Search the Community

By employing water based techniques, one can achieve a convincing watercolour style painting by simply letting the inks do what they do. The demonstration below, has been created using one ink, Diamine Earl Grey. At first glance, one might assume that 3 or 4 colours have been employed. The wonderful thing is that this simple wet in wet technique is actually easier and quicker than watercolour painting! Without even touching upon the word ‘serendipity’ I think this may appeal to all amateur artists for this one reason alone. The sky and foregrounds have created themselves! What is also of interest is that all ink ranges are made differently. Each ink maker has their own recipes and processes. So, one range of inks may suit a particular subject matter better than another. Robert Oster Signature inks are ideal for bright conditions. KWZ inks are more suited to soft focus. Diamine are great for more graphic use. Noodler’s are more experimental and abstract but also check out: Vinta Inks, Troublemaker Inks and Sailor Ink Studio for more intense chromatic behaviours. For enthusiasts of art journaling, diary keeping and sketching, this simple and natural process enables a simple and seamless visual continuity and a medium continuity between image and the written word. Why not give it a go? Paper: Bockingford Watercolour Paper 200lb Rough Equipment: 2 x jars of water, Bottle of Diamine Earl Grey, Watercolour brush size 24, Watercolour brush size 5, Noodlers Nib Creeper pen. Instructions: Take swatch card measuring 70mm x 95mm and place in landscape position and wet 3/5 of surface with large brush With small brush add Diamine Earl Grey Turn card upside down and wet surface 2-3mm below the wetted area above Dip pen into ink and draw a line through the newly wetted area Dip pen into ink and repeat With the pen, add a couple of ink marks to the top area as this is now semi-wet, the spread will be less and the ink more intense Allow the chromatography to happen and enjoy watching the greys, purples, reds and turquoises slowly come out of the ink The finished, and dry, landscape created with serendipity. Totally non contrived and utterly beautiful. Works with most inks that display chromatic behaviours.

After two and half years involved with this project, the results are now starting to bear fruit. Krishna Inks very kindly sent me their 'monster sheen' inks to test and I'll post the full test swatches in my next post. But before that I just wanted to show what happened when I tested Cinnamon... Just look at those colours leaching out: pinks, blues, greens, yellows, browns... AND, as a reminder - what happened with the Diamine Earl Grey tests... So what do you think might happen if we took both colours into one test? YES! A full colour water colour painting! Exciting times ahead. If you like what I’m up to, you can also follow me on social media: Instagram: @quinkandbleach Twitter: @nickistew Facebook: Fountain Pen Inks & Bleach I also have a portfolio of test art pieces at: www.behance.net/Nick_Stewart

I can't believe that we're already cracking through the month of May. And that was beginning to concern me as I haven't unearthed anything truly remarkable for a while. That is until now... Diamine Earl Grey! I don't know why, but I had been saving this and tested it only yesterday. The initial swatch test on Bockingford is lovely, with subtle chromatography of purple greys and a brilliant cyan leaching out of a deep purple grey with a sheen. And please note that gorgeous gold reaction with bleach! Now, that would be enough you'd think? But no. It was the landscape tests that completely blew me away. After the first test, I thought I may have some contamination in my brush, but the second test proves that Diamine Earl Grey is genuinely something of pure magic! I didn't think for one moment I'd get that red. So much from so little! As an art journalling ink this could be extremely exciting. When tested as a writing ink on Rhodia the colour is somewhat darker, obviously, and turns white gold and turquoise when I spattered bleach. As a pure handwriting fluid, the colour is a purple grey as are the tea leaves that share its' name. And the verdict? Fabulous! If you like what I’m up to, you can also follow me on social media: Instagram: @quinkandbleach Twitter: @nickistew Facebook: Fountain Pen Inks & Bleach I also have a portfolio of test art pieces at: www.behance.net/Nick_Stewart