Kalliopi and Introduction to Dot Shading – Session 1 | STAEDTLER Art Class

As expected, the reintroduction of the Parker 51 caused quite a stir within the community. It took me quite a while to get my thoughts about it in line, but I think -perhaps somewhat unexpectedly- my overall impression of the new version is quite a bit more positive than you might expect. I actually think it's a pretty successful hommage to the original in many (not all) ways. This... read more

If crisp, fine lines are what you crave in an everyday writing instrument, nothing beats a fine-tip gel pen. Ballpoints and rollerballs have their place, but as certified pen fanatics who have tried everything from Bics to Montblancs, fine-tip gel pens are at a completely different level when it comes to precision. Fine-tip gel pens let you fit more writing onto every page and notecard. They... read more

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If anything, minimalist brand Ensso has proven over the years that they're not afraid to switch things up and try unique designs! In the continuously expanding lineup of Ensso products, no two pens look even remotely the same. For their latest pen, Ensso leaves behind the ultra-minimal aesthetic of their first full-sized fountain pen (the Ensso Piuma, reviewed HERE, still one of my absolute favorite metal pens!), instead looking back... read more

This afternoon we took a very nice drive to a very nice place, and when we returned home I noticed about a thousand new customer accounts. Considering most of them had long internet links as ‘names’ – charming ones like ‘Sindi wants to talk sexy to YOU’ and ‘Tiffani replied to your message’ – it […] read more

I'm a big fan of De Atramentis inks: they have so many ink lines with interesting ink colours. A chocolate scented ink called Santa Sold. I also like to write my Christmas cards using an ink that feels a bit festive and one called Santa sounded like a good one to consider for this year. Last year, it was J. Herbin's Emerald of Chivor so I needed one that... read more

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A long, long time ago, years before I started this website, I remember visiting a local pen store in Antwerp, where I spotted a tiny little yellow fountain pen somewhere in the corner of a display cabinet. I knew nothing about it back then, other than that the price tag unfortunately didn't read 15 but 150 euros (Oops, my mistake!), thus putting it far out of... read more

Selecting a paper for your fountain pen is like pairing a fine wine with cheese: different combinations bring out the subtleties and unique flavors of both. In the same way, finding a good paper allows you to realize the full potential of your fountain pen and ink, adding another dimension to both the pen and paper. There are many things to consider when selecting the best... read more