Having tested many of the world’s fountain pen ink brands, now is the time for me to put my findings into context and over the next few posts I’ll be looking at Robert Oster Signature Inks.

What I wanted to achieve with this particular marinescape was to capture the greeny blue of the water and somehow relate it to both the land and sky. Using Aqua, Torquay, Marine and School Blue I created a blended sky with the School Blue applied wet in wet last. I then used a very light wash of Peach washing out to nothing from left to right. Once dry I went in with brush strokes of watered down Aqua, Torquay, Marine and School Blue slowly building up a couple of layers. Once dry, I painted in the horizon using Dark Chocolate with hints of Ever Green. The houses were created by bleaching into the sky and then creating all the fine detailing using Dark Chocolate and Peach with highlights using full strength bleach applied with a rigger brush.

For plein air journaling, these work very well and the big difference here between paints and inks is that fountain inks are dye based – so no sediment and therefore a much purer colour and finish. AND of course, your beautiful handwriting will be written with ink from the same palette ensuring that your journal is created using one art medium! Perfection!

Buy my artwork: I have finally given into pressure and opened an ETSY shop. If you’d like to buy any of the original art featured on my site you can purchase it here. I will do my upmost to add value to your investment over time – click here to access the shop . I am also accepting commissions for swatch tests. So, if you have a favourite ink(s) and some words for someone special, or maybe just for yourself, drop me a line and we can discuss further.

If you’d like to know more about this project, please take a look at the Mission Statement.

Art created on Bockingford 200lb watercolour paper using man made fibre watercolour brushes

Ink samples very kindly donated by Robert Oster

Just for the record – I do this for myself, I receive no remuneration what-so-ever and I tell it exactly how I see it.