Taccia Ukiyo-e inks have been created in hommage to the Ukiyo-e art movement and the world famous Ukiyo-e artists including Hiroshige, Hokusai, Sharaku and Utamaro.
Ukiyo-e was a Japanese art movement established in the Edo period between 1603 and 1868. The iconic Japanese woodblock prints display the everyday lifestyles of the people of the time. The illustrations are characterised by clear designs, precise lines, bold compositions, and evenly laid colour. This art style laid the foundations for what we know today as anime.
The four chosen artists have four inks assigned to each. The gorgeous packaging designs contain image extracts of their instantly recognisable illustration work. In addition to the classic landscapes and marine scenes – geishas, sumo wrestlers and kabuki actors also feature.
Produced by Taccia in Japan, the inks have been created by Hiroshi Ishizu, an ink sommelier and Hanae Matsumoto, a colour consultant.
These first eight inks are dedicated to Hokusai and Syaraku.
The Hokusai packaging features four extracts of his famous Mount Fuji illustrations.
Sabimidori – A mottled bottle green that bleeds out blue when added to a wetted paper surface. A slight reaction to bleach. I haven’t come across this kind of reaction before.
Koiai – A deep blue with a hint of sheen that bleeds out greys and cyan when added to a wetted paper surface. A slight reaction to bleach.
Fukakihanda – A mid dusty blue that bleeds out cyan when added to a wetted paper surface. A neon reaction to bleach. For similar effects please click here.
Benitsuchi – A rich deep dirty vermilion that spreads with intensity when added to a wetted paper surface. A slight dull reaction to bleach.
It wasn’t until I created the chromo scapes that the real beauty of these delicate inks appeared. Initially I added the tiniest hint of each diluted ink to a wetted Bockingford watercolour paper surface. The chromatography is just so delicate but so beautiful. When dry, I added an ink rule with a Creeper pen and then wet the area above the line. I then added tiny amounts of not so diluted ink to the rule and the wetted area above it allowing it to bleed. Once dry, I added a bleach rule below the ink rule and then added few random bleach dots to help give the visual illusion of lights on land by the waters edge. Just look at that chromatography now!
The Syaraku packaging features extracts of his sumo wrestlers and kabuki actors illustrations.
Kurocha – A chestnut brown that bleeds out greys and salmon pink when added to a wetted paper surface. A slight reaction to bleach. For similar effects please click here for the Sailor Ink Studio tests.
Kolame – A bright orange that bleeds out yellow and peach when added to a wetted paper surface. A negligible reaction to bleach.
Natane – An olive colour that bleeds out greys and yellow when added to a wetted paper surface. A bright reaction to bleach. For similar effects please click here.
Asasakura – A rich orange red that bleeds out pink, salmon pink and yellow when added to a wetted paper surface. A bright reaction to bleach. For similar effects please click here for the Sailor Ink Studio tests.
These beautiful ink samples were very kindly sent to me by Catherine Van Hove. She is the driving force behind the Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery and has considerable experience in the pen world and a well-deserved reputation for her professionalism. Sakura is the only European stockist of these inks and also stocks the complete Sailor Ink Studio range (100 in total).
There do seem to be similarities between these and the Sailor Ink Studio inks in the way they break down to reveal their chromatography which might suggest similar creation processes and recipes? Just saying. They are without doubt, pretty inks and as the chromoscapes demonstrate perfect for ink art journaling.
AND 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 ?
FOUNTAIN PEN INK ART 