Review: Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pen

Just a quick one before anything else! This post may contain affiliate links, which means that as an Amazon Associate, I may receive a commission if you make a purchase. Alright, on to the review!

Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project

I have recently tried brush lettering with Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pens, and of course, an honest review is in order. The Koi Coloring Brush pen has a flexible brush tip that gives a good line variation. Put simply, its thin and thick strokes have a very obvious difference. The upstrokes are not as thin as the Pentel Touch brush sign pen though, so that means you have to write bigger when using the Koi brushes.

Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project

I’m using two of my favorite colors, Prussian Blue and Blue Green light. I like how dark and saturated these colors appeared upon drying (and they’re water-based and thus dry fast). They’re really vibrant and looks great when you write big!

Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project
Koi Coloring Brush pen in Prussian Blue, written on an A5 sized sheet

The flexible tip is pretty stiff which makes writing quite easy to control. It’s flexible but springs back quickly after adding pressure. It’s durable and will probably serve you well for a very long time. If you’re just getting started in brush lettering, you may download an alphabet exemplar for you to trace or copy. You’ll be familiar with the letter strokes in no time when you use an exemplar or guide when starting out.

Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project
Koi Coloring Brush pen in Blue Green Light, written on an A5 sized sheet

I have not tried blending colors yet, but you can create washes, layers and color gradations using Koi Water Brushes. How fun is that?

Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project
Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project
Koi Coloring Brush Pen via Happy Hands Project

The Sakura Koi Coloring Brush Pen is a great beginner brush specially for those who tend to write big. Seasoned brush lettering artists will find this fun to use because of their vibrant colors, flexibility and durability.

Ready to shop? Here are the links!

If you want all the colors :: Sakura 48-Piece Koi Coloring Brush Pen Set

If you want a 12-color set :: Sakura 12-Piece Koi Coloring Brush Pen Set

If you want 6 shades of gray (hah!) :: Sakura 6-Piece Koi Coloring Brush Pen Set, Gray

If you want gradations and take your lettering to the next level :: Sakura 2-Piece Koi Colorless Blender Set

Have fun lettering!

Montblanc Heritage Egyptomania

Released in September 2020, the Montblanc Heritage Egyptomania fountain pen is an absolute joy to write with. Some geeky info for y’all—the Heritage Egyptomania fountain pen is reminiscent of the ‘Egyptian Fountain Pen’ from the 1920s.

So here’s the exciting news! I’m here to give you guys a calligrapher’s review of the beautiful Montblanc Heritage Egyptomania fountain pen. A big thanks to Montblanc Malaysia for providing the pen to help me write this post today!

First off, it’s beautiful. Appearances count, right? The fountain pen has an octagonal shape and Egyptian style engravings. This new version is embellished with a set of authentic hieroglyphics which translate to ‘white stone mountain’, effectively describing ‘Montblanc’.

The medium-sized nib is soft. It glides easily on paper, so writing in cursive is a breeze. I’ve tried writing on Tomoe River paper, Bristol card stock, high-end practice paper and regular copy paper. The Heritage Egyptomania fountain pen performed equally well on all kinds of paper I tried.

It’s a piston style fountain pen, so it’s very easy to refill with ink. I loaded the pen with Montblanc Mystery Black ink.

The medium sized nib produces strokes that are thicker than what I’m used to. However, I warmed up to it after just a few minutes of writing. It’s so smooth and I love how my cursive turned out. The strokes would be extremely thick after refilling the pen though. Word of advice: it’s best to write a few strokes on a scratch sheet first before writing on actual paper.

For those into lettering, I also tried it using Daler Rowney Fine Grain Heavyweight. No feathering! The ink also made a really nice contrast against the paper.

The pen can also be paired with a matching Montblanc Egyptomania travel notebook.

All in all, I would say the Montblanc Heritage Egyptomania fountain pen gives the user a beautiful writing experience. It’s available at Montblanc boutiques worldwide and online.

Calligraphy Ink Review: Vinta Inks

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Recently, I’ve been practicing Spencerian calligraphy using Vinta inks. Vinta inks are high-quality fountain pen inks and work very well with super fine nibs. For those of you wondering, fountain pen inks can be used with dip pen nibs, but not the other way around! Pre-mixed calligraphy inks, more often than not, cannot be used with fountain pens.

But I digress.

So how do I find Vinta inks? I have three colors from their ‘sheening’ collection, and two have very obvious shimmery undertones. They are not water-proof but are highly pigmented. Don’t let the light consistency fool you—it was hard to wash the ink off my fingers!

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Each ink colour is associated with Philippine history, and it’s a joy to read. Here are the inks that I have, which I’d love to share with you:

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Teal (Andrada) is a very deep green ink. At first glance, it’s almost black, and I couldn’t get the sheen to appear.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
When looked at the correct angle, the red highlights are visible, but it feathers a bit even on premium paper.

According to the Vinta website, Andrada has specks of red highlights. It’s smooth to write with, especially when writing calligraphy on super smooth paper.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
A closer look at the beautiful shimmer of Blue Blood

Blue Blood (Dugong Bughaw) basically means ‘blood of royalty’. I love this ink. It’s a dark shimmery blue with dark pink undertones. It brings out the beauty of calligraphy.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project

Sikatuna (Sandugo) refers to the ancient tradition in the Philippines called ‘blood compact‘.

Vinta Calligraphy Ink Review via Happy Hands Project
Zooming in on the two tones of Sikatuna ink by Vinta.

Two individuals would slit their wrists and and pour their blood in a cup where it is mixed together with wine. And you guessed it—they both drink it to seal the deal. This ink is a deep red with green undertones.

These inks can be a bit selective when it comes to paper. In my experience, it would feather on my Rhodia dotted pad and regular copy paper. It still managed to have a bit of feathering on the premium Italian paper that I used. The good news is, it worked well on Tomoe River paper.

To make sure you get the sheen on your writing, shake the ink bottles well before dipping your nib. Experiment on different nibs as well to get the effect you’re looking for. In summary, I’d say give Vinta inks a try if you’re looking for pre-mixed inks in unique colours. The sheen and shimmer will surprise you, and you’ll come back for more.

Vinta inks are handmade in the Philippines and they ship internationally (yay!). This is not a sponsored post, and all comments made in this post are my own. Craving for more calligraphy product reviews? Check out the posts here.

Review: Khadi Handmade Paper

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

Khadi handmade paper is made of cotton rags and handmade in South India. I’ve purchased a few packs of the handmade paper I’ve been seeing all over Instagram for years—and it did not disappoint. The sheets have natural deckled edges and beautiful texture.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

I wanted to use the Khadi Papers with what I’m most familiar with, and that would be watercolours, gouache and Finetec metallic inks. The paper may look oh-so-prefect, but don’t be deceived. For those who will be writing on Khadi paper for the first time, be prepared to encounter some minor hiccups.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

Due to its handmade nature, the paper is wonderfully textured. This means pointed nibs like the Gillotts or Hunts will snag on the upstrokes. Fibres will accummulate during the downstrokes, so there is a need to frequently wash or wipe your nib before the upstroke. I’ve found that the Blanzy-Poure 2552 nib works well with gouache or Finetec.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

Write slowly, slower than you normally would. Tread lightly—do not write with a heavy hand,  and you will be BFFs with your Khadi paper in no time.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

100% cotton papers tend to absorb more water compared to cellulose ones (non-archival, student-grade paper). So painting leaves and florals using Khadi means you need more water on your brush. It works very well for wet-on-wet techniques as well, which will give you beautifully-blended washes.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

In conclusion, writing on Khadi handmade paper needs a bit of trial-and-error, but when you get the hang of it, you wouldn’t want to stop. There are so many types of paint that you can try, and I’m sure there are a lot of pointed nibs that work as well.

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

Khadi Handmade Cotton Paper Review via Happy Hands Project

Have you tried Khadi? How do you like it?

SaveSave

Calligraphy Nib Review: Leonardt 40

Calligraphy Nib Review: Leonardt 40 Blue Pumpkin via Happy Hands Project

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a nib review here on the Happy Hands blog. During the recent Modern Calligraphy workshop, I got asked several times how different the Leonardt 40 nib was from Nikko G. These 2 nibs are usually the ones included in my workshop kits. However, I always advise to use this blue nib only when they’re already used to the G nib. So how different are these 2 nibs, really?

MORE FLEXIBLE THAN THE NIKKO G NIB

The Leonardt 40 is also called Hiro 40, or Blue Pumpkin. Similar to the Brause Steno Blue Pumpkin in appearance, this is a large nib with an equally large ink reservoir. It’s very flexible, so the pressure needed to get a thick swell in a Nikko G is not necessary with the Leonardt 40. Because it’s softer, just a bit of pressure makes the tines open up—allowing the ink to flow and form thick swells.

The Nikko G is stiff and somewhat tough, but the Leonardt is soft and more flexible.

Calligraphy Nib Review: Leonardt 40 Blue Pumpkin via Happy Hands Project

Because it’s more flexible, putting a lot of pressure results in a very thick downstroke. This thickness cannot be achieved using a Nikko G nib. The only downside is that the upstrokes are not very thin, which is essential to Copperplate calligraphy.

THE BLUE PUMPKIN GIVES THICKER SWELLS

For those who love to write modern calligraphy and aim for super thick swells, then this is the nib for you.

Calligraphy Nib Review: Leonardt 40 Blue Pumpkin via Happy Hands Project

For beginners, it’s always best to start with the stiff Nikko G nib (or Tachikawa G, which comes from the same manufacturer). Once you’ve mastered the concept of the pointed pen (pressure on the downstrokes, release on the upstrokes), then you can proceed with using the Leonardt 40.

Calligraphy Nib Review: Leonardt 40 Blue Pumpkin via Happy Hands Project

I’ve also noticed that my ink lasts longer with the Nikko G. I get to write more letters with one dip of ink with the Nikko than the Leonardt. Again, this is due to the flexibility of the latter. Because it produces thick swells, the Leonardt 40 needs more ink. So I dip this nib more often in ink when I’m writing.

I’d say this nib is worth a try if you haven’t done so yet. Nibs behave very differently with every calligrapher, so a nib that works well for one may not do wonders for another. But the paper and ink used also play a part, so make sure all your tools work well together. All in all, this nib is still one of my favourites. Check out my other favourite nibs in this roundup.

So have you tried using the Leonardt Blue Pumpkin? Yay or nay?

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Review: Walnut Ink Crystals

Walnut Ink Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project

I’ve purchased my walnut ink crystals months ago when I went on an online shopping binge for calligraphy supplies. I finally had the time last weekend to open my jar and do a little test. I was surprised to see that the ‘crystals’ were not the coarse crystals I thought it would be. Confession: I imagined them to be big and coarse crystals, similar to bath salts. In reality, it’s coarse, dark, and in powder form – which actually makes sense as it has to be mixed with water to be able to use it as ink.

So what exactly are walnut ink crystals? It’s dry powder made from English peat moss (not walnuts!) that is mixed with water to use for calligraphy, painting and staining. Writing with it creates varied tones, from deep browns to light sepia.

Walnut Ink Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project

Making the ink itself is easy as pie for there is no perfect formula. I used about a teaspoon of the powder to half a cup of lukewarm water, which resulted in a deep brown tint. Mix more water to the mixture and you get a lighter colour. You may use tap water as well, but lukewarm water dissolves the crystals faster. Just have a small jar ready and put in your preferred amount of crystals, fill the jar with water, and mix till there are no solid crystals left. Use as you would use regular ink for calligraphy. A little goes a long way!

I was a bit wary about how thin the mixture turned out to be. In my experience, thin, watery inks are synonymous to feathering. But I proved myself wrong. Oh, how I loved writing with it! It was super smooth, and I adore how the hues vary the more I write. I had no problems with the ink flow at all. I swear I couldn’t stop writing with it! I used it on my Daler Rowney layout pad and have yet to try it on different types of paper, but so far, so good! You have to try it for yourself.

Walnut Ink Calligraphy via Happy Hands Project

The walnut ink crystals were purchased from Paper & Ink Arts, written on a Daler Rowney layout pad with a Nikko G nib.

These are a Few of my Favorite Nibs

Favourite Pointed Pen Nibs via Happy Hands Project

I remember when pointed pen calligraphy was all new to me. I follow the blogs of inspiring calligraphers and usually ask them what nib they used on a certain artwork. I will order the same nibs they used and excitedly prepare them before dipping in glorious black ink. ‘Aaaah’, I thought, ‘this will make my calligraphy as lovely as {name of amazing calligrapher here}.’

Well, I was wrong. First, the nibs that worked perfectly with one person doesn’t mean it would work perfectly with me as well. The Hunt 101 for example, has been an all-time favorite of many but it always snags the paper on my upstrokes. It always makes that gritty sound no matter how light my pressure is. Second, even if the nib does work smoothly, I still won’t be able write like Laura Hooper. Uh, maybe not ever, but you get the picture. I wanted to be able to do the flourishes and swirls right away when I didn’t know the basics yet. So I learned that it takes A LOT of practice before I get a certain style going. Those brilliant calligraphers out there were all right about that.

I have been getting several queries about the nibs that I’ve been using and I feel that I need to share my favorites. The list usually changes but currently, here are a few of my favorite nibs which I hope will write smoothly with you.

Favourite Pointed Pen Nibs via Happy Hands Project

 

The Brause EF66 has long been on my favorites list. It may be tiny, but don’t judge it by its size! It makes gorgeous thicks and thins! It may scratch your paper a little bit during upstrokes, though, but this usually happens when I use a slightly coarse sheet. I usually have this problem with white ink on black paper. Because the paper is not smooth, I have to hold my pen feather-light during those tough upward strokes (that I would avoid if I could). Ink may get stuck underneath the nib, too, so make sure you give it a good soak and brush when you’re done with it. Having said all these, the EF66 gives gorgeous results. I use it everytime there’s a snail mail to write. Lately, I’ve been using it for wall art, too.

Now this is the best nib for beginners, in my humble opinion. The Nikko G is a very long-lasting Japanese nib. I use this in doing drills which have been quite often lately, and I’d say this nib can take a beating and still give good results! It is quite stiff with a medium flex and works great even for the heavy-handed. I love its size and its sharp point. I don’t lose it like I do with the EF66 (like one moment I know it was supposed to be there, and another moment passes and it was gone?) and the sharp point promises a very fine hairline. Put more pressure on the downstrokes and you’ll have lovely swells.

The Leonardt Steno (previously called Hiro 40) is a huge nib as far as nibs go. It’s easy to handle and much like the Brause Steno Blue Pumpkin when it comes to weight and size. It comes in a pretty blue color and used to be the go-to nib of stenographers, thus the name ‘Steno’. This nib’s tip is quite pointed which makes hairlines quite thin, but it writes smoothly and rarely skips. It produces defined line variations and is quite soft (be careful with the flexing!) that’s why this one right here is one of my favorites if I need to write bigger letters.

There you go! I linked all three nibs to Paper & Ink Arts because that’s where I order most of my nibs from. International shipping is quick and they have almost everything I need (and so much more). If you’re in Singapore, you can also check out the friendly people at Straits Commercial Art Co. or Overjoyed (which has Brause nibs).