Messages

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Tools & Supplies / Re: KOUS Shimmering Walnut Inks

« on: May 22, 2024, 10:20:57 AM »

When I first started calligraphy with fountain pens, I wanted the wettest most lubricated inks I could get. Sailor and Monteverde make some of the best. However, now with dip nibs, I find I like the driest most non-flowing inks; Quink Black, Callifolio, Pelikan 4001, etc. It just feels like I have more control with a dry ink and they are usually better for not feathering too.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Shimmer Inks

« on: May 21, 2024, 11:47:35 AM »

Love that Atlas Iron Ore! It really floats my boat. I'm glad nibs are cheap so I can invest my money in inks.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: KOUS Shimmering Walnut Inks

« on: May 21, 2024, 11:36:22 AM »

@K-2: Although I think it's incredibly beautiful, I just haven't gotten bitten by the glitter-bug yet. As others have said, it requires a lot of work; many dips and frequent shaking of the container. I really should buy a magnetic ink stirrer for that I guess. But I don't do broad brush calligraphy and that's where the shimmer really shines.

@JanisTX: From a former Texan myself, you ain't dumb cowgirl, quite the opposite is true I'm sure. If you're making money with calligraphy, you must be very very talented. I once had a sample of Noodler's black that I tried in a fountain pen with not great results. But now that I'm pretty much dip pen only, I really want to try it again. It's bulletproof and would be perfect for my book.

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Open Flourish | General Discussion / Re: To Remove the Nib, or Not to Remove the Nib. That is the Question.

« on: May 21, 2024, 10:36:52 AM »

I never take mine out until they wear out either. And yep, they are rusty and kinda slimey but they're trash anyway. Once the nib is out, I do dip the flange in a little cleaner and shake it out. Sometimes I might put a little WD-40 on the old nib and run it through the flange a few times just to get the rust out.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: KOUS Shimmering Walnut Inks

« on: May 19, 2024, 11:46:52 AM »

Very nice review @K-2! It's great to see some actual handwriting samples with these inks instead of just the swatches. Your lettering is excellent too.

It's been so long since I've used a fountain pen, I'd forgotten the shape of the bottle made an impact on my decision to buy an ink.

I agree the blue and green are the most appealing. I also think you're right on about the brown base color. I do love walnut ink, both the crystals and Norton's, but I think I prefer the brown just by itself with no other colors to compete with the fantastic shading.

I should have ordered some of the Pearl Ex pigments, but I splurged on a bottle of Wearingeul Half Moon with Dimmed Light instead (probably a mistake). After using it a few times and being wowed by the shimmer, it's kinda gotten lost in the bottom of my ink drawer...

For me, gum arabic is a standard addition to any ink, fountain or otherwise. And I just recently learned that it is somewhat acidic, having a pH of ~4.5. I was wondering why my inks that are pH neutral were eating the coating off my nibs and couldn't figure out why the discoloration was happening. Not a big deal though. I don't think it's doing much damage and even if it does weaken the metal somewhat it surely won't stop me from using it. I love the shine and the way it makes the ink hang on the nib.

@AnasaziWrites - All those Iridescent inks make my mouth water. I sure would love to have such a selection to choose from!

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Show & Tell / Re: Leisure by W H Davies

« on: March 06, 2024, 06:30:04 PM »

  That many N's right in a row, and perfect too. Wow. Beyond excellent work. How did you do the colours? Is it ink or something else? Love the gradient effect.

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General How To's & Projects / Re: Victorian Puzzle Purse DIY

« on: March 04, 2024, 12:59:29 AM »

Delicate and lovely. ❤️

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2024 Exchanges / Re: LOVE letter exchange

« on: March 04, 2024, 12:57:16 AM »

These are exquisite! Very well done. Needless to say you have mastered the flourish.

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Kind Critique / Re: Spencerian feedback + size question

« on: February 28, 2024, 01:35:25 PM »

Terrific! That last one with the bird is so good. Love that orange ink, or is it gouache?

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Spencerian Script / Re: Succession of m’s and n’s and of u’s

« on: February 26, 2024, 11:05:40 AM »

I've not had any problems mixing Walnut ink crystals from PIA, even when making it super-concentrated. Perhaps one batch of crystals differs from another?

But due to the acidity, I too prefer Norton's as it's very mild and doesn't eat my nibs. I just buy the Darkening Medium alone and add water to lighten as needed. I do prefer it really dark though. Either way the hairlines are excellent.

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Spencerian Script / Re: Succession of m’s and n’s and of u’s

« on: February 25, 2024, 11:53:29 AM »

I'm not sure what nib you are using, but getting some finer hairlines would definitely help distinguish the curved angles (top) from the sharp (bottom). Are you writing with a fountain pen?

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Copperplate, Engrosser's Script, Roundhand Calligraphy / Re: Heavily-flexed writing

« on: February 25, 2024, 11:46:50 AM »

I love a nice Hunt 101, great flex and a supreme joy to write with.

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Kind Critique / Re: Nay worries - I can take it.

« on: February 25, 2024, 11:37:46 AM »

... Also, don't forget, you will go through periods where you feel like your work is looking great and then all of a sudden nothing looks good. That is a big part of the learning process ...

OK, so I needed this.

Me too. I'm developing the arm writing technique and my work now looks worse than ever. I've increased the x-height on my guidelines so I'm forced to use my arm for ascenders and descenders. I'll keep on believing this is going to improve my handwriting whatever the style.

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Tools & Supplies / Re: Unused older nib

« on: February 15, 2024, 06:34:13 PM »

Hi @AAAndrew - I routinely subject my sprung Leonardt Principals to a hot flame for 10-15 seconds followed immediately with a douse in cold water. This seems to toughen the tines and help the sprung problem; the weakened tines making a clicking sound and crossing over one another.

Is there any science to back this up, tempering or such?

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Kind Critique / Re: Nay worries - I can take it.

« on: February 15, 2024, 06:11:26 PM »

You hit a nerve with me. I too have a bucket full of wanting to write beautiful script. It is all I think about and have geared my life around. This desire borders on obsession and there is nothing wrong with it. There is a reason we feel this way.

I love that you chose dinosaur names to write. Very creative! At one time I could not write because I could not think of any text to copy. Then I chose my favourite book and committed to copying down just one page a day, everyday.

The sizes of your letters are good and the shapes will become more uniform with practice. Make sure you have your exemplars posted where you can always see them (not just on your phone or iPad). Pin them up on a wall so they are visible even when you are not writing.

I hope you are not ill. If so I wish you a very speedy recovery.