J Herbin - Vert Réséda

[yazeh]

J Herbin Vert Réséda

Review #177

From Herbin website: 

Vert Réséda (Green reseda or Green mignonette): réséda is a plant famous for its delightful fragrance.

I honestly don't get the name of this one. I checked some of the photos online and couldn't see the relevance (Reseda Odorata)

Photo Credit: Native Plant Trust: Go Botany

 

This is a cheery neon green, somewhere between Bleu Calanque and Diabolo Menthe. It’s a greenish turquoise / malachite. 

 

Ink is wet, with below average lubrication. There’s some shading, with a B nib. Ink has little to no water resistance. 

 

While the colour is bright and lovely in some Caribbean resort, I found the colour too harsh on paper. However, it’s fun for doing ink washes.     

 

 

Dry time was confusing. I wonder if my pen was primed in the beginning to get such inconsistent results. Cleaning was easy. 

 

Colour is impossible to scan or photograph. 

 

Chroma:

 

 

 

Writing Samples:

Colour is somewhere between these different scans. 

 

Photo:

I tried to colour correct this one. It is quite close. 

 

 

Comparison:

 The scanner could not capture any of the colours right.  You can check these three on the Herbin website to get a close idea

https://www.jherbin.com/fountain_pen_inks.html

 

 

Water test:

Left side (10 seconds under running water. After 24 hours)

 

Art Work:

 

Hiding from Love

The colour is quite close here. 

De Atramentis Document Brown. 

Paper is Talens mixed media square pocketbook. 

A Star is Born

You can see the nuance between Vert Réséda and Bleu Calanque. Note the green colour has darkened because the grey mixed with it. 

J Herbin Vert Réséda  (dress)

J Herbin Bleu Calanque (background)

KWZ orange

Kala Moonlight Tide (Grey)

 

 

·      Pens used: Pilot F3A soft EF, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1) 

·      What I liked: I’m thinking about it…washes

·      What I did not like: Doesn’t have nuance. 

·       What some might not like: Low lubrication, 

·      Shading: With a B nib. The ink is too harsh to discern shading. 

·      Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper. 

·      Bleed through: A bit, but not much. 

·      Flow Rate: Wet

·      Lubrication: Below average but acceptable. 

·      Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

·      Start-up:  Ok

·      Saturation:  Nope. 

·      Shading Potential: Good luck with that. 

·      Sheen: No. 

·      Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: I didn’t look for it, but there might be if you look under a magnifying glass.  

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

·      Staining (pen): No. 

·      Clogging: Did not notice.

·      Cleaning: Very Easy. 

·      Water resistance: Nope

·      Availability:  10/ 30ml bottles, cartridges.

 

 

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

 

[LizEF]

Pretty plant.   The ink is a bit too neon for me.  Glad you enjoyed it in ink washes!  And man to I hate colors that refuse to be captured!

 

Yawn-chroma.  Blinding on Rhodia!  What lovely quotes!   Ah, the photo color is a bit better.

 

Fun swatch card drawings.

 

Alas, poor Mousey, I knew him well...

 

Absolutely love the first drawing!  The color contrasts work beautifully!

 

And the second seriously improves the ink color, IMO!  Is poor little Mousey in a cage!?  Whatever the case, love the various swooping lines.

 

Thanks for another great review, @yazeh!

[Sailor Kenshin]

1. Yes, I have this.

2. Also Menthe (which I love, and reserve for my Wearever Pennant  of almost the same color).

 

Reseda's one of those inks I don't often use, but accumulated when I wanted EVERY color J Herbin ink.  Those days are long past.  

I'm never crazy about low-lubrication ink, but Reseda's a great color for Spring (which I understand may be on the way, somewhere).

 

Such delicate Mousie/Kitteh drawings!  They suit the ink beautifully.

 

 @yazeh, thanks once again for your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations!  Keep ‘em coming! 

[yazeh]

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

Pretty plant.  

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I tried to grow it several times, but it didn't work for my type of climate. Plus it wasn't the fragrant variety. This one is not known for its beauty, and used a lot in France for wild bouquets in the old times, much like violets where in US in early 20th century . Nowadays, it's difficult to find anything fragrant, unless you have a litterbox nearby 

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

The ink is a bit too neon for me.  Glad you enjoyed it in ink washes!  And man to I hate colors that refuse to be captured!

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It has a harsh quality to it in written text.

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

Yawn-chroma.  Blinding on Rhodia!  What lovely quotes!   Ah, the photo color is a bit better.

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There's something about plants that connects us back to nature, even if we don't  have green thumbs

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

 

Fun swatch card drawings.

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😊

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

 

Alas, poor Mousey, I knew him well...

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He's  reincarnated, no worries. At least @InesFwill be content

 

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

 

Absolutely love the first drawing!  The color contrasts work beautifully!

 

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Thanks. 

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

And the second seriously improves the ink color, IMO!  Is poor little Mousey in a cage!?  Whatever the case, love the various swooping lines.

Expand  

Thanks Liz. It was distantly inspired by Botticelli's Birth of Venus. The mouse is supposed to be in a shell

  On 3/23/2025 at 1:49 PM, LizEF said:

Thanks for another great review, @yazeh!

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I think you'll like the next review much more 😃

[yazeh]

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

1. Yes, I have this.

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  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

2. Also Menthe (which I love, and reserve for my Wearever Pennant  of almost the same color).

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I have to review it soon. Too many inks on the way 😃

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Reseda's one of those inks I don't often use, but accumulated when I wanted EVERY color J Herbin ink.

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Same here. It's the only brand, I hope to review the whole lineup. Mostly because of the 10 ml bottles and availability. 

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

 Those days are long past.  

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  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

I'm never crazy about low-lubrication ink, but Reseda's a great color for Spring (which I understand may be on the way, somewhere).

Expand  

It's fun for doing washes. It makes me happy. 

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Such delicate Mousie/Kitteh drawings!  They suit the ink beautifully.

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Thank you 🙏🙏🙏

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:21 PM, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

 @yazeh, thanks once again for your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations!  Keep ‘em coming! 

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I will. Three  of rarely reviewed inks are done. . You might love a few if them for your elegant plant drawings. 😊

[LizEF]

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:33 PM, yazeh said:

This one is not known for its beauty, and used a lot in France for wild bouquets in the old times

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That explains why I like it - I like wild-looking plants and landscapes.

 

  On 3/23/2025 at 2:33 PM, yazeh said:

Nowadays, it's difficult to find anything fragrant, unless you have a litterbox nearby 

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  On 3/23/2025 at 2:33 PM, yazeh said:

It was distantly inspired by Botticelli's Birth of Venus. The mouse is supposed to be in a shell

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Oh! Yes! I'd totally forgotten, but I see it now. 

[yazeh]

  On 3/23/2025 at 3:35 PM, LizEF said:

That explains why I like it - I like wild-looking plants and landscapes.

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I tried creating it in our parking lot in the gravel. There's a corner under a huge tree, where I sow poppy seeds and feverfew to create a meadow, with a backdrop of neighbour's collection of garbage cans. In Montreal, they have seeded a few parks, and green spaces with meadow wildflowers. It's especially beautiful up to Mid august, with poppies, cornflowers, clovers and chicory... It's both messy and fun  

[LizEF]

  On 3/23/2025 at 3:45 PM, yazeh said:

I tried creating it in our parking lot in the gravel. There's a corner under a huge tree, where I sow poppy seeds and feverfew to create a meadow, with a backdrop of neighbour's collection of garbage cans. In Montreal, they have seeded a few parks, and green spaces with meadow wildflowers. It's especially beautiful up to Mid august, with poppies, cornflowers, clovers and chicory... It's both messy and fun  

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Urban spaces can only be improved by plants.

[inkstainedruth]

@yazeh -- Definitely NOT a color for me.  But thanks as usual for the comprehensive review and the fun artwork!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Paul-in-SF]

This is one of my favorite colors when I'm feeling loud and brassy (not my usual state).

[yazeh]

  On 3/23/2025 at 10:51 PM, inkstainedruth said:

@yazeh -- Definitely NOT a color for me.  But thanks as usual for the comprehensive review and the fun artwork!

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

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A pleasure and thanks for your kind words as always 🙏

[yazeh]

  On 3/23/2025 at 11:03 PM, Paul-in-SF said:

This is one of my favorite colors when I'm feeling loud and brassy (not my usual state).

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[Anne-Sophie]

Thank you Yazeh!

 

I planned to get it as a replacement for Kaweko Turquoise when I run out of the late, which matches the color of Sailor Kenshin's signature.

 

It looks like the hue I am after, a green teal, but it seems it was created as an highlighter color. 

 

I might try to mix some with Gris Nuage to get the color of the dress, which is what I am after, I would have wondered if Vert Reseda with Grey added would turn into Vert de Gris, it doesn't seem to.

 

Thank you for adding Bleu Calanque which is a true blue teal that seems to be a suitable replacement for Waterman South Sea Blue, as well as Diabolo Menthe for a FP that needs a light teal green.

 

 

[chromantic]

Great review as always but no. Just no.

[InesF]

@yazeh laughs in drawings!  👍  

 

Thank you so much for this ink review, for stressing your eyes and for spending as much effort with an unloved ink as you do with the best! 

 

Thank you for naming the first drawing "hiding from love". Otherwise I would had interpreted it "being ashamed" because cat allowed mouse to be rinsed away ...  

 

You are right, @yazeh, I was worried at first. But then I calmed down rapidly when I saw mouse reborn as a star. That's great! I mean, topic-wise and line-wise! 👍 Again, it's all in the lines that bring drama to the drawing, good drama! One more +1 👍 to Mark Kompaneyets for publishing drawing videos.

 

Looking forward to your next ink review!  

[yazeh]

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

Thank you Yazeh!

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Il n'y pas de quoi !🙏

 

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

I planned to get it as a replacement for Kaweko Turquoise when I run out of the late, which matches the color of Sailor Kenshin's signature.

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Kaweco Turquoise in my experience doesn't have any green. But as you know, we don't all see turquoise the same. If I get around I might scan you a comparison if it would help.

https://ismy.blue/

 

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

 

It looks like the hue I am after, a green teal, but it seems it was created as an highlighter color. 

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I didn't know that. You can mix it with Calanque or Pervenche, maybe. 

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

I might try to mix some with Gris Nuage to get the color of the dress, which is what I am after, I would have wondered if Vert Reseda with Grey added would turn into Vert de Gris, it doesn't seem to.

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I have to yet review  Gris Nuage or mix other inks with it. The grey I used is a quite dark pigment ink. The pen I used is also very wet, normally I should wait a few minutes or use a hairdryer to dry it. but I didn't hence this turquoise color which reminds me of Bleu Pervenche.

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, Anne-Sophie said:

 

Thank you for adding Bleu Calanque which is a true blue teal that seems to be a suitable replacement for Waterman South Sea Blue, as well as Diabolo Menthe for a FP that needs a light teal green.

 

 

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A pleasure. All inks are very summery and to my mind recall vacationing

 

[yazeh]

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, chromantic said:

Great review as always

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🙏

  On 3/24/2025 at 1:14 AM, chromantic said:

 

but no. Just no.

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[yazeh]

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, InesF said:

@yazeh laughs in drawings!  👍  

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😊😃

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, InesF said:

 

Thank you so much for this ink review, for stressing your eyes and for spending as much effort with an unloved ink as you do with the best! 

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Its always rewarding to go beyond one's dislikes and try to see the best or use something to our advantage.

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, InesF said:

 

Thank you for naming the first drawing "hiding from love". Otherwise I would had interpreted it "being ashamed" because cat allowed mouse to be rinsed away ...  

Expand  

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, InesF said:

 

You are right, @yazeh, I was worried at first. But then I calmed down rapidly when I saw mouse reborn as a star. That's great! I mean, topic-wise and line-wise! 👍 Again, it's all in the lines that bring drama to the drawing, good drama! One more +1 👍 to Mark Kompaneyets for publishing drawing videos.

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Thank you so much for these kind words and interpretation 

  On 3/24/2025 at 7:53 AM, InesF said:

Looking forward to your next ink review!  

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Same here