Thanks for the "dark brown" ink exploration! I'd like to add 3 inks that I really enjoy: KWZ Ink - Cappuccino, Diamine - Espresso and Robert Oster - Caffe Crema.
I love your choices!! I have not tried the Diamine Espresso, but I put the KWZ Cappuccino and Robert Oster Cafe Crema in a different category coming up soon ;)
I love Beaver Dam Brown! The purplish shade is my favourite! Recently I've been using Diamine Chocolate Brown and it's also great. Highly recommend. I need to try Monteverde Brown Sugar. I lover red browns something like Diamine Macassar or Bach. Also recommend them.
Very nice brown inks. The contrast between the left and right side is interesting. Personally, I would classify Robert Oster's Melon Tea as a dark Olive Green. TFS!
I love your ink swatch videos so much that I've now subscribed and am binge watching! 🙂 I really enjoy your succinct, to the point style - great job! Also, as soon as I finish lunch, I'm going to shoot you an email regarding the Monteverde Brown Sugar.
I just abstractly thought pick me up was going to smell like coffee, but mine is clearly a sweet tea, possibly with matcha or something, my pick me up sheens green heavily, to the point on good paper through a fine tip you'd just take it for shiny green.
I too really like two of these inks, Monteverde Brown Sugar and Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Guri. (BTW, “Yama” means mountain, so the name translates as “mountain chestnut;” the information from Pilot translates it as “wild chestnut.” Maybe the wild chestnuts grow in the mountains.) I haven’t tried the others you tested. I would add another of my favorite dark browns, Diamine Macassar. In tests with prolonged exposure to sunlight, all these inks will eventually fade, but I found that Macassar held out longer than most dye-based inks. I use all three of these dark browns and enjoy them. They are well-behaved inks. When I need a waterproof brown, I use De Atramentis Document Brown. (Not the sepia.) It’s a satisfying fairly dark and lively brown for drawing and writing. Sometimes it generates some sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I don’t shake it up. Thank for making this video.
@@mydandeliondiaries : I’m glad you found it helpful. For the UV tests, I just put different dilutions of the ink on two duplicate pieces of paper, often watercolor paper, with date and other information in pencil. (Pale dilutions will be affected before darker ones.) One piece with the ink samples (I usually do multiple samples per sheet) was taped to a sunny window (ink side facing the sunlight), while the duplicate ink sample sheet was wrapped in foil and stored. If you do multiple inks, you’ll see how some begin fading or changing color almost immediately- a week or less - during exposure while others change more slowly, over weeks. All the dye-based inks will degrade eventually, while the archival pigmented inks should not. The dye-based inks that are stored away from light should not degrade; if they do, you could have a problem with your paper. Your lovely compositions on good paper in a closed folder or journal should be fine even with delicate dye-based inks. People who take this seriously include a true control, traditionally a thread or cloth sample with a particular standard blue dye as used in industrial UV testing. I didn’t go that far down the rabbit hole. You might want to include one dye ink in each round of tests as a less stringent control to give you an idea of how the test is progressing. After all, the amount of UV will vary with the season etc. I did these UV tests because I wanted to use inks for art that might hang on the wall exposed to normal light. I decided none of the dye-based inks were good long term, though some like Diamine Macassar held out longer than others. The problem should be helped by using protective framing with UV-blocking glass, but unfortunately I didn’t test that. I think you would enjoy testing your favorite inks this way. It’s easy and the results are dramatic. Should be cautionary for ink artists not using UV-blocking framing materials. I would really like to know how protective these are for unstable pigments. I am a watercolorist and my interest in UV-resistant pigments began there. I use only stable pigments, of which there are many more than there used to be, really all you need. There’s no excuse for an artist to use known fugitive pigments like alizarin crimson or gamboge if they plan to sell a painting. There are great stable substitutes.
i love Writing Desk. That Beaver Dam is so interesting. I am very curious about the Sheen. I am so interested in RO Melon Tea. Hoping I could find a sample of it.
Beaver Dam Brown is a bizzare pen ink name but the colours is gorgeous 😍 I always thought Land of Shangri La was on a brown side, but it looks similar to Melon Tea.. I see Melon Tea as Dark Olive Green tho 🫒
This is a hard question to answer 😅 I started with a Pilot Metropolitan with a medium Nib and a pilot black ink cartridge. If you like bolder writing (0.5 or 0.7) I would recommend a fine or medium Nib size. For cartridge inks I love the Pilot pens because they have a ton of options in colors but if you want to use a pen with bottled ink I highly recommend the TWISBI Eco. In short for pens I would choose between a Pilot Metropolitan, Pilot kakuno, or TWISBI ECO. Or if you want a super cheap option the Platinum Preppy is really nice too. For ink, any of the Pilot ink cartridges are great but they are for Pilot pens. If you want to try bottled ink I've never had a bad experience with Robert Oster inks and or even Monteverde as they are very inexpensive. I hope this helps!
Thanks for the "dark brown" ink exploration! I'd like to add 3 inks that I really enjoy: KWZ Ink - Cappuccino, Diamine - Espresso and Robert Oster - Caffe Crema.
I love your choices!! I have not tried the Diamine Espresso, but I put the KWZ Cappuccino and Robert Oster Cafe Crema in a different category coming up soon ;)
I looove your ink explorations! It is so fun to see variations in a color family and educational at the same time. Thank you for sharing❤
Thank you so much!! They are very fun for me to make and I am happy I can share :)
I love Beaver Dam Brown! The purplish shade is my favourite! Recently I've been using Diamine Chocolate Brown and it's also great. Highly recommend. I need to try Monteverde Brown Sugar. I lover red browns something like Diamine Macassar or Bach. Also recommend them.
Ooo thanks for the recommendations! I will keep my eye out for them :)
Thank you for the samples for us to decide what I like.
You are so welcome!
the first ink reminds me of Herbin Cacao du Bresil. nice browns.
Oooo I have not tried that one! I'll have to pick up a sample 😊 thank you for watching!
Very nice brown inks. The contrast between the left and right side is interesting. Personally, I would classify Robert Oster's Melon Tea as a dark Olive Green. TFS!
Thank you! It is such a unique ink! I think dark olive green may be a better choice too now that it is next to all the others haha
Your ink explorations are so inspiring. Thank you four swachiting! 😊
"Thank you for swatching" I LOVE THAT! Hahah thank YOU for watching :)
Loving your ink exploration series! TY!! 😊
Thank you for watching!! They are very fun to make :)
I am becoming more and more intrigued by De Atramentis document ink.
They have SO many colors. I know their black is super popular, but the other colors they have are worth trying if you like document inks!
this was such a lovely video! i love brown inks and i’m excited to see you continue this series of ink explorations! 😊💛
Thank you!! They are very fun to make 😄
Thank you! Looking to find some dark brown inks and this helps. I like the Monteverde Brown Sugar.
Glad it was helpful! The brown sugar is so rich and beautiful. Plus it's a GREAT price!
I love your ink swatch videos so much that I've now subscribed and am binge watching! 🙂 I really enjoy your succinct, to the point style - great job!
Also, as soon as I finish lunch, I'm going to shoot you an email regarding the Monteverde Brown Sugar.
Thank you so much!! I got your email and will be sending one back shortly! :)
I just abstractly thought pick me up was going to smell like coffee, but mine is clearly a sweet tea, possibly with matcha or something, my pick me up sheens green heavily, to the point on good paper through a fine tip you'd just take it for shiny green.
Thank you for sharing! It is a gorgeous ink :)
I too really like two of these inks, Monteverde Brown Sugar and Pilot Iroshizuku Yama-Guri. (BTW, “Yama” means mountain, so the name translates as “mountain chestnut;” the information from Pilot translates it as “wild chestnut.” Maybe the wild chestnuts grow in the mountains.) I haven’t tried the others you tested.
I would add another of my favorite dark browns, Diamine Macassar. In tests with prolonged exposure to sunlight, all these inks will eventually fade, but I found that Macassar held out longer than most dye-based inks. I use all three of these dark browns and enjoy them. They are well-behaved inks.
When I need a waterproof brown, I use De Atramentis Document Brown. (Not the sepia.) It’s a satisfying fairly dark and lively brown for drawing and writing. Sometimes it generates some sediment at the bottom of the bottle. I don’t shake it up.
Thank for making this video.
Thank you so much for sharing!! I think it is so interesting about how you tested them with sunlight. Great information!
@@mydandeliondiaries : I’m glad you found it helpful. For the UV tests, I just put different dilutions of the ink on two duplicate pieces of paper, often watercolor paper, with date and other information in pencil. (Pale dilutions will be affected before darker ones.) One piece with the ink samples (I usually do multiple samples per sheet) was taped to a sunny window (ink side facing the sunlight), while the duplicate ink sample sheet was wrapped in foil and stored. If you do multiple inks, you’ll see how some begin fading or changing color almost immediately- a week or less - during exposure while others change more slowly, over weeks. All the dye-based inks will degrade eventually, while the archival pigmented inks should not. The dye-based inks that are stored away from light should not degrade; if they do, you could have a problem with your paper. Your lovely compositions on good paper in a closed folder or journal should be fine even with delicate dye-based inks.
People who take this seriously include a true control, traditionally a thread or cloth sample with a particular standard blue dye as used in industrial UV testing. I didn’t go that far down the rabbit hole. You might want to include one dye ink in each round of tests as a less stringent control to give you an idea of how the test is progressing. After all, the amount of UV will vary with the season etc.
I did these UV tests because I wanted to use inks for art that might hang on the wall exposed to normal light. I decided none of the dye-based inks were good long term, though some like Diamine Macassar held out longer than others. The problem should be helped by using protective framing with UV-blocking glass, but unfortunately I didn’t test that.
I think you would enjoy testing your favorite inks this way. It’s easy and the results are dramatic. Should be cautionary for ink artists not using UV-blocking framing materials. I would really like to know how protective these are for unstable pigments.
I am a watercolorist and my interest in UV-resistant pigments began there. I use only stable pigments, of which there are many more than there used to be, really all you need. There’s no excuse for an artist to use known fugitive pigments like alizarin crimson or gamboge if they plan to sell a painting. There are great stable substitutes.
Love me some melon tea. I def want to try Yama Guri after watching this exploration. Have you tried Motor Oil?
I have not tried motor oil, but it is on my wishlist!
i love Writing Desk. That Beaver Dam is so interesting. I am very curious about the Sheen. I am so interested in RO Melon Tea. Hoping I could find a sample of it.
I got my sample from Vanness! I believe they still have it in stock 🙂
Beaver Dam Brown is a bizzare pen ink name but the colours is gorgeous 😍
I always thought Land of Shangri La was on a brown side, but it looks similar to Melon Tea..
I see Melon Tea as Dark Olive Green tho 🫒
This is why I love swatches all together haha. You can visually see similarities and differences! I agree that Beaver Dam Brown is a weird name haha
I would say the Melon Tea is more olive than brown (until you swatch it with the greens and it looks brown) 😂 its stunning either way
It's just one of those inks 😂 thank you for watching!
If I want to start using a fountain pen which would you recommend and what ink?
This is a hard question to answer 😅
I started with a Pilot Metropolitan with a medium Nib and a pilot black ink cartridge.
If you like bolder writing (0.5 or 0.7) I would recommend a fine or medium Nib size. For cartridge inks I love the Pilot pens because they have a ton of options in colors but if you want to use a pen with bottled ink I highly recommend the TWISBI Eco.
In short for pens I would choose between a Pilot Metropolitan, Pilot kakuno, or TWISBI ECO. Or if you want a super cheap option the Platinum Preppy is really nice too.
For ink, any of the Pilot ink cartridges are great but they are for Pilot pens. If you want to try bottled ink I've never had a bad experience with Robert Oster inks and or even Monteverde as they are very inexpensive. I hope this helps!
😇🩵🙏🙌