Nick Stewart's Randall Blue Black

[NickiStew]

 

 

So after nearly 3 years of swatch testing and experimenting I have decided to take the Blue Black challenge and design my own ink. For some, taking an off-the-shelf colour and badging it with their own label is an obvious and easy thing to do. Having swatch tested hundreds of inks I can now spot these quite easily as each ink manufacturer has their own house style. But re-badging can be frustrating for enthusiasts who inadvertently can end up with two, three or more bottles of the same ink but with a different label. To that end, I can assure you that my Randall is absolutely unique.

 

 

So what’s it like?

Well it’s a creative ink as you’d expect, with a great tonal range, and chromatography from darkest black blue to royal blue, turquoise and pink plus there’s a cheeky crimson sheen too, which I wanted to include as it’s something a little fashionable and of our time. It’s also intended as a stylish everyday writing ink.

It’s been described by some reviewers as a ‘chameleon’ ink – as it changes tone and colour depending on the nib used and the paper surface chosen, and it really can change before your eyes. The wetter the nib, the deeper the colour. (Links to reviews can be found on my blog site - link at end of post). This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea I appreciate, but in the spirit of the project I’m more than happy with it.

As I couldn’t manufacture this myself, I sent my vials and recipe notes to Diamine, who matched my samples exactly and, in my opinion, they’ve done a great job.

 

So what about the name?

 

I wanted this ink to be associated with something truly inspiring. Something a little off the wall, a little dangerous but totally engrossing. It was tempting to take the easy road and buddy up with another stationery related opportunity, but I wanted a great story to tell. Something packed full of passion, suffering and courage. As an offshore sailor myself, much of my inspiration comes from those experiences at sea, but Randall Reeves, who is married to my late Uncle's god daughter, Joanna, is doing something totally mind blowing.

 

In the fall of 2017, Randall set sail for a first-ever solo circumnavigation of both the American and Antarctic continents in one season. The route passes through all of the world’s oceans, approach both poles, and round Cape Horn twice. No one has done this before - no one has even tried. His voyage combines two historic and dangerous routes, one in the deep Southern Ocean and one through the Arctic. Ferdinand Magellan, the first ever to circle the globe, departed in 1519 with six ships and 270 men. His voyage via Cape Horn took 16 months to complete. Only one ship returned.

When the expeditions of Captain James Cook departed 300 years later, the globe had only been encircled a handful of times. Risks were extreme; loss of life, common. Though Cook pushed further toward the poles than any other sailor in history, even he failed to find the mythic Northwest Passage. After Cook, countless vessels searched for a route through the Arctic. All failed. Many ships and men were forever frozen in ice before Roald Amundsen’s successful transit in 1904. But even Amundsen had the company of 12 crewmen on his two-year voyage.

 

The first solo sailors to head south of the continents for a non-stop circumnavigation, now considered the Everest of the sport, didn’t do so until 1968, and today fewer than 150 have completed this stormy passage. In the north, only three sailors have even attempted the frozen Arctic alone, all since 2011. Randall is the first to put these two dangerous and historic routes, a Southern Ocean circumnavigation and a transit of the Arctic, into one epic passage, the Figure 8 Voyage.

 

His first attempt was quashed following a massive storm and knock down in the Antarctic Ocean almost costing him his life. He is currently sailing back to San Francisco for repairs and modifications and will then have another shot at it starting August - September 2018.

 

In a world where humans are increasingly living their lives through avatars, Randall stands tall amongst real people. Like this project, he's prepared to ask questions, to experiment and accept the consequences when things go wrong.

 

Humans are naturally curious and creative, we are NOT robots. We must be careful that technology, and those in charge of it, do not destroy the spirit within. Randall is the real deal and you can follow his eloquent journals on his blog at http://figure8voyage.com/blog/. I am humbled to be associated with him and I hope the qualities of this new ink, named in his honour, are a befitting testament to his courage and tenacity. I will be celebrating key milestones of Randall's next attempt with Randall Blue Black ink related competitions and giveaways, so stay tuned!

Go check him out and get inspired! http://figure8voyage.com/blog/.

I have 50 x 50ml bottles available and each bottle comes with a unique and signed piece of art (not framed). If you would like both, please email me direct at nick@stewart2.com and we can proceed from there. First come first served.

Loads more on my blog at www.quinkandbleach.wordpress.com

Edited June 19, 2018 by NickiStew

[inkstainedruth]

Interesting looking ink (I'm partial to blue-blacks) and a fascinating story behind the name.

Is this going to be part of Diamine's regular lineup? Or just an LE available only through you?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[NickiStew]

Interesting looking ink (I'm partial to blue-blacks) and a fascinating story behind the name.

Is this going to be part of Diamine's regular lineup? Or just an LE available only through you?

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

 

Mine all mine. Have sold 20 so Ill see how it goes regarding producing ink only. Interested?

[MsRedpen]

Nick, just read your blog post, than Randall’s.. thank you for opening another horizon!

 

Ink looks like a heavy weigt one, but gorgeous

 

How is the dry time and staining?

 

Considering the package...

[inkstainedruth]

 

Mine all mine. Have sold 20 so Ill see how it goes regarding producing ink only. Interested?

 

Yeah, I might be. But I've spent a bit of money in the last week already (not all of it pen related). So I need to think about it. Of course I guess if you've already sold 20 I'd have to think fast....

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[NickiStew]

Nick, just read your blog post, than Randall’s.. thank you for opening another horizon!

 

Ink looks like a heavy weigt one, but gorgeous

 

How is the dry time and staining?

 

Considering the package...

 

Please go to my blog site: www.quinkandbleach.wordpress.com. Click on the 'Randall' article and scroll down to the bottom. I have posted links to reviews that will answer your questions. It's a good drying time. It's an everyday ink as well as creative. I have 10 left. N

[NickiStew]

 

 

So after nearly 3 years of swatch testing and experimenting I have decided to take the Blue Black challenge and design my own ink. For some, taking an off-the-shelf colour and badging it with their own label is an obvious and easy thing to do. Having swatch tested hundreds of inks I can now spot these quite easily as each ink manufacturer has their own house style. But re-badging can be frustrating for enthusiasts who inadvertently can end up with two, three or more bottles of the same ink but with a different label. To that end, I can assure you that my Randall is absolutely unique.

 

 

So what’s it like?

Well it’s a creative ink as you’d expect, with a great tonal range, and chromatography from darkest black blue to royal blue, turquoise and pink plus there’s a cheeky crimson sheen too, which I wanted to include as it’s something a little fashionable and of our time. It’s also intended as a stylish everyday writing ink.

It’s been described by some reviewers as a ‘chameleon’ ink – as it changes tone and colour depending on the nib used and the paper surface chosen, and it really can change before your eyes. The wetter the nib, the deeper the colour. (Links to reviews can be found on my blog site - link at end of post). This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea I appreciate, but in the spirit of the project I’m more than happy with it.

As I couldn’t manufacture this myself, I sent my vials and recipe notes to Diamine, who matched my samples exactly and, in my opinion, they’ve done a great job.

 

So what about the name?

 

I wanted this ink to be associated with something truly inspiring. Something a little off the wall, a little dangerous but totally engrossing. It was tempting to take the easy road and buddy up with another stationery related opportunity, but I wanted a great story to tell. Something packed full of passion, suffering and courage. As an offshore sailor myself, much of my inspiration comes from those experiences at sea, but Randall Reeves, who is married to my late Uncle's god daughter, Joanna, is doing something totally mind blowing.

 

In the fall of 2017, Randall set sail for a first-ever solo circumnavigation of both the American and Antarctic continents in one season. The route passes through all of the world’s oceans, approach both poles, and round Cape Horn twice. No one has done this before - no one has even tried. His voyage combines two historic and dangerous routes, one in the deep Southern Ocean and one through the Arctic. Ferdinand Magellan, the first ever to circle the globe, departed in 1519 with six ships and 270 men. His voyage via Cape Horn took 16 months to complete. Only one ship returned.

 

When the expeditions of Captain James Cook departed 300 years later, the globe had only been encircled a handful of times. Risks were extreme; loss of life, common. Though Cook pushed further toward the poles than any other sailor in history, even he failed to find the mythic Northwest Passage. After Cook, countless vessels searched for a route through the Arctic. All failed. Many ships and men were forever frozen in ice before Roald Amundsen’s successful transit in 1904. But even Amundsen had the company of 12 crewmen on his two-year voyage.

 

The first solo sailors to head south of the continents for a non-stop circumnavigation, now considered the Everest of the sport, didn’t do so until 1968, and today fewer than 150 have completed this stormy passage. In the north, only three sailors have even attempted the frozen Arctic alone, all since 2011. Randall is the first to put these two dangerous and historic routes, a Southern Ocean circumnavigation and a transit of the Arctic, into one epic passage, the Figure 8 Voyage.

 

His first attempt was quashed following a massive storm and knock down in the Antarctic Ocean almost costing him his life. He is currently sailing back to San Francisco for repairs and modifications and will then have another shot at it starting August - September 2018.

 

In a world where humans are increasingly living their lives through avatars, Randall stands tall. Like this project, he's prepared to ask questions, to experiment and accept the consequences when things go wrong.

 

Humans are naturally curious and creative, we are not robots. We must be mindful that technology, and those in charge of it, do not destroy the spirit within. Randall is the real deal and you can follow his eloquent journals on his blog at http://figure8voyage.com/blog/. I am humbled to be associated with him and I hope the qualities of this new ink, named in his honour, are a befitting testament to his courage and tenacity. I will be celebrating key milestones of Randall's next attempt with Randall Blue Black ink related competitions and giveaways, so stay tuned!

Go check him out and get inspired! http://figure8voyage.com/blog/.

I have bottles available and each bottle comes with a unique and signed piece of art (not framed). If you would like to know more, please email me direct at nick@stewart2.com and we can proceed from there.

Loads more on my blog at www.quinkandbleach.wordpress.com

Edited June 20, 2018 by NickiStew

[AmandaW]

Congratulations! Lovely colour.

[NickiStew]

Congratulations! Lovely colour.

 

Thanks Amanda

[UDog]

Mr. Stewart your review is amazing and so is your ink. I wish we had it here in the US.

[DrDebG]

Great review! I am not a big fan of blue-black, but this is nice. And your artwork is truly exceptional!

 

And I really enjoyed reading about Randall's adventures. As I was reading his blog, I was intrigued by the colors of the ocean and the sky and how it might have inspired you as you made the color for your ink. I wish him great luck returning to San Francisco, and then venturing out again later. And I wish you great success with the ink and with your art.

Edited June 21, 2018 by DrPenfection

[katerchen]

Amazing story (and artwork on your site).

 

So is this ink entering Diamine's lineup?

 

-k

[The Good Captain]

It looks amazing and right up my street. I've just sent you an email as well.

[kfoss]

How does this ink compare to Krishna Moonview? They look like they could be cousins...

[NickiStew]

Amazing story (and artwork on your site).

 

So is this ink entering Diamine's lineup?

 

-k

 

Thanks for your kind comments. Although manufactured by Diamine, it's my recipe and I'm selling it myself. If interested you can email me: nick@stewart2.com

The first 50 are all sold and I have takers for a further 44 bottles. I am going to quickly produce another batch of 100 bottles so will have 56 available as I write. Nick

[NickiStew]

How does this ink compare to Krishna Moonview? They look like they could be cousins...

My ink is nowhere near the heavy sheen of Moonview. I think it's also a prettier blue as it has that turquoise and pink.

[NickiStew]

Great review! I am not a big fan of blue-black, but this is nice. And your artwork is truly exceptional!

 

And I really enjoyed reading about Randall's adventures. As I was reading his blog, I was intrigued by the colors of the ocean and the sky and how it might have inspired you as you made the color for your ink. I wish him great luck returning to San Francisco, and then venturing out again later. And I wish you great success with the ink and with your art.

Many thanks. Nick

[NickiStew]

Mr. Stewart your review is amazing and so is your ink. I wish we had it here in the US.

That could be arranged soon.

[jandrese]

Bloody amazing story and ink. I look forward to trying it when available in USA.

[bleair]

Love the project and really like this blue black. This looks like a very promising color.

 

Nick mentioned it in a previous post, but I'll repeat it - the first batch of 50 bottles has all sold and thankfully he has ordered a second batch (which I gather are selling quickly too)