Kakimori has a fold-out leaflet introducing a selection of our inks and pens, available at our shop and stockists. With a focus on illustration over photography, the front and back cover artwork has been drawn using the very inks and writing tools featured within.
The illustrator behind these delightful drawings is Hiuta Kume, who worked with a variety of our writing tools firsthand to create our leaflet.
When asked, she generously offered her thoughts on each tool in detail, and we couldn’t help but share them with you. The following are her own words of reflection, shared as she wrote them.
This edition features her tips for drawing with Kakimori inks, along with her favourite colours — be sure to also read the dip pen edition.
What she loves
I’d been searching for fountain pen-friendly ink that is water-resistant, lightfast and mixable, so I was amazed when I first used these inks.
They are highly translucent and vibrant, with beautiful tonal variations that make them a pleasure to work with, not to mention their ability to be layered. The Kakimori colour range is made up of impeccably nuanced hues that can elevate a drawing on their own. The ink is rich and full of depth when applied heavily, and translucent when used lightly, each colour offering outstanding expression and versatility. I also love the box packaging that makes them easy to store as you build your collection.
Ink tips
The appearance of ink lines varies dramatically with the paper you choose. To bring out the best of any ink, be sure to choose paper that captures its tonal variations. If you’re using Kakimori ink for the first time, I suggest purchasing paper from their range for the best possible results. After that, you can experiment with different paper varieties to find your favourite.
When it comes to paper for drawing with ink alone, I’m a fan of the orange and green sketchbooks by Maruman, or ones by Sirius — both are affordable, widely available and perfect for exploring ink’s tonal variations. (For using ink on large areas, Maruman paper is on the thin side, so I’d recommend Sirius.)
For covering larger areas with ink, I found diluting with the diluting solution rather than water slowed the absorption and made it easier to create soft effects. Placing small amounts of ink in a small flower palette and gradually adjusting the colour works well.
Here’s a little trick I use when I've applied ink too heavily — let the ink lightly dry, then press a kneadable eraser into the area to absorb the ink and lighten the colour. (This may not work as well with highly absorbent papers.)
The kneadable eraser also comes in handy if you need a letter to dry fast, or when you want to check whether the ink has dried. Be mindful not to reuse the eraser on a fresh part of your drawing, or the absorbed ink might transfer — lightly knead the eraser after each use to make sure there’s no ink residue on the surface before using again.
Her favourite colours
04 Karari
The first colour I put in the Frost pen. The cheerful, crisp blue reminds me of a bright and clear summer sky — the kind that naturally lifts your mood as you write.
06 Toppuri
When used with paper that takes ink well, it develops a wonderful intensity and depth, just like the night sky after the sun has completely set. It adds a rich character to any drawing.
09 Mukuri
The first colour that caught my eye. I thought it was a beautifully refined shade with a subtle touch of red. A stunning alternative to black ink.
Working with Kume gave us a whole new appreciation for our writing tools — it was an absolute delight to see our inks for writing embraced as an artistic medium by a professional illustrator.
We hope Kume’s tips will inspire your own explorations with ink. You can find more of her work on herwebsite.
