Signature Ink And A Color Wheel

Color is the first hook for any ink. From jewel tones to muted whispers, color gets us where it matters. We buy what appeals to us and then share it with friends and associates via the written word. But what does that color communicate?

The August 2016 issue of Pen World magazine has an article I wrote called Signature Ink. Nicky Pessaroff, the new editor, was kind enough to send the PDF for Inkophile readers, but here is one of the graphics to get you started.

Start at the top and work counter-clockwise to match inks with their names. Which color best represents you?

If you aren’t a Pen World subscriber, there is nothing quite like having a beautifully photographed, well-written magazine in your hands. The colors are true unlike what passes for accuracy on an electronic display. You should see the Staedtler ad on the back cover of the August issue. It is absolutely stunning. And that’s just an ad! You’ll have to subscribe to find out what’s on the inside.

 

From The Archives: Pelikan Violet Ink

Recently I was reminded of the quality of Pelikan fountain pen ink. Here is a link to my review from January, 2015, and below is a photo that was taken at sunset last night. Once in a while, a little drama is in order.

The paper is from a Clairefontaine notebook that loves fountain pen ink.

I checked around and found the one ounce and two ounce sizes reasonably priced at Amazon. Pelikan ink is good in any fountain pen and this is lovely stuff if violet is on your wish list.

J. Herbin 1670 “Caroube de Chypre”

Coming at the end of July…

Folded pens are available from John Neal Bookseller.

Glare Pens And Inks From India

Glare Fountain Pens came out with a reasonably priced line of fountain pens early this year. It’s always good to see more pens available and this one can be purchased easily via eBay. Ink is a new product that is getting good if limited buzz at Fountain Pen Network. It is currently offered on eBay at $8.75 including shipping for a 60 ml plastic bottle.

I haven’t used either the pens or the ink so I can’t attest to quality. However, these video reviews have enough info to make me intrigued. How about you?

Mint Ink

For a hit of mint, either one will do.

Spring And A Lively Ink Palette

Chancing upon a written sample of Rouge Caroubier got things started. Quickly, the list grew to this first pass at spring inks:

• Diamine Meadow
• J Herbin Rouge Caroubier
• Sailor Jentle Souten
• Noodler’s Dostoyevsky
• Akkerman #22 Hopjesbruin
• Diamine Peach Haze
• Sailor Peach Pink
• J Herbin Violette Pensee

The group ought to get winnowed to five at most, but it is hard to eliminate even one of them.

Five pens were already filled. So rather than waste ink, the palette got changed to Sailor Yama-Dori, Noodler’s Dostoyevsky, Diamine Mint, Diamine Violet, and J. Herbin Cafe des Iles. Those aren’t the inks from my initial list, but they will do.

Rouge Caroubier and Meadow are looking through the pen drawer for suitable partners. Oh, wait, we have winners. Meadow chose the Pel M215 and Caroubier chose the Platinum Nice Pur. Peach Haze is flirting with the amber Conklin Duragraph. Peach Pink remains undecided so that one will have to wait. It’s a pretty color that deserves a clear demo with a wide nib like the TWSBI 580. Perhaps at the next fill. Souten is sulking because his favorite pen, the Pel M215, isn’t available. It will all get sorted eventually.

My three pen rotation has turned into a bouquet of color. What a lovely way to celebrate spring!

What Pen Cleaning Day Left Behind

Clean pens, inky water, and a colorful paper towel…

My inked pens are down to three. It’s like going from long hair to a buzz cut, breezy and easy to maintain.

The skinny rotation won’t last long with a shipment due end of week, but it’s fine for now. A person could grow accustomed to living this way. For now, I am a lean, mean writing machine.

However, pen and paper tests require more variety. Though increasing the number of pens is not appealing, adding a red and a blue ink should be adequate for the next reviews. Noodler’s BERNing Red is en route which settles that color. For blue, should it be Sailor Sky High or Souten, Iroshizuku kon-peki, Noodler’s Ottoman Azure or Rohrer & Klinger Verdigris or Blau Permanent? As always, it’s hard to pick just one.

Two green inks of recent acquisition, Diamine Meadow and Noodler’s Gruene Cactus, deserve further exploration especially in clear barrels that show their inky colors to best advantage. The TWSBI Eco is almost empty and would look suitably, seasonally well-dressed in green. Well, at least that’s settled.

That limited rotation of red, blue, brown, violet and green always grows quickly to an unwieldy dozen with the addition of teal, turquoise, orange, burgundy, pink, and black or blue-black. That’s eleven with one slot open for a test ink. This is not promising. How do you inkophiles keep your rotation in check?