Callifolio Blues - Turquoise To Blurple

[DrDebG]

I love blues – from lovely turquoise to deep blurples.

 

Last year, I ran across L’Artisan Pastellier Callifolio inks. L’Artisan Pastellier is a “boutique” brand that specially formulate fountain pen inks under the Callifolio name. They are made in France and are not widely distributed. L’Artisan Pastellier are better known for their dyes made for art products.

 

I was able to obtain some samples of a few of their inks and liked them. I ordered a few more and like them as well. I picked up a few of their foil bottles at a pen show, then late last year, I ordered a dozen more foil bottles of mostly blues. Callifolio inks are known for their wonderful blue shades and offer a wide variety from the softer Bleu Azur to the enigmatic Baikal with its strong purply grey overtones. Callifolio inks are very well behaved, and shade and sheen very nicely, especially on Tomoe River paper or the Tomoe River-like Midori 013 refill paper. Almost all of the blues that I have tried, as well as the Grenat, Andrinople, Violet, Omi Osun and Olivastre are fairly wet inks. So far, only Aurora seems to be on the dry side. Note, however, that some Callifolio inks are not deeply saturated.

 

Callifolio inks in the foil bottles are reasonably priced. Vanness Pens sells them for $8.00 for 50ml. I decant the foil bottles into small Nalgene bottles which I purchase for about $1.50 per bottle. They also sell the ink in lovely triangular shaped glass bottles which are a few dollars more. Vanness Pens sells both the foil bottle and glass bottle, as well as samples.

 

Just for fun, I compared several of the Callifolio inks with a few other that I have. After preparing a writing sample (on Hammermill copy paper – fairly fountain pen friendly paper), I then put the page in water to test the water resistance. I left the page in the water for 2 minutes then blotted the paper with a paper towel. The paper was well saturated with the water because it fell apart. I was surprised at the water resistence. I expected the images to be completely gone, but they were not. Next time, I will try this for a longer period of time to see if the color washes out more.

 

Overall, I like the properties of Callifolio inks very much.

 

My apologies for the pictures. I used my iPhone and the lighting wasn't the best.

Edited April 17, 2016 by DrPenfection

[Pensei]

I like your drawings, and I like Callifolio inks. So far, Inti and Bonne Esperance are my faves. I like your description of Baikal as enigmatic, so I may try that next.

[darazs]

Nice test. I like these inks, especially Cassis and Aurora.

[jmccarty3]

Several of the darker Callifolio blues appear remarkably similar on the Vanness web site.

[visvamitra]

Nice job.

[DrDebG]

I like your drawings, and I like Callifolio inks. So far, Inti and Bonne Esperance are my faves. I like your description of Baikal as enigmatic, so I may try that next.

 

Thank you for your response. I have tried Inti and like it, but I haven't found many uses for that color. And I love Bonne Esperance particularly in a stub or italic nib.

[DrDebG]

Nice test. I like these inks, especially Cassis and Aurora.

Thank you. I like Cassis as well. It has some nice shading. Aurora is a bit on the dry side, so I use it less.

[DrDebG]

Several of the darker Callifolio blues appear remarkably similar on the Vanness web site.

Thank you for your response. Yes, they are a bit deceiving. They are close in color but each has a little different characteristic. For example, Bleu Pacifique and Bleu Atlantique are very close, but Atlantique is a bit darker and has more of a purple sheen to it, whereas Pacifique is lighter with a definite red sheen. I have also found similar differences between Botany Bay and Byzance - undertone and sheen differences mainly.

 

Check out some of the Callifolio reviews done by FPN members. There are some very good ones out there.

[DrDebG]

Nice job.

Thank you. This was just a little something I thought might be helpful. Certainly nothing like your masterful ink reviews!

[amberleadavis]

THank yoiu!! I love these.

[Pensei]

One more little note. I just got my first bottle of this ink, moving beyond samples. Vintage is correct in the statement that these are nice bottles. Very pretty; probably the nicest bottle I have seen for an ink at that price.

[DrDebG]

One more little note. I just got my first bottle of this ink, moving beyond samples. Vintage is correct in the statement that these are nice bottles. Very pretty; probably the nicest bottle I have seen for an ink at that price.

 

Great! I hope you enjoy it. I love their bottles as well, and it is a great price for what you get.

[Sakura FP Gallery]

L'Artisan Pastellier is located in Albin, France. In the 16e the place was famous for its blue vegetable dye. Its main ingredient was the Isatis Tinctoria. All shades of blue could be obtained from a greyish blue till deep dark blue. Until indigo popped up. L'Artisan Pastellier blue inks are a tribute to an old and lost craft.

[DrDebG]

L'Artisan Pastellier is located in Albin, France. In the 16e the place was famous for its blue vegetable dye. Its main ingredient was the Isatis Tinctoria. All shades of blue could be obtained from a greyish blue till deep dark blue. Until indigo popped up. L'Artisan Pastellier blue inks are a tribute to an old and lost craft.

 

Thank you so much for your great post! I didn't know this. But, to date, L'Artisan Pastelier "blues" are my very favorite - in all ranges of blue. My second favorites would have to be the Sailor "blues", but many aren't obtainable here. Edited May 8, 2016 by DrPenfection