A Happy New Year to you and welcome to my Top 12 fountain pen inks of 2024, plus a 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. And incredibly this is its tenth year and yes, there is much to celebrate!
Puritan – created with Ferris Wheel Press Atlas Iron Ore
I say this every year, I know, but I am still astounded that this project just keeps rolling on. But the fountain pen ink industry just keeps delivering in spite of all the pressures from the digital age in which we live. Have I noticed an increasing interest in analogue activities in 2024? I think so. The human soul needs constant nourishment and it ain’t gonna get it just from digital – that’s for sure.
So what’s been occurin’? On the ink swatching front, testing has been quieter in 2024 but I’ve still swatched some lovely ink creations from Wearingeul, Cult Pens, Pen Gallery, Goldspot Pens, Stephan Lucht, Art from the Heart, Jacques Herbin, Ferris Wheel Press and Diamine. Please click the links to access the articles. I have also been doing a lot of mixing experiments one of which I posted here. Click to view.
In April I was honoured to be asked by Nicky at Studio Pens to review the Kaweco Piston Sport relaunch. As a Kaweco Sport lover, this pen, in my opinion is just fabulous and symbolises where I am right now, finding that balance between digital and analogue. Click here and take a look.
In May I posted a feature on another ink fountain pen ink artist Elle Tennyson. One of my priorities for 2025 is to post more features showcasing artists and calligraphers who use fountain pen ink in their work. If that’s you – please get in touch and let’s do it.
Old Gaffer – created with Diamine Forever Ink Black
Then, in October I deviated again from the annual Inktober challenge and illustrated my adventures exploring the Outer Hebrides. Not only was the trip a life changing experience but so was the month of fountain pen ink art. Diamine had asked me to try out their new range of nano particle pigment fountain pen inks to be known as ‘Forever Inks’. These are launching early 2025 and if you want to know why I’m so excited about them click here.
Callanish Stones – created with Diamine Forever Ink Black and Nick Stewart Twilight Black
And then immediately following on from that came the Diamine Inkvent Calendar the Black Edition. And the return of sheening ink! And yes, it was a very pleasurable 25 days of ink swatching with some really lovely creations to explore. Not only were the sheening inks great but the grey based standard inks were packed full of chromo. A real treat of an edition – and if you can still get hold of one – grab it! Click here for more.
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 – 606 at last count. I will also have a new online course launching this year. This course will include, amongst other things: colour mixing, tonal painting and using pigment inks with step by step tutorials for a diverse range of usage – plus top tips for image composition, converting your colour pics for tonal painting and how to transfer these onto your art surface. Stay tuned.
And so for my top 12 inks of 2024 – a strong range of new and old fountain pen inks with a slight bias towards some fabulous greys with gorgeous chromatic qualities:
Baltic Breeze (Diamine Inkvent 2024)
Marley (Diamine Inkvent 2024)
Atlas Iron Ore (Ferris Wheel Press Exclusive for Atlas Stationers)
Graphite (Robert Oster)
Knitted Nettle (Ferris Wheel Press)
Good Tidings (Diamine Inkvent 2024)
Grotto (Diamine Inkvent 2024)
Call of the Cthulhu (Wearingeul Exclusive for Goldspot Pens)
Curious Woods (Ferris Wheel Press)
Aurorealis (Ferris Wheel Press)
Greenwich 1675 (Vinta Ink Exclusive for Cult Pens)
Lime Regis Grey (Robert Oster Exclusive for Cult Pens)
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. Here’s to 2025.
Eilean Donan Castle – created with Robert Oster Graphite
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 