Enjoying Montblanc Pens — Broad, Oblique, Extra Fine, Le & Bespoke 2019

[Tom Kellie]

[Tom Kellie]

~ In a thread in the Pelikan Forum I was asked whether I preferred Pelikan or Montblanc, and why.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

After Buying Several Inks in Eslite Stationery, Shenzhen

[dascott]

 

After Buying Several Inks in Eslite Stationery, Shenzhen

 

Bliss, you're going to need a bigger bag :-)

[dennis_f]

 

~ In a thread in the Pelikan Forum I was asked whether I preferred Pelikan or Montblanc, and why.

Tom K.

 

 

I'm glad to hear I'm in such good company with regards to my inability to choose one brand over another... It is so difficult sometimes, just on a daily basis, to grab the right pen(s) as I head out the door.

 

D.

 

ps: lovely ink comparison photos by the way, TomK. I've been following all of your posts lately with a great deal of excitement over the colours and quailities of the inks you've been posting. Not too mention all of the lovely nibs. And the photos from stores and boutiques... and your cherished puppy! There's always so much to look forward to when you post.

[Tom Kellie]

~ The above is a reply to a query in another FPN Forum about how a certain effect is made.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

 

I'm glad to hear I'm in such good company with regards to my inability to choose one brand over another... It is so difficult sometimes, just on a daily basis, to grab the right pen(s) as I head out the door.

 

D.

 

ps: lovely ink comparison photos by the way, TomK. I've been following all of your posts lately with a great deal of excitement over the colours and quailities of the inks you've been posting. Not too mention all of the lovely nibs. And the photos from stores and boutiques... and your cherished puppy! There's always so much to look forward to when you post.

 

 

~ dennis_f:

 

You've made my week by such a generous post.

Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.

Yubi is honored by your interest.

Just for you, he posed for a portrait.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Inky Pekingese

[Tom Kellie]

Chinese Ink Rubbing or “中国水墨拓片”

“Magnolias” Charcoal Pencil Sketch by Henri Matisse

*************************************

~ My aesthetic perspectives have been primarily influenced by three artists:

• Henri Matisse

• Paul Klee

• Frans Hals

All of them were colorists in their approach to image making. That's affected my thinking about watercolors, pastels, oils and inks.

Each of them also incorporated a substantial amount of decorative detail in their work, with Matisse having a lifelong affinity for the decorative arts.

Matisse used charcoal pencils for sketching, as well as pens & ink. He occasionally combined them with watercolors.

Working for several decades in East Asia, the raw, textured grace of ink rubbings, or “中国水墨拓片”, has influenced me.

Ancient engraved images, including carved written characters, are covered with paper which is then rubbed to create a faithful copy.

The combination of Chinese ink rubbings and Matisse's frequent use of charcoal pencils with fountain pens has resulted in my own approach.

The fountain pens on my writing desk are more frequently used for sketching than for handwriting.

I've particularly appreciated the superlative ink reviews from namrehsnoom due to their implicit sensitivity to inks as possible sketching or drawing materials.

After enjoying the masterfully comprehensive ink reviews from namrehsnoom, Lgsoltek, 5Cavaliers, Chrissy, and visvamitra I'd be hesitant to ever post any review of the inks on my writing desk.

Instead, I focus on showing images of inks in use, in cursive writing, printing, and mini-sketches for decorative purposes.

Using nibs ranging from EEFs, EFs and my beloved OFs to such broader nibs as BBs, OBBs, a BBB, OBBBs, and a BBBB, it's possible to show inks used in different contexts.

My career, field ecology, required regular photography of field observation sites. The cameras and lenses which served so well are now adapted to photographing fountain pens and handwriting samples.

As Frans Hals showed, there are many aspects to black or to white. Seeing how more experienced FPN members use color in their sketching and writing is an ongoing inspiration.

Tom K.

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by Tom Kellie

[dennis_f]

 

 

~ dennis_f:

 

You've made my week by such a generous post.

Thank you so much for your encouraging comments.

Yubi is honored by your interest.

Just for you, he posed for a portrait.

Tom K.

 

 

Thank you Tom! As always, Yubi looks so darn cute!

D

[Tom Kellie]

“Autumn Season New Merchandise — 149”

[NeverTapOut]

Tom,

Thank you so very much for sharing your different inks and nibs. Your writing samples help me determine if it is something that would fit in my "toolbox". in one your pictures you mentioned you used a Pilot FP. Which Pilot model did you use?

Respectfully,

David

[empliau]

Thank you for the Yubi photo. He is so soulful! I do love Pekes.

[Tom Kellie]

Tom,

Thank you so very much for sharing your different inks and nibs. Your writing samples help me determine if it is something that would fit in my "toolbox". in one your pictures you mentioned you used a Pilot FP. Which Pilot model did you use?

 

Pilot Metropolitan Retro Pop 88G Green Marble F Nib

Pilot F Nib

[zaddick]

Steel 139 nib in OB width on a Conid pen...

 

[Tom Kellie]

Steel 139 nib in OB width on a Conid pen...

 

~ zaddick:

 

How confused others might be if you replied to the question: “What is it?”,

“It's a steel.”

Thank you for posting such a vivid image.

Such an OB is impressive!

Tom K.

[DrDebG]

 

After Buying Several Inks in Eslite Stationery, Shenzhen

 

 

 

Hello, Tom! It is so nice to see you in person! Also, thank you for telling us about your stationery store in Shenzhen. I will pass it along to my daughter. Who knows, you likely have already run into her.

[DrDebG]

 

Montblanc James Purdey & Sons Single Malt Ink

 

 

 

Thank you for sharing this, Tom! This looks beautiful. And if it has the faint scent of single malt, that would make it worthwhile.

[Tom Kellie]

Hello, Tom! It is so nice to see you in person! Also, thank you for telling us about your stationery store in Shenzhen. I will pass it along to my daughter. Who knows, you likely have already run into her.

 

~ 5Cavaliers:

 

The Shenzhen Eslite Spectrum Store's pen, ink and stationery store is on the 3rd floor of a building in a new MixC World shopping area, not the older MixC.

It's located a short walk away from the Hi-Tech Park (高新园) subway station on Line #1, Exit A.

As your daughter and I share a love of fountain pens, our paths may indeed have crossed.

The bookstore is a wonder! Having such a resource in the local area is a joy.

Tom K.

[Tom Kellie]

Thank you for sharing this, Tom! This looks beautiful. And if it has the faint scent of single malt, that would make it worthwhile.

 

~ 5Cavaliers:

 

Yes, Montblanc James Purdey & Sons Single Malt is indeed beautiful and enhanced by a pleasant hint of single malt.

It's one of the nicest ink discoveries of 2019.

Tom K.