Máté Bikfalvi is the owner of the Romanian registered online fountain pen store Pennonia. He recently sent me 6ml vial samples of his new revitalised range of fountain pen inks to swatch test. Read on and see what you think?
The range currently consists of fifteen colours.
Viharfelhő – A dark uneven granular grey ink with no chromatography. A dull copper effect when subjected to bleach.
Lila Árnyék – A deep blue black ink that blends with water revealing bright cyan and pinky greys at the fringes. A bright neon reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas. Blue black sheen.
Kékfestő – A deep blue black ink that blends with water revealing bright cyan at the fringes. A bright neon reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Kékfény – A blue ink that blends with water revealing bright cyan at the fringes. An interesting reaction with bleach turning black. A reddish sheen (see angled image at top of blog).
Törökkék – A mid blue ink that blends with water revealing bright cyan at the fringes. A white gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Hupikék – A transluscent dull turquoise blue ink that blends with water revealing light cyan at the fringes. No reaction with bleach.
Tihanyi Lila – A dusty purple ink that blends with water revealing pinky greys at the fringes. A dull pink effect when subjected to bleach. Possible sheen.
Meggyes – A dark maroon ink that blends with water revealing light pinks at the fringes. A bright gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Vattacukor – A lighter maroon ink that blends with water revealing light pinks at the fringes. A bright gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Ördögi Vörös – A rich red ink that blends with water revealing light pinks at the fringes. A negligible reaction with bleach.
Róka Koma – A vermilion ink that blends with water revealing light oranges at the fringes. A dull gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Dungó – An orange ink that blends with water revealing yellows at the fringes. A bright gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas.
Méregzöld – A dark forest green bleeding out green and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A bright white gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas. Possible sheen.
Csillánt – A dark woodland green bleeding out yellow greens and cyan when dropped onto a wetted watercolour paper surface. A bright white gold reaction with bleach in the less concentrated areas. Possible sheen.
Almazöld – A translucent yellow/green with no chromatography. A negligible reaction with bleach. Possible sheen.
This is a compact and dynamic range of fountain pen inks with plenty of vivid colour. For handwriting, these inks flow well through the nib and the colours are strong and visible. As for creative usage, the inks blend well but there is limited chromatography in evidence. There is a reaction to bleach but only in areas where the inks have been reduced down with water. When puddled as splats on watercolour paper, there is evidence of sheening in a couple of the colours, but be aware that the puddled ink doesn’t dry completely! Shimmer powder is also available to add to the inks which is available direct from Pennonia.
Tests conducted on Bockingford 140lb rough using a Noodler’s Creeper fountain pen and Rhodia dot matrix paper using an automatic pen.
If you want to get your hands on the whole range of Pennonia inks, head on over to my Instagram account – @quinkandbleach – and enter the ‘ giveaway’. Pennonia Inks are available online from Pennonia.eu
HEY! If you’re interested to know more about how to use fountain pen inks in more creative ways – whether it’s simply to observe their chromatic behaviours, or, to recreate one of my swatch cards, or, to learn how to use them in watercolour painting, illustration and calligraphy, why not check out my online course or, even better, sign up for a workshop?
The next workshop is at INTRA Arts in Rochester on Saturday 15th February 2020. The workshop costs £40.00 per person and runs from 1100hrs – 1400hrs all tools and materials provided. Please book direct with me. Email nick@nickstewart.ink or call 07956 365155. Click on the venue for location details. Rochester is 33 mins from St Pancras London by train.
FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART 