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 introduces our nibs and their various features and characteristics — be sure to also read the ink edition.
Pen nib
I love how the rounded nib tip creates smooth, steady lines without catching, even on textured papers like watercolour paper. Unlike conventional dip pen nibs, the hardness of stainless steel produces consistent lines with relative ease. It feels very much like a fountain pen, and I imagine it would appeal to anyone who might shy away from dip pens like the G-pen.
Stainless steel is resistant to wear, and with minimal spreading of the nib, I can see one nib lasting a long time. Aside from ink, I found it also worked well with watercolours.
Metal nib
This is an incredibly unique nib that can produce both fine and broad lines with total freedom and ease of control. It also holds ink well, allowing you to complete a small drawing with just one dip. The stainless steel, brass and copper versions each vary subtly in writing experience: the stainless steel nib feels relatively hard, while the copper nib feels soft. Personally, I enjoyed the brass nib the most.
The nib’s impressive line variation, combined with the translucency of Kakimori inks, means you can create wonderfully expressive drawings using just one pen and ink. By using the nib upright to draw dark outlines, then letting the ink dry and colouring with the nib laid flat against the paper, you can create drawings that beautifully showcase the ink’s tonal variations. My tip is to remove excess ink from the nib by dabbing it against the lip of the bottle so it’s not too dark on the paper. The cleanup is as simple as rinsing the nib, making it easy to draw any time.
Glass nib
This nib is also capable of a wide range of line widths from fine to broad, but is trickier to control than the Metal nib. Its beauty is in its spontaneity — it lends itself to freeform drawing and the happy accidents that come with it.
I was so impressed by the lines this nib made that I became completely obsessed when working on the sample patterns for the leaflet, trying the nib upright, flat on the paper, and everything in between.
It’s also worth noting that this nib can be used with a wooden holder, making it less precious to handle than an all-glass pen.
Kume admits that before discovering Kakimori dip pens, she had some reservations about dip pens. Having explored our range, she says that her favourite combination would have to be the Mini holder paired with the Pen nib — adding that it felt just like writing with a regular pen, making the dip pen a lot more approachable.
Dip pens are not just for writing, but also a fantastic tool for drawing. We hope Kume’s thoughts will further inspire your own explorations. You can find more of her work on her website.
