Category Archives: review

TWSBI Eco Fountain Pen Review

I LOVE TWSBI Ecos.  Well made, good price point, and they hold a lot of ink.  They are my go-to sketching pens, and the only pens where I have all the variations inked up.  (See bottom.) The when the two … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Anniversary Inks

Robert Oster Signature Inks is having their  7th Anniversary, and have created three special inks for their celebration: Their first true black, a beautiful purple storm, and a shimmering green-gold jewel: Let’s look at each anniversary ink. Remember that others … Continue reading

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Tools: Fall Watercolors

Gads I love color! I’ve been asked why I buy so many tubes of watercolors… It’s true, I could buy a dozen tubes and mix everything — well almost everything, because the Primatek colors have their own lovely granulating properties. … Continue reading

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Soft Kitty Warm Kitty

I drew the lines using Soft Kitty Warm Kitty ink in a Pilot Metropolitan with a stub nib. A waterbrush moved the lines without erasing them by moving it fairly fast only ONCE over the sketched lines (before below).  I … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Dragon Night

It is no surprise Robert Oster inks my favorite inks.  Dragon’s Night is such a gorgeous sketching BLURPLE ink it has a permanent home now in my purple leopard Pilot Metropolitan.  I art journal many nights with this one, a … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Rubine

Robert Oster Rubine is a favorite red, and has found a permanent home in my red Pilot Metropolitan.  It leans just ever so slightly into a blue-red.  I usually do match pen to ink, mostly because I have many pens … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Birmingham Petroleum

Above, Birmingham Petroleum on the bright white paper of a Hahnemuhle sketchbook. I test my inks on many drawing and watercolor papers. Remember that others review these inks just for writing; I am also interested in how they are used … Continue reading

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Tools: Fountain Pen Revolution Himalaya

I am a huge fan of Fountain Pen Revolution’s Himalaya pen (not Himalayan as I’ve been calling it all this time!)  From here on referred to as “FPR” so not to have to spell it out!  Currently I am asking … Continue reading

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My Perfect Journal

I’ve been journaling for 50 years, art journaling for forty (first architectural ideas, now art).  I’ve tried many journals before finding my perfect journal.  I bought the Chinese Journals (left, and btw, review in links) from Chinatown in San Fransisco … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Birmingham Two Twinkles

Twinkle is all about the shimmer! Birmingham Pen Co has fifteen Twinkle inks right now, and if you love shimmer, these are the best! These inks are Mitchell’s favorites.  He loves shimmery inks, and Tributary Twinkle is probably his favorite.  … Continue reading

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Tools: TWO Bamboo Sketchbooks by Hahnemühle

Hahnemühle makes two bamboo sketchbooks: the Hahnemühle Bamboo SketchBook, shown below, which is 50lbs; and the Carnet de Voyage, aka the Bamboo Mixed Media journal by some, shown above, spiral bound and coming in at 265lbs, which I reviewed in … Continue reading

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Bright Ideas: Waterman Inks

Waterman inks are ancient, not a trendy newcomer. They come in few but lovely colors, are a great price, and they take good care of our pens. Happy New Moon! Bright Ideas multi-color journal (which I am not sure is … Continue reading

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Tools: Leonardo Officina Italiana Pen

Red is my favorite color… I love pens! I love gifts! Imagine how thrilled I am with three favorite things coming together in one pen? Thrilled! Leonardo Officina Italiana Pen in Red Passion… Filled with Robert Oster Direct Sun! This … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Birmingham Kentucky Bluegrass

Above, Kentucky Bluegrass ink on two different watercolor papers; right, in a Hahnemühle Nostalgie Sketchbook. Writing samples on a Post-it and on fountain-pen friendly paper in my Moo Journal, below Birmingham Kentucky Bluegrass ink is from the Crisp Formula ink … Continue reading

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Wildflower Sketchbook Workshop

While I was sick I took the Wild Flower Sketchbook Explosion (workshop) with Lucia Leyfield (she goes by the name Wild Ink). I had a lot of fun, and the price (around $20 US) is good for the class. I … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Birmingham Black Olive

Gads I love this ink! I am a huge fan of grey inks, and have never loved a black ink (though I’ve loved them for their waterproof qualities when sketching). This ink is not grey, and is not black… In … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Robert Oster Graphite

Robert Oster Graphite is one of five of my favorite greys, leaning into deep purple and blues when touched with water.  I am on my third bottle. Above, a wet circle is ringed with Graphite, and left to dry on … Continue reading

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Inky Thots: Birmingham Tarnished Nickel

Taking a break from posting World Watercolor Month images for a review of a great grey ink from Birmingham. NOTE:  I just realized this ink is nowhere in their new colors, and so, I apologize. I picked up one of … Continue reading

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