The intense heat continues day after day.
On such days, perhaps one of the pleasures of this season is spreading out your favorite ink and taking your time to write or draw in a cool room, enjoying such quiet moments.
Whether it's writing summer greetings or adding a short message to a souvenir for your hometown visit.
Just choosing a refreshing summer color instead of your usual black ink can lift your spirits a bit.
This time, Paper Tree has carefully selected and will introduce our recommended "inks to use in summer."
From colors that quickly sell out due to popularity to a secret staff favorite, we have gathered inks we hope you'll pick up this summer.
Fox & Quills
Peacock Iron Gall
First, we introduce Fox & Quills from the United States.
Peacock Iron Gall is a blue-green reminiscent of a peacock's feather.
It's a color that can't quite be called blue or green, with a depth that brings to mind the ocean or a deep lake.
These meticulously handcrafted inks offer an astonishingly smooth writing experience and beautiful hairline strokes.
They are highly praised by calligraphers worldwide.
This ink is an iron gall ink made with red wine and cochineal dye, but it has a higher pH than typical iron gall inks, so you can enjoy it with less wear on your nib.
The Creative Kinds
Next, we introduce the Italian brand The Creative Kinds.
These solid inks are made with plant-derived natural pigments and essential oils, boasting beautiful color development.
Their smooth writing experience, where even fine hairlines don't break, is loved by many calligraphers.
This time, we will introduce three colors recommended for summer.
Celeste (Shimmer)
A color meaning "sky" or "blue sky" in Italian.
It's a refreshing blue reminiscent of a clear summer sky.
Sea Glass (Soft Shimmer)
A color inspired by "sea glass," glass fragments polished by waves.
It's an ethereal color also known as "sea jewels" or "mermaid's tears."
Nightfall (Shimmer)
A deep blue reflecting the quiet time as dusk transitions into night.
When written, the fine glitter sparkles delicately in the light.
As it dries, the glitter settles beautifully, and the ink's slightly raised texture is another unique charm of this ink.
Maki Shimano × Tono & Lims
Gleaming Summer
This ink was created to evoke the shimmering sunlight on the water's surface in summer.
The sparkle created by white, blue, and green glitter is just like the summer sea.
Tilting the ink bottle allows the glitter settled at the bottom to slowly dance, and just watching it can evoke a summer scene.
The written letters are also refreshing, making this ink perfect for the season.
MARVY × Shoko Harada
Summer Wind Ink
A three-color ink set themed around seasonal winds.
"Kumpu" (gentle breeze), "Ryofu" (cool breeze), and "Kurohaen" (black southerly wind) each express different seasonal landscapes.
The charming aspect is also the Japanese seasonal colors, such as a refreshing bluish-green and a green reminiscent of fresh foliage.
Furthermore, the package features a flying sugar glider named "Tanyo" carried by the wind, and its adorable design brings a smile to your face.
Rohrer & Klingner
Finally, we introduce a hidden gem recommended by our staff.
Zeichentusche from Germany's Rohrer & Klingner is a waterproof and lightfast drawing (pigment) ink.
It can be used with a wide range of art materials, including dip pens, brushes, and even airbrushes, allowing you to enjoy beautiful color development and delicate gradations with fine pigments.
The five stars (★★★★★) on the label indicate the highest level of lightfastness, so you can use it with confidence for your artwork.
Conclusion
How did you like our "recommended inks for summer"?
One of the joys of ink is how changing the color can make your usual writing and illustrations feel a little more special.
Paper Tree plans to continue introducing seasonal ink recommendations, as well as inks recommended by the calligraphers we work with in our workshops.
Find your favorite ink this summer!