Guides
The Best Fountain Pen Inks for Sketching and Artists
Waterproof for linework, water-soluble for washes, expressive blacks and colours — the best fountain pen inks for artists and sketchers.
Ink Swatching — How to Test and Catalogue Fountain Pen Inks
How to swatch and catalogue fountain pen inks — the tools, the technique, and how to build a useful reference library of the inks you own or want to try.
The Best Fountain Pen Inks for Ordinary Paper
Not all fountain pen inks bleed through or feather on ordinary paper. These well-behaved inks work reliably on copy paper, notebooks, and everyday…
The Best Inks for Calligraphy and Brush Lettering
Inks for italic nibs, stub nibs, and brush lettering — what works, what to avoid, and the best starting inks for calligraphic fountain pen writing.
The Best Iron Gall Fountain Pen Inks
Iron gall inks are the oldest fountain pen inks — and the most waterproof. The best modern iron gall inks for fountain pen use, safely and effectively.
The Best Fountain Pen Inks for Beginners
Your first fountain pen ink should be well-behaved and easy to clean. These are the best starting points — and why each earns the recommendation.
The Best Blue-Black Fountain Pen Inks
Blue-black is the most professional fountain pen colour — dark, readable, and distinctive. The best blue-blacks in every shade, from everyday to…
The Best Grey Fountain Pen Inks
Sophisticated, subtle, and underrated — the best grey fountain pen inks, from warm charcoal to cool slate and graphite. A guide to the forgotten colour.
The Best Orange Fountain Pen Inks
From vivid tangerine to warm amber and earthy rust — the best orange fountain pen inks, including some of the most dramatically shading inks available.
The Best Teal & Turquoise Fountain Pen Inks
Vivid teals, glowing turquoises, and complex blue-greens — the most beautiful teal and turquoise fountain pen inks with our honest recommendations.
The Best Purple Fountain Pen Inks
Vivid violets, rich royal purples, subtle lavenders, and dramatic magentas — the best purple fountain pen inks at every shade and price point.
The Best Red & Pink Fountain Pen Inks
True reds, deep burgundies, rose pinks, and vivid magentas — the best red and pink fountain pen inks, chosen for beauty, readability, and character.
