We all have either experienced depression or know someone who is having/had these struggles. We need to do our best to support these individuals, but as lay people we are human and can only do so much. We can however educate ourselves and do our best to make sure our loved ones get the help they need. As a retired healthcare professional I find it so sad that good affordable mental health care is so hard to find. Thank you for speaking out. And thank you for sharing your art. Oh, and I like to see the pencil drawings/your process. Thanks for the ink reviews.
Thank you for your kind comments. I have found that open discussion has helped me, to the point that I’m doing better in my life. I feel obliged to help others have those conversations as much as I can. I also hope that the future will hold less stigma and more structural support for seeking help with mental health issues. I think the new generation (I’m a middle school teacher) has a more open perspective about these things, so I have hope. Be well!
What a wonderful video this is. I do appreciate seeing the full process starting with pencil sketch and creative commentary. Your painting for your friend of the earthworm longing to be a butterfly is so moving. What you had to say about the struggle it symbolizes is important to hear. Re the De Atramentis document inks, I like the Document Brown and use it often for drawing. (Like you, my favorite waterproof black is Platinum Carbon Black. I think it would lift less than the DA Doc Black you tested.) If I want to add watercolor, it stands up to it as you found. I would like to have a waterproof brown ink that is a bit darker, and the DA Document Sepia looks interesting. I’ve put it on my wish list at JetPens along with the Urban Grey. I usually use the very reliable, completely waterproof Noodler’s Lexington Gray, a great and less expensive ink. I am drawn by the warmth of the Urban Gray, which looks like it has a touch of brown. The De Atramentis Document series inks can be safely mixed, so by getting primary colors in yellow, red and blue you can generate a whole range.
Thank you for your kind words. This video was very important to me because of the loss of my friend. I mostly do reviews and things on this channel, but every once in a while I attempt to do something personal. It warms me to hear that it did some good for others.
Lovely drawing as usual. Thanks for sharing the story behind it. I enjoyed seeing the pencil sketch, especially when you kept trying out different sizes for the butterflies.
Thanks for letting me know! I really struggled with figuring those out. I’m still not happy with them, to be honest. I eventually just let them be what they were so I could focus on the true focal point of the piece.
I have settled on the deatramentis black , and several other of there coolers , as for me I have little to no problem with the pen clogging or drying up as I do with carbon black . I am just rewatching this video , thank you for your time and effort. . Videos are entertaining and helpful,
I'm just getting into fountain and Dip pens, and the argument FOR dip pens, especially for drawing, is because the exact same reason you use a brush for watercolor. You constantly dip your brush to get the right amount of paint/ink for the section you are working on. You rinse and change colors readily for each section that needs it without having to have 1 brush for every color 'loaded and ready to go' like a marker or fountain pen. Fountain pens are great for those constant colors you Want to have loaded and ready, with a color you know and love. The dip pens give various line thicknesses and abilities to make different strokes, and can easily switch lines colors like the brush. But for your specific style where you are using the black/gray for outlines and washes of watercolor for the rest, yes a dip pen might not fit your style because you have the fountain pen and watercolors you enjoy. Each style, like each person, is different and needs its own tools that fit that style, so any dip pen stuff and inks you don't want, SEND TO ME! :D Fountain and Dip pens are actually what is currently giving my life a lot more meaning, and using dip pens to create various colors of life art is helping me get back into drawing after about 15-20 years of not, simply because of the 'watercolor brush' versatility you enjoy. To each their own, and I enjoyed watching your style flourish!
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Definitely, it’s all about the choices that make you enjoy the process the most. There are definitely deeper places I could go with any art supply, from fountain pens, to dip pens to brushes. If I lived 1,000 years, I might have enough time to learn them all. Sadly, I had to choose. By the way, I sometimes do send out older supplies into the world when I feel like I don’t need them anymore. Stay tuned if you enjoy that sort of thing. Maybe some dip pen things will find their way into a video sometime.
Man, I just discovered your channel, today. I love it. Drawing is also what I use my fountain pens and inks for. Your kind of content is exactly what I love to relax with while i sketch and relax with my art. Cheers to you and thanks for sharing! -Dean
I have just subscribed to your lovely channel. I love drawing with pen ink and watercolour but am still on a learning curve and your channel is so helpful. Also your sense of humour is gorgeous. I will be an avid watcher
I am sorry to hear about your friend. I lost my nephew in 2015 to self-harm. I miss him every day. My life is forever changed. I too battle with mental health - lots of love.
Thanks. Life becomes a collection of sad stories like that. The older I get, the more I see. I refuse to believe it’s for nothing. My pain has helped me be more sympathetic to the pain of others. And maybe others may choose a different path because of someone like me being there to help. I still carry it with me. I have to make it something good.
Glad you enjoyed it! After this review, I wanted a bunch of full bottles from this line (which they have since added new inks). If only I had the shelf space!
I just started watching your videos and I just wanted to say thank you! I really enjoyed the art and the meaning behind you art. I appreciate your honesty and very open approach, please don’t stop creating!
Aww thanks! I’ve had this channel for about a year, and it’s probably the most successful/fulfilling thing I’ve done with my art on all my years on this Earth, so yes, I will continue! Welcome!
Oh my… excited about mixing my own inks… the CYMK inks looks fascinating! I’m painting more in watercolour but I am finding black a bit harsh, so mixing your own waterproof ink appeals!
I still need to film that video, but I need some empty ink vials to hold my creations, so I’m going to have to wait just a little longer until I use up some more samples!
It’s for that same reason that I loved the grey. Black is so basic. That’s are great options out there, and thanks to the waterproof qualities of this document ink, now they are all rest for mixed media painting. Hope you enjoy!
2 years later: I bought some SAMPLES of this ink line. And I'm planning to go all in on it moving forward. I have HAD IT with fading ink. Taking drastic measures to use up current fadey-feathery inks (big ol' pen & brush paintings; too bad they will fade...).
@@stepheninks You know, I haven't kept good track. I did some tests and was shocked by the extensive fading. It seems like pretty much any ink that isn't waterproof also isn't lightfast. I've thrown out my tests, but just started a new one with every ink I own. I'll let you know when the results are in.
@@stepheninks 1. I've also noticed that blue colored pencil fades, way faster than other colors. I have two drawings where you can see the obiously missing blue. 2. Just discovered today DeAtramentis Artist Ink (presumably near or identical to their Document Ink). Only at Vanness.
👍🙏🏻🖌🥁 Thx for your discussion concerning depression. We all go through times of it. I personally lost a lot of loved ones very close together. Even though I feel in my heart that they are with Jesus now, it still leaves us on this earth trying to get by without them. 😢. I fill that hole in my heart with learning about my Lord and Savior through Bible study. ( u-Tube channel and podcast called “ Heart Dive”, verse by verse, chronological order, in one year). Also, Bible recap is shorter…just recapping what you should have already read for each day. Anyway, Also art has played a huge part in my “recovery” as well. My first fountain pen was the first run of the ASVINE 169. I still love that pen! Experimenting with inks now. I think I need a glass dip pen. Any recommendations? Thx for sharing. It means alot! 👍🥁🙏🏻
Thank you for your kind words. I find some comfort in my faith as well. Though I think it also helps me to remember that depression is an example my brain not working like it’s supposed to. I feel like the people that we lose are more victims of that than anything. I’ve never used a glass pen, so I can’t say I recommend anything. I will say that there are some very beautiful handcrafted ones I’ve seen on sites like Etsy. If I ever got bit by the glass dip pen bug, I might look there first.
Thanks for telling me about white ink! I have some black envelopes I'd never be able to use unless I buy some! Regarding the mental illness portion,I too know someone who died from self inflicted wounds; we were friends in high school but I went off to be in the military & he was in the newspaper obituaries the year I came back. I feel your pain, brother. Fortunately, everyone does have a purposeful role to play in God's church , just as 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, "But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be", so may we never feel that we don't have an ultimate purpose in life; we are made to glorify Him uniquely with our gifts! God bless all who read this! (Matthew 5:45)
Word of the wise my friend, I haven’t tested the white ink in a pen yet, but from reviews I found online, it can be a little prone to clogging. I’d put it in a pen that’s easy to clean if you decide to buy a bottle. I may test it in something for a post on my Instagram. Not sure if that would warrant a full video on RUclips, because my ink videos aren’t very popular. Still, I don’t see a lot of information out there about these inks, so I felt like I could do the community a service by making them... I pray we all find our purpose. Sorry to hear about your friend.
@@stepheninks I plan to use it in a dip pen where i can just as easily rinse it out. I have Diamine Registrar's Blue Black, so im used to being careful with certain inks, i thank you for the warning though. Thanks for the prayers, he was such a fun laughable guy when i hung out with him, but of course older, "wiser" me knows now thats the best cover isnt it?
I wouldn’t say it’s always a cover. In the darkest parts of my depression, I was needy, angry, and mean-spirited at times, and cracking jokes, dancing about, showing off, and truly appreciative of my friends at others. Now that I have my depression under control to some degree, I feel I am much more often the jokey, show off who cares for his friends and family than that other guy. Sad fact that I heard from my psychology professor in College: most people, if they can be talked out of suicide in that moment, are able to get help, and may never consider it again. I am paraphrasing that, of course, and would have to look up the particular study if cornered. But it seems right to me, as someone who has been there. It’s a different experience for everyone though.
Thank you for sharing the story. I can definitely resonate with the metaphor, hoping to become something that I will never be. I'm usually grossed out by worms, but earth worm is an exception. They seem very kind and introvert lol! As to the ink, DA inks are so expensive but they look good! If I want colored waterproof inks, I guess I will turn to Noodler's. But I find that cheap carbon ink is all I need after all the inks and ink samples that I've hoarded :p
I do like Noodlers bulletproof black, but it isn’t as reliable for watercolors as paltinum Carbon black or these De Atramentis Document inks. I’ve had my platinum Carbon ink bottle for about 3 years, and I haven’t even used half of it... upfront cost, yes... but in the long run, I feel it’s worth it. It ends up being just about the cost of a pen, so I just have to resist buying a new pen once (and only once) to be able to afford years of waterproof goodness. Don’t know, but for me it’s worth it. Funny you mentioned about other types of worms, because a lot of other works are parasites, while the earthworm is kind of the opposite. Nature’s recyclers. Interesting.
@@stepheninks yes high quality inks are worth the cost in the long run. The only bottle I finished is Sailor Kiwa-guro (but maybe it's evaporation!). Your Platinum Carbon lasts so long!
You can actually mix these inks to get any color you want. Maybe an idea for a new video? Q; Do they run fluently out of the pen for fast strokes? Nice video! Thx.
I was totally thinking about doing that exact thing! And also seeing how other brands play with each other, to see if I recommend mixing and matching. It’ll probably happen someday! I haven’t had any issues with flow consistency with these inks. I do t really draw quickly, but when I use my pens at work for note taking, I usually go pretty fast. I think I like the flow better than Platinum inks actually!
Hi, hope you are still reading your 2year old video comments…. Did you get the chance to work with the white ink a lot more since the video… will you still recommend it as white opaque for highlights? And what nib size should be best fit for it? 🙏 thank you and enjoy the colors.
I do still read my old comments! Unfortunately, I have not given the white ink another chance. Looking at the bottle itself, it just looks like the ink has too much sediment not to clog. That, plus everyone who ever talks about the white ink only ever comments on how quick it dries up their feeds and clogs. I think the white ink is a no-go except for with a dip nib. The other colors I still use often, and have since picked up full bottles of the Urban Grey and Document Brown. Hope that helps!
I always love to see the whole process of painting or drawing. So yes to the pencil sketch. I went from " o, well whats that going to be" to " o, wow". The sketch really came to live through the colouring. Also the story made me tear up as I am in a somewhat emotional state right now. But that's o.k. Better let it out than bottle it up. ✨
Oh, thanks! I’m uploading another video in the next couple of days, and I’m keeping the pencils. I’ll probably keep them from now on. I think it’s always better to be open about what you’re feeling. Don’t know why I ever thought the opposite. Wishing you well!
I think the dip pen made some of the inks look darker than they would be in a fountain pen. The fuchsia to me looks like a clean magenta in real life. Of course, cameras always mess with color, so it will look a little bit different. If you’re looking for shading, I’d say these inks will likely disappoint. They are pretty flat.
@@stepheninks boo :( it sucks how most fountain pen inks are so annoying to use, I love them so much but their smudging and lack of waterproofing makes me wanna switch to an ipad or regular pens
@@ameliabuns4058 I guess shading is something that is a desired quality in an ink for some, but I never really got too excited about it. This ink is waterproof, and does dry quickly, if that is what you’re looking for. Your choice of paper may also be worth shopping around if you are having issues with smudging. As a left-handed person, inks have smudged for me my whole life, the worst offenders being the greasy oil-based inks you would find in a traditional ballpoint pen. I feel that fountain pen inks are an improvement over that. Digital is always an option, but personally, I have found that I am more satisfied working with ink and paper. Individual mileage may vary.
@@stepheninks i just love the feel and colors of inks, digital is a bit bland+boring and my problem is actually smearing the text say 2 months later when i'm reading it back
@@ameliabuns4058 I haven’t experienced smearing with fountain pen ink even after the first 30 seconds tops… I wonder if it has anything to do with the paper you use? I have been through lots of different types of paper on my quest for something manageable. I really like Strathmore 500 series mixed media paper and Canson Pen and Ink papers, as well as Strathmore Bristol/illustration boards. My fountain pen inks don’t smear on any of those, unless I touch them or close my book before they dry. (2 minutes or so is the longest I wait before closing my sketchbook)
We all have either experienced depression or know someone who is having/had these struggles. We need to do our best to support these individuals, but as lay people we are human and can only do so much. We can however educate ourselves and do our best to make sure our loved ones get the help they need. As a retired healthcare professional I find it so sad that good affordable mental health care is so hard to find. Thank you for speaking out. And thank you for sharing your art. Oh, and I like to see the pencil drawings/your process. Thanks for the ink reviews.
Thank you for your kind comments. I have found that open discussion has helped me, to the point that I’m doing better in my life. I feel obliged to help others have those conversations as much as I can. I also hope that the future will hold less stigma and more structural support for seeking help with mental health issues. I think the new generation (I’m a middle school teacher) has a more open perspective about these things, so I have hope. Be well!
What a wonderful video this is. I do appreciate seeing the full process starting with pencil sketch and creative commentary. Your painting for your friend of the earthworm longing to be a butterfly is so moving. What you had to say about the struggle it symbolizes is important to hear.
Re the De Atramentis document inks, I like the Document Brown and use it often for drawing. (Like you, my favorite waterproof black is Platinum Carbon Black. I think it would lift less than the DA Doc Black you tested.) If I want to add watercolor, it stands up to it as you found. I would like to have a waterproof brown ink that is a bit darker, and the DA Document Sepia looks interesting. I’ve put it on my wish list at JetPens along with the Urban Grey. I usually use the very reliable, completely waterproof Noodler’s Lexington Gray, a great and less expensive ink. I am drawn by the warmth of the Urban Gray, which looks like it has a touch of brown. The De Atramentis Document series inks can be safely mixed, so by getting primary colors in yellow, red and blue you can generate a whole range.
Thank you for your kind words. This video was very important to me because of the loss of my friend. I mostly do reviews and things on this channel, but every once in a while I attempt to do something personal. It warms me to hear that it did some good for others.
Lovely drawing as usual. Thanks for sharing the story behind it.
I enjoyed seeing the pencil sketch, especially when you kept trying out different sizes for the butterflies.
Thanks for letting me know! I really struggled with figuring those out. I’m still not happy with them, to be honest. I eventually just let them be what they were so I could focus on the true focal point of the piece.
I have settled on the deatramentis black , and several other of there coolers , as for me I have little to no problem with the pen clogging or drying up as I do with carbon black . I am just rewatching this video , thank you for your time and effort. . Videos are entertaining and helpful,
Glad to be of service! I usually try to make the videos that I can’t find, so it makes me happy that I am meeting people’s needs.
I'm just getting into fountain and Dip pens, and the argument FOR dip pens, especially for drawing, is because the exact same reason you use a brush for watercolor. You constantly dip your brush to get the right amount of paint/ink for the section you are working on. You rinse and change colors readily for each section that needs it without having to have 1 brush for every color 'loaded and ready to go' like a marker or fountain pen.
Fountain pens are great for those constant colors you Want to have loaded and ready, with a color you know and love.
The dip pens give various line thicknesses and abilities to make different strokes, and can easily switch lines colors like the brush.
But for your specific style where you are using the black/gray for outlines and washes of watercolor for the rest, yes a dip pen might not fit your style because you have the fountain pen and watercolors you enjoy.
Each style, like each person, is different and needs its own tools that fit that style, so any dip pen stuff and inks you don't want, SEND TO ME! :D
Fountain and Dip pens are actually what is currently giving my life a lot more meaning, and using dip pens to create various colors of life art is helping me get back into drawing after about 15-20 years of not, simply because of the 'watercolor brush' versatility you enjoy.
To each their own, and I enjoyed watching your style flourish!
Thanks for sharing your perspective. Definitely, it’s all about the choices that make you enjoy the process the most. There are definitely deeper places I could go with any art supply, from fountain pens, to dip pens to brushes. If I lived 1,000 years, I might have enough time to learn them all. Sadly, I had to choose.
By the way, I sometimes do send out older supplies into the world when I feel like I don’t need them anymore. Stay tuned if you enjoy that sort of thing. Maybe some dip pen things will find their way into a video sometime.
Document dark red und fuchsia are surprisingly very beuatiful! Thanks for testing
Thank you!
Man, I just discovered your channel, today. I love it. Drawing is also what I use my fountain pens and inks for. Your kind of content is exactly what I love to relax with while i sketch and relax with my art.
Cheers to you and thanks for sharing!
-Dean
Well thank you! Glad you enjoy. It’s comments like this that make me want to keep on creating!
I have just subscribed to your lovely channel. I love drawing with pen ink and watercolour but am still on a learning curve and your channel is so helpful. Also your sense of humour is gorgeous. I will be an avid watcher
Welcome to my channel! Glad to be of help on your journey.
Thank you. You have helped me a lot today. Your words opened me up to who I am.
Comments like this make it worth it to put myself out there. Thank you!
I am sorry to hear about your friend. I lost my nephew in 2015 to self-harm. I miss him every day. My life is forever changed. I too battle with mental health - lots of love.
Thanks. Life becomes a collection of sad stories like that. The older I get, the more I see. I refuse to believe it’s for nothing. My pain has helped me be more sympathetic to the pain of others. And maybe others may choose a different path because of someone like me being there to help. I still carry it with me. I have to make it something good.
I am looking into this line of ink for a writing project I want to start in the new year, thank you for this overview
Glad you enjoyed it! After this review, I wanted a bunch of full bottles from this line (which they have since added new inks). If only I had the shelf space!
I just started watching your videos and I just wanted to say thank you! I really enjoyed the art and the meaning behind you art. I appreciate your honesty and very open approach, please don’t stop creating!
Aww thanks! I’ve had this channel for about a year, and it’s probably the most successful/fulfilling thing I’ve done with my art on all my years on this Earth, so yes, I will continue! Welcome!
Oh my… excited about mixing my own inks… the CYMK inks looks fascinating! I’m painting more in watercolour but I am finding black a bit harsh, so mixing your own waterproof ink appeals!
I still need to film that video, but I need some empty ink vials to hold my creations, so I’m going to have to wait just a little longer until I use up some more samples!
This is very very helpful! Thank you, Stephen!
Glad to help!
Super cool review, and honest, as usual ;)
I will go with the brown, I like it over the black for my illustrations.
It’s for that same reason that I loved the grey. Black is so basic. That’s are great options out there, and thanks to the waterproof qualities of this document ink, now they are all rest for mixed media painting. Hope you enjoy!
I ordered the random sample vials bag. Goulet sent me a lot of De Altramentis ones. Thanks for swabbing them hence I don’t have to.
Glad to be of service :) some of these inks surprised me by looking nicer on paper than in the bottle.
2 years later: I bought some SAMPLES of this ink line. And I'm planning to go all in on it moving forward. I have HAD IT with fading ink. Taking drastic measures to use up current fadey-feathery inks (big ol' pen & brush paintings; too bad they will fade...).
I’m curious: which inks are fading on you? I’d love to know which brands/series to avoid.
@@stepheninks You know, I haven't kept good track. I did some tests and was shocked by the extensive fading. It seems like pretty much any ink that isn't waterproof also isn't lightfast. I've thrown out my tests, but just started a new one with every ink I own. I'll let you know when the results are in.
@@stepheninks
1. I've also noticed that blue colored pencil fades, way faster than other colors. I have two drawings where you can see the obiously missing blue.
2. Just discovered today DeAtramentis Artist Ink (presumably near or identical to their Document Ink). Only at Vanness.
@@ichirofakename interesting. Yeah I would love to know more. Might be something I’d like to explore with my own collection for a future video.
👍🙏🏻🖌🥁 Thx for your discussion concerning depression. We all go through times of it. I personally lost a lot of loved ones very close together. Even though I feel in my heart that they are with Jesus now, it still leaves us on this earth trying to get by without them. 😢. I fill that hole in my heart with learning about my Lord and Savior through Bible study. ( u-Tube channel and podcast called “ Heart Dive”, verse by verse, chronological order, in one year). Also, Bible recap is shorter…just recapping what you should have already read for each day. Anyway, Also art has played a huge part in my “recovery” as well. My first fountain pen was the first run of the ASVINE 169. I still love that pen! Experimenting with inks now. I think I need a glass dip pen. Any recommendations? Thx for sharing. It means alot! 👍🥁🙏🏻
Thank you for your kind words. I find some comfort in my faith as well. Though I think it also helps me to remember that depression is an example my brain not working like it’s supposed to. I feel like the people that we lose are more victims of that than anything.
I’ve never used a glass pen, so I can’t say I recommend anything. I will say that there are some very beautiful handcrafted ones I’ve seen on sites like Etsy. If I ever got bit by the glass dip pen bug, I might look there first.
Thanks for telling me about white ink! I have some black envelopes I'd never be able to use unless I buy some!
Regarding the mental illness portion,I too know someone who died from self inflicted wounds; we were friends in high school but I went off to be in the military & he was in the newspaper obituaries the year I came back. I feel your pain, brother.
Fortunately, everyone does have a purposeful role to play in God's church , just as 1 Corinthians 12:18 says, "But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be", so may we never feel that we don't have an ultimate purpose in life; we are made to glorify Him uniquely with our gifts! God bless all who read this! (Matthew 5:45)
Word of the wise my friend, I haven’t tested the white ink in a pen yet, but from reviews I found online, it can be a little prone to clogging. I’d put it in a pen that’s easy to clean if you decide to buy a bottle.
I may test it in something for a post on my Instagram. Not sure if that would warrant a full video on RUclips, because my ink videos aren’t very popular. Still, I don’t see a lot of information out there about these inks, so I felt like I could do the community a service by making them...
I pray we all find our purpose. Sorry to hear about your friend.
@@stepheninks I plan to use it in a dip pen where i can just as easily rinse it out. I have Diamine Registrar's Blue Black, so im used to being careful with certain inks, i thank you for the warning though.
Thanks for the prayers, he was such a fun laughable guy when i hung out with him, but of course older, "wiser" me knows now thats the best cover isnt it?
I wouldn’t say it’s always a cover. In the darkest parts of my depression, I was needy, angry, and mean-spirited at times, and cracking jokes, dancing about, showing off, and truly appreciative of my friends at others. Now that I have my depression under control to some degree, I feel I am much more often the jokey, show off who cares for his friends and family than that other guy.
Sad fact that I heard from my psychology professor in College: most people, if they can be talked out of suicide in that moment, are able to get help, and may never consider it again. I am paraphrasing that, of course, and would have to look up the particular study if cornered. But it seems right to me, as someone who has been there. It’s a different experience for everyone though.
I always purchase a bottle because I know about myself that my tastes change frequently. If I don’t like it now, it won’t be long
I like everything. It’s just my wallet that holds me back.
I would like to see more of your pencil work.
Thanks for the feedback!
Thank you for sharing the story. I can definitely resonate with the metaphor, hoping to become something that I will never be. I'm usually grossed out by worms, but earth worm is an exception. They seem very kind and introvert lol!
As to the ink, DA inks are so expensive but they look good! If I want colored waterproof inks, I guess I will turn to Noodler's. But I find that cheap carbon ink is all I need after all the inks and ink samples that I've hoarded :p
I do like Noodlers bulletproof black, but it isn’t as reliable for watercolors as paltinum Carbon black or these De Atramentis Document inks. I’ve had my platinum Carbon ink bottle for about 3 years, and I haven’t even used half of it... upfront cost, yes... but in the long run, I feel it’s worth it. It ends up being just about the cost of a pen, so I just have to resist buying a new pen once (and only once) to be able to afford years of waterproof goodness. Don’t know, but for me it’s worth it.
Funny you mentioned about other types of worms, because a lot of other works are parasites, while the earthworm is kind of the opposite. Nature’s recyclers. Interesting.
@@stepheninks yes high quality inks are worth the cost in the long run. The only bottle I finished is Sailor Kiwa-guro (but maybe it's evaporation!). Your Platinum Carbon lasts so long!
Maybe I don’t actually draw as often as I think I do? Haha.
You can actually mix these inks to get any color you want. Maybe an idea for a new video? Q; Do they run fluently out of the pen for fast strokes? Nice video! Thx.
I was totally thinking about doing that exact thing! And also seeing how other brands play with each other, to see if I recommend mixing and matching. It’ll probably happen someday!
I haven’t had any issues with flow consistency with these inks. I do t really draw quickly, but when I use my pens at work for note taking, I usually go pretty fast. I think I like the flow better than Platinum inks actually!
Hi, hope you are still reading your 2year old video comments…. Did you get the chance to work with the white ink a lot more since the video… will you still recommend it as white opaque for highlights? And what nib size should be best fit for it? 🙏 thank you and enjoy the colors.
I do still read my old comments! Unfortunately, I have not given the white ink another chance. Looking at the bottle itself, it just looks like the ink has too much sediment not to clog. That, plus everyone who ever talks about the white ink only ever comments on how quick it dries up their feeds and clogs. I think the white ink is a no-go except for with a dip nib. The other colors I still use often, and have since picked up full bottles of the Urban Grey and Document Brown. Hope that helps!
Some nice ink. But I CANNOT buy any more ink until I use up a bottle!
I feel the same.
I always love to see the whole process of painting or drawing. So yes to the pencil sketch. I went from " o, well whats that going to be" to " o, wow". The sketch really came to live through the colouring. Also the story made me tear up as I am in a somewhat emotional state right now. But that's o.k. Better let it out than bottle it up. ✨
Oh, thanks! I’m uploading another video in the next couple of days, and I’m keeping the pencils. I’ll probably keep them from now on.
I think it’s always better to be open about what you’re feeling. Don’t know why I ever thought the opposite. Wishing you well!
Hmm the fuchsia looks so red here, I wonder if it's just your camera, also does it have shading?
I think the dip pen made some of the inks look darker than they would be in a fountain pen. The fuchsia to me looks like a clean magenta in real life. Of course, cameras always mess with color, so it will look a little bit different.
If you’re looking for shading, I’d say these inks will likely disappoint. They are pretty flat.
@@stepheninks boo :( it sucks how most fountain pen inks are so annoying to use, I love them so much but their smudging and lack of waterproofing makes me wanna switch to an ipad or regular pens
@@ameliabuns4058 I guess shading is something that is a desired quality in an ink for some, but I never really got too excited about it.
This ink is waterproof, and does dry quickly, if that is what you’re looking for. Your choice of paper may also be worth shopping around if you are having issues with smudging. As a left-handed person, inks have smudged for me my whole life, the worst offenders being the greasy oil-based inks you would find in a traditional ballpoint pen. I feel that fountain pen inks are an improvement over that.
Digital is always an option, but personally, I have found that I am more satisfied working with ink and paper. Individual mileage may vary.
@@stepheninks i just love the feel and colors of inks, digital is a bit bland+boring
and my problem is actually smearing the text say 2 months later when i'm reading it back
@@ameliabuns4058 I haven’t experienced smearing with fountain pen ink even after the first 30 seconds tops… I wonder if it has anything to do with the paper you use? I have been through lots of different types of paper on my quest for something manageable. I really like Strathmore 500 series mixed media paper and Canson Pen and Ink papers, as well as Strathmore Bristol/illustration boards. My fountain pen inks don’t smear on any of those, unless I touch them or close my book before they dry. (2 minutes or so is the longest I wait before closing my sketchbook)
Keep the pencil sketching in!
Thank for your input! I guess most people enjoyed it.