INK MASHUP SPRING EDITION 2015

This post will act as some sort of pilot episode for a new format I'd like to introduce to the Pencilcase Blog. As the title suggests, Ink Mashup will feature a collection of a few inks that go together nicely (in this case, I grabbed a few that I thought would be a nice pick for this Spring season). I'll do a quick overview of the different inks, and let the pictures speak mostly for themselves!

In this Mashup, I chose four bright colors that will make for a great addition to a warm, sunny spring day. (luckily those days are finally coming over here!)

As you can see, there are two really bright inks that stand out. Coincidentally these are the two inks from J. Herbin (Vert Pré and Diabolo Menthe). They might not be the best EDC choices, but they are great fun for doodling or perhaps even artsy stuff!

Especially Diabolo Menthe is a pretty tricky ink. It's not always as legible in dryer nibs, and even in more appropriate pens, it remains rather light. I guess you could even use this as a highlighter ink if you want to, but I haven't tried that yet!

Vert Pré is slightly more usable, in a way that it's actually legible under most circumstances. I wouldn't use it to fill in important documents, but for a quick note or doodle, you should be fine. Both J.Herbin inks behave well (I only know of one J.Herbin ink in my collection that doesn't always behave as I want it to, which is Bleu Nuit), but they have little to no shading (vert pré still has some, Diabolo menthe not at all). I must admit that I put these inks in this mashup just because I think the color is perfect for Spring, not because they are versatile in use. You might have some trouble finding a proper use for them, but that shouldn't hold you back to get a bottle of both. After all, J.Herbin inks have the benefit of being available in small bottles (30 or even 10ml) for a small price!

The other two inks, Pelikan Edelstein Topaz and De Atramentis Rote Rosen, are slightly darker, and especially the Edelstein ink should be a pretty valid choice for in your daily rotation. Rote Rosen, from De Atramentis, is a vivid but slightly darker red, slightly pink-ish color that's totally ready for Spring. It's a very well-behaved and well-lubricated ink, and it smells like roses (only until it has dried though!).

Out of all four, my favourite is definitely the Pelikan Edelstein Topaz ink. It's very similar to Iroshizuku Kon-peki from Pilot, which is one of the most well-known inks around, but Pelikan's offering only costs half as much. The color leans more towards turquoise where Kon-peki is slightly more blue, and it might have a bit less pronounced shading and sheen. But if you ask me, the difference in price easily outweighs the difference in quality!

So that's it for this Ink Mashup! I hope you like this new format, feel free to comment on what you like or don't like about it. Also, if you want to see a specific 'theme' for future Mashup posts, let me know, and I'll see what I can come up with!