or acrylic painting for drawing straight lines; this pen is more accurate and easier to use than a paint brush. For example, an artist who is rendering a painting of a clapboard house might use this instrument with paint to produce the straight lines needed to properly reproduce the look of clapboard siding.
These writing pens were traditionally found in many drafting and artist kits; however, this is not necessarily the case in this age of computer generated drafting and writing. They can be found at local and online art stores and take just a bit of practice to be able to use. This type of pen can be used in a variety of mediums to add texture and visual interest.