Welcome to the 2023 summary of my fountain pen ink art project – reimagining fountain pen inks for creative purposes other than for just handwriting – which began in 2015 with no real goals or time parameters, just an investigation, experimenting and having fun.
It’s been another busy year for creative swatch carding, which has included investigating inks from (click the links for more info): Wearingeul, Ferris Wheel Press, Taccia Jeans, Dominant, Nahvular, Pennonia Labs, Octopus Fluids and, of course, the Diamine Inkvent Calendar plus exclusives for Diamine Reddit and Art from the Heart.
The year kicked off with some good news. Lettering treatments derived from this project have been featured in the latest edition of the Briem Report. To be included with some of the world’s most respected purveyors of lettering is humbling indeed. But more importantly is the relevance of this abstract hobby project to me and the unexpected surprises it generates.
Then in February, I took a call from Cult Pens who asked if I’d like to be involved with some cracker packaging, using inks and abstract calligraphy. How could I say no? Click here for the story.
In March I made contact with Tom’s Studio and invested in one their Zebra G Flexnib fountain pens. Without doubt, this has been a real game changer for me. Click here for the story.
In May I was asked to join Exaclair on their stand at the London Stationery Show to help showcase a new range of Herbin watercolour inks which was fun. I also tested out some new journal additions to the Rhodia Touch range all of which are highly recommended.
While at the show, it was lovely to make contact with Nikki at Studio Pens which resulted in several reviews of Kaweco and Esterbrook pen products. I also met up with Andhand bespoke stationery and Hahnemuhle papers which also resulted in product testing and reviews.
And in October I deviated from the annual Inktober challenge and created my own – Classic Boatober. This was a wonderful opportunity to work alongside fountain pen sketchers, urban sketchers and marine artists, to show off processes and techniques while tackling some of the same visual references.
Traffic to my Blog, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube platforms continues to grow as does my admiration for a considerable number of exciting fountain pen ink enthusiasts who regularly push the boundaries in swatch carding, journaling, illustration and lettering.
The number of students experiencing the online course, Fountain Pen Ink Art – The Basics, is also increasing – 533 at last count. Sadly, the much anticipated new course has still not materialised but I’m hoping to make a start on it in February.
And so now to the bit you’re after, my top 12 inks of 2023. There’s no denying that that it’s been a little overkill on the shimmer this year, but amidst that blizzard of super shiney fluids there have been some beautiful and intriguing creations too. Here are 12 of my favourites:
Winter Wood (Dominant Industries) – Click for more
Earl Grey Tea (Dominant Industries) – Click for more
Poison Envy (Ferris Wheel Press) – Click for more
Throttle Bottom (Diamine Exclusive for Art from the Heart) – Click for more
Song of Scarlet (Ferris Wheel Press) – Click for more
3AAJ (Pennonia Ink Lab) – Click for more
Thirteen Children (Wearingeul) – Click for more
Land of Shangri-la (Ferris Wheel Press) – Click for more
Salon de Violet (Teranishi) – Review coming soon
Raise a Glass (Diamine – Inkvent 2023) – Click for more
Infinite Cube (Wearingeul) – Click for more
Wayfarer (Wearingeul) – Click for more
And that’s a wrap! A huge thanks to all of you who support what I’m up to and who can see the inspirational, creative, educational and mindful benefits that fountain pen ink art can offer. My time at the Stationery Show left me with a distinct feeling that the stationery sector is shifting at speed towards the arts and creative skills sectors for future sustainability, which is great news as far as I’m concerned, BUT, I do think that it will still take brands and retailers with creative imaginations, skills and courage to achieve and enjoy success in these new territories. Here’s to 2024!
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 