I love the smell of sumi in the morning ...

[Moya]

And other related ephemera.  Seriously, though, that lovely earthy smell makes me so deeply happy. I was told by someone once that only good-quality sumi will have that smell, that if your bottle smells like dirt, you're in luck;  so far it's been true, as far as I can tell.

I think I just like the smell because it says to me "Time to sit down and do art, and be happy."

(You can tell I'm starting this thread for idle-chit-chat while I'm at work and far from my pens...)

What odd things related to calligraphy make your heart lift?

[Blotbot]

I love the scratch of the nib on the paper....

[Moya]

YES, such a good feeling! 

I love the way you can almost feel like you're painting with the tip of the nib, sometimes, when the ink is right and the nib is new and the wind is in the right direction.

[joi]

oh this gives me a chuckle and a smile!!!  i feel exactly the same way!

[Linda Y.]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one!! A few people in the forum have said the smell of sumi makes them ill. But I love it. I also love the smell of Dr. Ph. Martin's Pen White and Bleedproof White, also some of the gouache colors have a earthy smell - I guess from the gum arabic!

[Moya]

It's such a nice earthy smell though.  And something I can smell nowhere else, so it always says to me, CALLIGRAPHY TIME.  I associate it so heavily with the peace and that kind of calm zen feeling that comes from doing drills and concentrating on perfecting each turn.

(... I should do more of that.)

I love the smell of gouache, too. Especially Windsor & Newton Ultramarine.  It's so strong and pointed, and I guess objectively it isn't a very "nice" smell, but it smells like art and creativity and happiness!  I would use ultramarine in everything if I possibly could.

I haven't noticed the smell of Bleedproof White ... time to go home and sniff the jar

[Nickkih]

Oh I love this. I want to sniff all my inks too. Except I hate the smell of Higgins eternal.

[Linda Y.]

I haven't noticed the smell of Bleedproof White ... time to go home and sniff the jar

The new Bleedproof White has less smell - the older stuff is very much like Pen White. Reminds me of my artschool days when they actually taught lettering by hand.

[Moya]

Less smell? Aw, that's almost a pity ...

I mean, that's great. >.>

I haven't noticed a smell to Higgins Eternal, but then I don't use that very often. Maybe I'll pull it out tonight and see!

[tintenfuchs]

In the morning, I prefer coffee 
I haven't tried sumi, but I have this lovely Jasmin ink, a deep red and it smells of the flower. <3

[AmyNeub]

I love the smell too!

It brings me back to the first time I picked up a calligraphy pen in the 7th grade. Takes off a few years! j/k 

[Moya]

My bottle of Higgins Eternal doesn't smell so great, you're right

But I put it away and brought out the sumi again and everything was okay.  !

[SueL]

For those of you who use Moon Palace Sumi Ink, could you please check the bottle for me and see if it's made in Japan or China? I'm curious. Thanks.

[Sherry Lu]

I love the smell of sumi!! But my Higgins Eternal smells like ammonia. Blech.

[Moya]

I wonder if we could arrange to have an ink that smelled like coffee... ?

Has anyone used coffee as ink?  I bet it's possible.