Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Moonlight Tide

[yazeh]

Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Moonlight Tide

Kala pinks are made in Taiwan. As of this day, there are 4 series of inks:

This, I believe is my 167 review  

1)    The grey scale Nostalgia Gemstone (12 pigment inks)

2)    The subtle Abstraction (12 pigment inks) 

3)    The punchy Neon (12 pigment inks) 

4)    Non-pigment Island N°38 Series (18 inks).

 

All bottles are 30 ml. 

 

I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with these inks. I like the smaller bottles and subtlety of colours, especially for artwork. On the downside, they are not easy to find, unless you live in US or the Far East and they can be quite pricey, compared to Noodler's ink for us living in North America or De Atramentis/ Octopus pigment for those who live in Europe for ex. 

 

This is what they’re website says about the abstraction series: 

 

“Inspires the writings and sketching sailing in a dream-like illusion.  Featuring low-chromed pigment ink with full of imagination for distinctive fountain pen users, there are 6 colors with higher saturation and 6 brighter colors to choose from”.

  

Moonlight Tide is subtle dark grey pigment ink. Extremely enjoyable to write, sketch with this wet, well lubricated, waterproof ink. 

There was some bleed through on copy paper and on  Iroful when I flexed the unyielding Nib creaper. Ink needs to be completely dry to be waterproof, especially for those who practice sketching with fountain pen. 

 

 

Chroma:

 

 

 

Writing Samples:

I used a Hongidan M2 with an Ef nib for both ultra extra fine line ( reverse) and Chinese Ef.  Hence CH EF. A Jinhao 450 with fude nib was used instead of Stub and a nib creaper with a pseudo-flex nib. 

Dry times are longer with the wet Hongdian than the dry Lamy Safari on Rhodia; they are longer on Japanese Paper. (normally double the time) 

 

Photo:

 

Note the contrast between Rhodia (left) and Iroful (right)

Comparison:

 

Water test:

Left side 10 seconds under running water. After 24 hours. It seems a bit of ink has been removed.  Paper is a Mnemosyne. 

 

Art Work:

I did a lot of artwork, most of them scrapped, and bit on the wacky side: 

Lady in Grey (rough sketch) 

Part of the Inktober yearlong challenge, the first prompt of the year was was sunrise. I made several drawings, This is one of them. 

The wacky dead tree is done with Kala Moonlight tide. The rest is a lot of mixes and dilutions of the following inks: 

Noodler's Polar Brown/Polar Green and Lexington Gray / Red Rattler Red / Jacques Herbin rue de la Verrerie. 

Talens Mixed media sketchbook. 

 

This take was inspired by the Sunrise, sunset song/scene from the Fiddler on the roof. 

This is an anthropomorphic depiction of the scene: 

 

Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Moonlight tide

Jacques Herbin rue de la Verrerie, Noodler's Eel Red Rattler Red  (diluted)

and good old cat and mouse at the sunrise...

 

Kala Nostalgia Abstraction Moonlight tide

Kala Scapolite (the supposed grass  )

Noodler's Apache sunset

J Herbin rue de Verrerie

 

·      Pens used: Hongdian M2 Ef (EF reverse), Lamy (EF/F/M/B), Jinhao 450, Noodler’s Nib creaper

·      What I liked: Colour, especially in drawing, wetness and lubrication. 

·      What I did not like: Not easy to find, pricey,  long name. I’m not sure if these subtle greys make a dent for those who write. 

·       What some might not like: AFOPI (Abnormal fear of pigment inks), price?

·      Shading: If there is some, I don’t see it. 

·      Ghosting: No. 

·      Bleed through: Yes, on cheap paper, and a bit on Iroful when I force flexed the nib creaper.

·      Flow Rate: Wet

·      Lubrication: Gorgeous. 

·      Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

·      Start-up:  Ok

·      Saturation: saturated 

·      Shading Potential: Dismal

·      Sheen: No. 

·      Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice. 

·      Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.

·      Staining (pen): No. 

·      Clogging: Did not notice.

·      Cleaning: Like most pigment inks, the more the ink stay in your pen, the more time it takes to clean. 

·      Water resistance: Excellent. 

·      Availability:  30 ml bottles, 

 

 

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples or any other comments. The more the merrier  

 

 

 

 

[lapis]

Your offer of the adjective "subtle" is perfect! Any colour in grey is more than welcome!! For those of us (like you and me) who are addicted to greys, this one is a must! Thanks for everything!!!

[yazeh]

51 minutes ago, lapis said:

Your offer of the adjective "subtle" is perfect! Any colour in grey is more than welcome!! For those of us (like you and me) who are addicted to greys, this one is a must! Thanks for everything!!!

A pleasure as always.   🙏

To paraphrase a wise author, life is too short for bad inks

 

[LizEF]

Nice grey.  The word "smooth" comes to mind, more about the look in the writing than any imagined feel.

 

The water-test sketch is fabulous!  And a very unique method of fishing?

 

I like the Lady in Grey - feels very real and spontaneous.

 

I'm imagining your "wacky dead tree" coming to life and marching into town to terrorize the boys who have been carving in its trunk...

 

Very nice wedding scene - recognized it immediately.  Love the way you made the background so colorful vs the all-grey scene.

 

And of course, kitty's eyes reflecting the sunrise - great little addition.  I'm imagining Mousey giving a lecture on the importance of early morning sunlight and how silly the humans are with their clocks.

 

Thanks for a great review, @yazeh!

[yazeh]

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

Nice grey.  The word "smooth" comes to mind, more about the look in the writing than any imagined feel.

😊

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

The water-test sketch is fabulous!  And a very unique method of fishing?

😄

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

I like the Lady in Grey - feels very real and spontaneous.

Thanks. It was one of my few  TV portraits, that captured something 😊

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

I'm imagining your "wacky dead tree" coming to life and marching into town to terrorize the boys who have been carving in its trunk...

Or naught cats 🙀

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

Very nice wedding scene - recognized it immediately.  Love the way you made the background so colorful vs the all-grey scene.

Thanks. It took a few days to make it work. It's a very touching scene, sunrise for the new couple and sunset for others.....

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

And of course, kitty's eyes reflecting the sunrise - great little addition.  I'm imagining Mousey giving a lecture on the importance of early morning sunlight and how silly the humans are with their clocks.

And how important it is to be properly attired to welcome the sun

3 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

Thanks for a great review, @yazeh!

A pleasure. Now, I can relax and look forward to yours tomorrow 😊

[LizEF]

34 minutes ago, yazeh said:

And how important it is to be properly attired to welcome the sun

[InesF]

There is something special about this Kala Nostalgia ink - 🤫 - and there is something very special about Lady in Grey and something heartwarming about how cat allows mouse to watch sharks from close distance! Big science, here!   

But I also like Fiddler on the roof, the inktober drawing and, especially, the cat and mouse at sunrise! Well done! 👍

 

Looking close to the writing samples, I get the impression that this ink may have very low surface tension. Many of the smaller letters are "filled" with ink - with only Rhodia as an exception to withstand the elevated liquid amounts. 🤔

 

I told already elsewhere: you need only one grey and many other colours. However, the most important part is: use your tools and your inks! And you do it with passion!  

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, InesF said:

There is something special about this Kala Nostalgia ink - 🤫 - and there is something very special about Lady in Grey and something heartwarming about how cat allows mouse to watch sharks from close distance! Big science, here!   

😊😄🙏

1 hour ago, InesF said:

But I also like Fiddler on the roof, the inktober drawing and, especially, the cat and mouse at sunrise! Well done! 👍

Thank you 😊

1 hour ago, InesF said:

 

Looking close to the writing samples, I get the impression that this ink may have very low surface tension. Many of the smaller letters are "filled" with ink - with only Rhodia as an exception to withstand the elevated liquid amounts. 🤔

Yes, it must have. It is my understanding that most low surface tension inks are pleasant to use. I wonder maybe the surface tension of J Herbin Terre de Feu is high, thus being unpleasant to right with :😕 

1 hour ago, InesF said:

I told already elsewhere: you need only one grey and many other colours. However, the most important part is: use your tools and your inks! And you do it with passion!  

Yes, doing, failing and learning is much better than wavering and doing nothing, one life 😉

[Sailor Kenshin]

Kala Moonlight.  (Not typin' whole name with finger in sling). Its chroma may be on the flat side, but if I could write like whoever did these ink descriptions, my ebooks would sell out. 

 

I love the quotes and illos, but I do hope Mousie isn't being used as bait in the fishing expedition.  Kitteh lookin' a bit manic there!  

 

Wait, abnormal fear of pigmented ink?  😂. And who might that be? 

 

@yazeh, thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations!  Nobody does them like you.  Keep ‘em coming! 

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

(Not typin' whole name with finger in sling)

Wishing your finger a speedy recovery!

 

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Kitteh lookin' a bit manic there!

  You're right!

[yazeh]

2 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Kala Moonlight.  (Not typin' whole name with finger in sling).

Hope your finger gets better 🙏 You can always use the voice command on phones or copy paste, btw

2 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Its chroma may be on the flat side, but if I could write like whoever did these ink descriptions, my ebooks would sell out. 

That's clever marketing. Though I'm not sure we'd be swayed by words, or would we?  

2 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I love the quotes and illos, but I do hope Mousie isn't being used as bait in the fishing expedition.  Kitteh lookin' a bit manic there!  

Yep. All that chats about @inkstainedruth's unfriendly neighbourly cat, triggered that one 😛 I've seen a few mad cats & dogs in this life time  

2 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Wait, abnormal fear of pigmented ink?  😂. And who might that be? 

 Well there's so much surgeon general comments about pigments inks (or Viewer discretion, if you please) that I thought I add rebuttal  

2 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

@yazeh, thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations!  Nobody does them like you.  Keep ‘em coming! 

Thank you so much for your encouragement 🙏 And I pray that your beautiful prose will take a marketing detour, to make your ebooks sell out  🙏

[inkstainedruth]

@yazeh This is certainly an interesting looking ink (and a LOT darker than *my* bottle of Lexington Grey!  How's the dry time on other paper (the relatively long dry time on the Rhodia isn't wowing me).

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review and the fun artwork.  And, well, maybe not.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[yazeh]

6 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

@yazeh This is certainly an interesting looking ink (and a LOT darker than *my* bottle of Lexington Grey!

It is quite darker, that mine too. I should soon do a review of Lexington Gray. I bought it last May and have already used a 4th of the bottle, which is quite a feat  

6 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

 

 How's the dry time on other paper (the relatively long dry time on the Rhodia isn't wowing me).

The dry times on Rhodia were haphazard. The lines with the Hongidan M2 Ef and wetter, than that of the Lamy with wider nibs. I believe dry times on Japanese papers are systematically twice or at least 10 seconds more than that on Rhodia  But if one wants shading/ sheening etc, there's no other way around

6 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

Thanks as usual for the comprehensive review and the fun artwork.  And, well, maybe not.... 

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Glad to see you're safe back home and had a (nice ) choral rehearsal. Is it a church choir or concert choir?

[inkstainedruth]

An amateur madrigal choir.  We had a skinny turnout on Tuesday because of the weather, and because a couple of people were sick -- and then I found out that the person who hosts rehearsals at her house just tested positive for COVID (she was mortified, plus had to postpone some surgery she was was scheduled for).  And now I'm worried that since my husband drove me there and back we BOTH may need to be tested).  I did want to go, though, because we have only one more rehearsal before the next concert, and I missed the week before, after having no rehearsals on Christmas Day or New Year's Day (I had brought the music binder with me but there was really no time to practice the music while we were at my sister-in-law's, and then after we got home I was swamped with stuff like laundry and grocery shopping).  So I'm not as solid on some the pieces as I really should be....  Fortunately, one piece has been dusted off from a couple of years ago so I know that one pretty well; and I was standing next to someone who is a high school music teacher and I was able to crib off her for the pieces I don't know as well -- just like the person on the other side of her, who hasn't been in the group as long, was cribbing off her for other pieces.   

At least, while we haven't gotten the current round of boosters, he and I both had been vaccinated and gotten the previous round COVID booster shot as well.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[yazeh]

10 hours ago, inkstainedruth said:

An amateur madrigal choir.  

January is the worst season for gatherings. Everybody is either sick, or getting sick, or will get sick....the viruses love the holidays People living in the Southern hemisphere are better off  

Madrigal choir as one focused on 16th and early 17th century Italian music?