Tono & Lims - Turbulent Sea - the papers all tell a different story. Take a look at the different paper samples. I have been in moving and renovating hell but took some time to swatch some of my new ink. His is a gorgeous ink. lol at the complexity! A Dark Chromashading ink is so hard to find! What do you think? Any similar inks?
I was given the most beautiful gift yesterday. My dad found a pen he bought 15 yrs ago on a holiday, inked up and then forgot about it until yesterday. What a treasure- not something I would have bought for myself immediately as I’m in a bit of a Japanese pen obsession.
But the MB No 149 is a classic and this pen is a perfect addition to my collection, made sweeter by the fact that it’s a gift from my dad makes it even more special. I admit it’s a bit big for my usual liking as I feel the Asvine J16 Ebonite (one of my favorite pens and I wish they would return to Amazon so I can get all the variants) and the Esterbrook Estie are the perfect size! It’s going to be a joyful addition to my pen and ink journey.
After a quick and thorough cleaning it’s up and running but I’ll need to do some research and give it a really good clean this weekend. Needless to say - here is today’s line up at my office. I’ve been drawn to greens, warm orange/ browns and blue greys and teal and my collection is showing this preference.
I’ll be going to the Orlando Pen Show as my first US show and I hope to learn more and get some nib work if possible. I love this hobby- it’s just so personal and joyful!
I’ve been moving homes but I got some new inks and sat on dining table and did some swatching because my office is under construction! These inks are stunning. Moody and all chromoshading- so much complexity! What do you think! I think this is my newest favorite brand. What’s your favorite Tono & Lims.
Colorverse always has been one of my favorites- the colors are complex and fun and they are the best value for money hands down. I do love all the space and planet connections. They inspire me!
Pinky browns, warm pinks, dusty browns and moody pinks - I don’t know what to call them - any suggestions?
I have a small grouping of Jacqueline Herbin ‘Heart Soil” or ‘Blood and Sand’ inks - thanks for the suggestions- this is edited by brilliant comments from this Subreddit- thanks - it’s much better than my inadvertent suggestion of exploring’pink and brown’ haha now I can never unsee that workings potty mouth connotation….but I generally just love these unusual inks thanks for the recommendations!!
I really am lucky - my wife just bought me 2 new inks.
What do you think ?
I had the pleasure of spending quite a bit of time in the UK last year and during that trip I was able to spend a Day at the London Pen Show - I picked up these inks - from the Seven Deadly Sins series by Diamine.
Greed - a tomato red almost blood red with a bright pinky copper shimmer.
Gluttony -an olive green to light brown ink with golden red shimmer like I’ve never seen before, but when it dyes it’s similar to the color shimmer in Greed so I suspect it’s the same.
Envy which is a gorgeous green teal with a bright magenta - purple sheen.
I’ve not inked these before so I’ll be trying them out in this weeks rotation.
What are your experiences with these inks. I’m always happy with the consistency and no nonsense in Diamine inks - so I know I’ll be happy.
In my goal to use my inks - I mean if I don’t swatch these I’ll never use them up … haha actually I just love my inks and the joy in making these ink investigations and experimenting with the ink on different types of paper and pens is really a never ending process.
I’d really not been using these Lamy inks because they were my entrance into the hobby - it’s the gateway drug for us all I think- and I’ve had these inks for a while and not really used them. I have a small collection.
I’ve had them in different pens and found them a bit hard to clean out and they dried up regularly but light bulb moment! I never used them in my actual Lamy pens. Well except for my Mango Safari which is always inked with Mango cartridges (if anyone knows where can get a bottle? I’d really like a bottle)
So a couple weeks back I cleaned the pens and inked them up with Lamy inks. And duh! They are great in these pens. I still find Petrol a bit too dark almost black. But I added a little turquoise (which is a bit too bright) and now it’s perfect for my pens. But for artwork it’s absolutely stunning! Looks like a night sky !
Sepia and Dark Lilac are great inks - but they are better in these pens Lamy Safaris and AL.
Wha do you think of these inks?
In my goal to use all my inks and try to use my less used pens more … I cleaned my Lamy pens and re-inked them. I’ve mover been a fan of the inks except for Mango (which I can only find in a cartridge).
The pens were my favorites until I discovered the world of Japanese pens and ohhhh well … they became shelved. But I’ve been using them consistently for a couple weeks and the inks have grown on me!
Petrol shows up almost black in all my pens so I added some turquoise and I absolutely love it now! It’s inked in my ew AL-star Denim - I used to have Sepia in this pen with is my second favorite ink from Lamy- it’s a great shader!
But I must admit Dark Lilac was just to much sheen for me - I’ve had it in many pens and it’s hell to clean out - but I must say it’s really grown on me - I know it’s strange but I never used in my actual Lamy and now that it’s in my Original Al-star I love it! My bad!
Sometimes the “perfect pairing” doesn’t stay inked forever.
This Asvine P20 originally carried Sailor Manyo Kikyou — honestly one of the most aesthetically satisfying combinations I’ve used. The cool blue-violet tones pulled beautifully against the navy, cream, and light brown marbling of the resin, and the pen wrote like an absolute dream with it.
I really love visual journaling and can’t help but research or study the things I love — I keep discovering more interesting ways to enjoy this hobby and this TN notebook is dedicated to this Inksanity and Penspiration (haha I’m so cheesy) which is part pen study part writing sample, part colour theory exercise, 100% stress down and obsess!
It’s an evolution as with all my pen pursuits begin like a field sketch with key visual characteristics. I can’t help but sketch the pen is then drawn multiple times because I’m OTT to study proportions, materials, trim, details — I have almost finished this booklet- in this case the blue, cream, and light brown marbled resin with silver hardware are my particular style! Haha do you pick pens to match your wardrobe?
But part of the joy of fountain pens for me is variety. I actually enjoy rotating inks once a fill is finished, even when a pairing feels ideal. It gives the pen a slightly different personality every time. This refill is Teranishi Smoky Navy, and it changes the mood completely. Where Kikyou felt elegant, Smoky Navy leans moodier, deeper, and more atmospheric — almost stormy with a touch of sheen.
The Asvine P20 continues to surprise me with how enjoyable it is as a daily writer: smooth, slightly broader than expected for an EF, wet enough to show shading well, and visually far more interesting than its price point suggests.
Sorry this is a long post - long stressful days lead to reflection! What pairing do you have today? Do you have this pen? What’s the pairing that you love?
Do you keep your “perfect match” inked permanently, or do you rotate inks to rediscover a pen over and over again?
I’m trying to decide on a blue ink for my beautiful Asvine P20 Navy & Lt Brown Marble.
This Inkscape is a detail of vast celestial field rendered in saturated blues (J Herbin Les torrs de Paris), teal (Taccia Sabimidori), emerald (Colorverse Massive storm), subtle nebula reds (Colorverse brunch date & Red aurora). It resembles an interstellar sky painted through translucent washes of ink, where colours bloom into one another organically like gas clouds or underwater currents. Tiny white speckles scattered (messy fingers) and draw starbursts scatter across the entire scene, creating the illusion of infinite depth. Some stars are crisp points of light while others diffuse softly under washes into the surrounding colour, giving artwork a luminous atmospheric quality. What do you think ?
As a part of my ongoing project for Inkscapes - I’ve enjoyed the details! White ink is my new best friend!
Inksploration is an ongoing exploration of colour and movement, through layered fountain pen inks on water color paper journal. Using flowing ink washes, the luminous pigments, shimmer, sheen and white ink linework, captures organic forms that feel both microscopic and cosmic — somewhere between coral reefs, fallen feathers, celestial landscapes, and imagined underwater worlds.
I’ve been enjoying my inks and all the possibilities
I am in love with Yurameku, Shikiori and Ink Studio inks - the dual shapes are off the charts - I got some really wonderful advice from the community for other sailor duel shading inks but please tell me your favorite duel shading inks from other brands - it’s my jam!! I need them all!
I’m thinking of trying the Opus 88 Demonstrator or Otmar but I worry they are too big for my tiny hands! My worry is that they are heavy? Anyone have these pens with smaller hands? Are the comfortable for a long writing session?
I’ve just discovered the Sailor Ink Studio line- I’m trying not to get duplicates as some Sailor inks are reallllly close in color - but these are gorgeous!
I just got this wooden pen holder on Amazon because it fits a lot of pens- and I love it ! Now my pens are more organized on my analog desk. It’s clutter but also satisfying!