Van Dieman’s - Blue Jay Crown
Van Dieman’s - Blue Jay Crown, swatched on a Col-O-Ring swatch card (design is a Yoseka Stationery stamp).
Screenshot taken on August 3rd, 2024.
This is my very first Van Dieman’s ink. I didn’t really know anything about the company before, only that I remember the boxes having fairly busy packaging with artwork on each. As I’ve learned from their website, it’s a family owned company from Tasmania! Which is sweet, I always love small businesses thriving.
One thing I’d like to note before I continue, is their stance on using AI generated artwork in their content. Like I mentioned in my post on FWP Aurorealis, AI brings up a lot of mixed feelings for me. However, I think my stance has solidified that I don’t support AI for artwork, especially for commercial purposes. Going forward, there is another ink sample in my stash (thanks to the lovely Esunotto) that I will still swatch and share, and I will swatch ink samples that are passed down to me along the grapevine. But I won’t be purchasing from a company that uses AI in their artwork, especially when a) fountain pens are such an analogue hobby, and b) the fountain pen and stationery community is SO creative that I believe finding an artist to commission wouldn’t be too difficult or expensive.
Ink Swatches
Writing Sample / Ink Review
In terms of colour, I do think it’s pretty. It’s a nice milky blue colour that makes me think of the dreamy cloud sequence from Winnie the Pooh with heffalumps and woozels. In the large pool swatches, it has some little bits of multishading with a lilac colour. In writing, there’s some very, very soft shading that’s present.
However, this ink was dryyy, and that feels intense coming from me (who’s generally picky at all for ink flow). It wrote horribly when I tried printing with it, though I had better luck with cursive. It definitely wasn’t an enjoyable experience, but that seems quite common for inks this pale.
Hi! Just a disclaimer that:
I believe this ink may have been a free sample with a Penablers order, or I was gifted it by one of my ink friends - I can’t remember ;_;
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See all other blue inks, or check some similar inks out below:
A beautiful, acid wash blue.