Category: Ink

Another Example of Iron Gall Ink, This One Just a Bit Older

Laura4 Comments

Pen and iron gall ink copy drawing by unknown Italian artist

Here’s something ink-related I found at the Art Institute of Chicago last week.

It’s a copy drawing from the late 17th Century of a print based on a Van Dyck print.  The unknown artist drew this with iron gall ink, more than 300 years ago.

Here’s a closer look, just because I think this part is so well done.  Also because it shows that the ink is now brown.

IMG_3227 detail

I’m going to admit that my fourth or fifth thought upon looking at this was: I hope KWZ makes an iron gall ink in this color.  I think I have ink on the brain.

Fountain Pen Favorites for March 2016

Laura1 Comment

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Okay, we’re already into April, but just because March is in the rear view mirror, metaphorically, doesn’t mean we can’t pump the brakes and look back for a few seconds. Here were my fountain pen favorites for March.

1. KWZ Red #1. This is going to be a favorite for a long time.

2. Spring inks. The weather is warmer, and I’ve brought out the lighter, brighter inks once more.  I love them. Especially Caran d’Ache Delicate Green. Also fun: Pink Week.

3. Pelikan M205 Transparent Blue. Faithful readers know how strong my resolve is and how firmly I resist temptation. So there’s absolutely no reason ever to think that I’d order this pen.  But, hey, is that a cute kitten over there?  We should all look at that cute kitten.

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Photo by Dafne Cholet, Flickr, used under Creative Commons license.

Things That Are Purple

Laura5 Comments

KWZ Brown-Pink ink

I’ve just starting testing KWZ Brown-Pink ink.  It’s a really fun color.  Mostly because even though it’s called Brown-Pink, to me it’s purple in disguise.

Just look at it.  Purple, right?

I think KWZ must make the most surprising brown inks ever.  The other KWZ brown ink I’ve tested is KWZ Dark Brown.  Which to me is basically black.

I love it. Just like the proverbial box of chocolates, you never know what you’ll get.

Things I Don’t Want to Do

Laura1 Comment

Pelikan M600 Ruby Red and Pelikan M400 White Tortoise fountain pens

The pen cup runneth over.  I have way too many pens inked.

The truth is, I’ve finished my review of KWZ Red #1 ink, which is in the Pelikan M600 Ruby Red.  And I’ve finished deciding whether I should buy a full bottle of the Pelikan Edelstein Amber in the M400 White Tortoise.  (Yes.)

So I pulled these two from the overstuffed pen cup Monday, to make room. But they’ve been sitting there ever since.

You know you like a pen and ink when you can’t make yourself empty them.

Pen of the Day: Pelikan M600 Pink

Laura4 Comments

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen

Pelikan M600 Pink with fine nib. What could be more springy than the Pink Pelikan?  Probably only filling the Pink Pelikan with pink ink. Now that’s turning spring up to 11.

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen and Diamine Carnation ink

I think Diamine Carnation is a perfect spring pink.

Pelikan M600 Pink fountain pen

The pen is really a raspberry sort of pink. But not an actual raspberry:  it’s like a raspberry pink dye. Raspberry-colored shiny plastic product. Raspberry-flavored hard candy.

And let’s not forget the Pink Pelikan comes in the Box of Bad Taste.

So I think the Pink Pelikan goes to 11 all by itself, really.

Outstanding.

Pen of the Day: Aurora Optima Demonstrator

Laura3 Comments

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen

Aurora Optima demonstrator with fine nib. It is Italian Pen Week here at Fountain Pen Follies.  Actually, I have no other inked pens that haven’t already been Pens of the Day. But Italian Pen Week sounds better.  Lemons to lemonade, that’s my motto.

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen

There’s not much to say about this fantastic pen, except that it’s really perfect.

Aurora Optima chrome demonstrator fountain pen with Waterman Serenity Blue ink

Right now the pen contains Waterman Serenity Blue, so I could compare a standard blue ink color to KWZ Iron Gall Green Gold.  Serenity Blue is a darn good ink: well-behaved in most pens, well-behaved on most papers.  And it’s safe for this beautiful Aurora.