Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach by Nick Stewart

Creative workshops with Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach delivered by Nick Stewart

Foreword

Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach encompass in Nick Stewartâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s professional and creative practice an essential passion and unbridled enthusiasm for the medium, application and cultural relevance of practice driven engagement. His investigations into this little known area, offer an insightful and creative edge not just in terms of its extensive rigour and ground-breaking approach, more so through its overarching educational focus and intent. Nick has successfully repositioned, re-examined and expanded the knowledge base through intense practice led endeavours that have unlocked previously unrealised potential in both the medium and application techniques. His series of successful community and university based workshops have been a pivotal aspect of his extraordinary experimentation, allowing a breadth of access across a diverse demographic, keying into a rich historical context while celebrating a new lease of life for a medium in decline. The potential and future development for his research is immense, with opportunities on a national and international level. The cultural and social capital in regard to both product and educational development is clearly evident. Having known Nick for over twelve years as both educator and practitioner, I have utilised his experience and expertise on a number of occasions across a range of courses at University for the Creative Arts. He is a natural communicator and inspirational educator who easily engages with students from the widest range of educative and cultural backgrounds. His Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach workshops are a unique art experience.

Gary Clough RCA Head of International Programs University for the Creative Arts

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Introduction

A warm welcome to my world of fountain pen inks and bleach, a new frontier for inspiration and creative experimention. A world where taking risks and making mistakes is positively encouraged while using the most unlikely of mediums that produce stunning visual outcomes.

Nick with the ‘Big Brush’

By way of introduction, my name is Nick Stewart and I am the Creative Director and co-owner of Stewart 2 Limited, a branding and communications agency based in Rochester, Kent. I am also a Full Member of Letter Exchange - an internationally recognised group of skilled lettering professionals.

It was at Brighton University, where I was tutored by the renowned calligrapher Mim Stribley, that I was introduced to an abstract world of lettering and illustration - a world that still continues to intrigue and fascinate. Fountain pen inks are made up of dyes. When applied to blotting paper the dyes are released and the colours spread outwards - imagine a drop of petrol on a wet tarmac surface. I have found a way of achieving and utilising this effect on watercolour paper. The chromatic process is very much serendipity led and the beauty of the final outcomes are invariably dictated by this. Because they are natural and non contrived, the viewer is naturally drawn to them - like watching clouds or a sunset. I’m also a firm believer in the concept of ‘less is more’ and through these processes you can get so much from so little. I also love the idea of alchemy or in this case, creating a gold effect through subjecting fountain pen inks to bleach. But this is merely a beginning. Many of the outcomes have evolved, with some still evolving, through my ongoing investigations into new and visually exciting painting and illustration processes and techniques. To complement my research and test my findings, I have been running infrequent fountain pen ink and bleach workshops, mainly on behalf of University for the Creative Arts but also Rochester Cathedral and most recently The Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery in Diest, Belgium. The workshop content varies but the reaction is always one of wonder: ‘I would never have thought to use fountain pen inks in this way before’, ‘I never knew there so many ink colours available’, ‘The bleach effect is awesome!’ To help explain ‘Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach’ the following pages look at:     

what’s possible with this medium and what can be delivered the content, delivery and outcomes of 3 previous workshops what various informed individuals think about what I’m doing levels to which workshops can be tailored why you might consider partaking in or commissioning a workshop.

Ink and bleach For many students, the simple yet stunning bright neon reaction between fountain pen ink and bleach is enough to stir their curiosity. The process is so simple that anyone can achieve a visual result with simple patterning and handwriting with bleach on fountain pen ink.

Various Waterman inks and bleach

On a fundamental level this simple process is a perfect bridge to link science, art and literature together in a visually impactive bond. This is where chemistry and chromatography could become an art form and who knows... possibly a recognised genre of its own?

Quink black and bleach

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Quink black and bleach

Swatch Testing (chromatography with bleach)

Diamine Swatch Tests

Noodler’s Rome Burning - gorgeous chromatography

Ink Sample Vials and Swatch Card Albums

Chromatography explores the properties of fountain pen inks. By saturating an area of heavy rough textured water colour paper, usually a Bockingford 200lb, and then adding a drop of ink into the wetted area, the ink blends with the water and reduces in concentration as it spreads away from the point of entry. As the ink comes out of solution the dyes that make up the ink can be observed in different areas as the paper dries. It’s taking chromatography into an art context. And once dry, you can write or paint on top of the swatch with bleach which reacts at a different intensity depending upon the density of the ink underneath. The reactions can vary from a dull gold over dense ink areas to a vibrant neon effect over less dense areas. But what is of key importance is that it is only with fountain pen inks that this bizarre reaction happens.

Swatch Testing (chromatography with bleach continued)

Top 12 Fountain Pen inks tested in 2017 - so much from so little! (Swatch card size 70mm x 94mm)

Each fountain pen ink is unique. There are many brands with many inks available from those brands. Some inks donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t react while others reveal a whole range of unexpected behaviours, colours, reactions and creative possibilities. To-date I have subjected over 1,000 individual inks to my bleach swatch testing process and discovered some real gems, all of which could be of great value to creatives of all abilities in all fields of practice. NOTE: Collecting ink samples and swatch testing is a hobby in its own right. I regularly receive requests for workshops simply focusing on my ink and bleach swatch testing technique which you can evidence in the testimonials section.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Water Based Techniques - Chromatography By employing water based techniques, one can achieve a convincing watercolour style painting by simply letting the inks do what they do. In the illustration below, the sky and foregrounds created themselves. The detailed trees in the foreground were achieved using a different brown ink applied with a dip pen.

Noodler’s Rome Burning and Noodler’s Walnut

The wonderful thing is that this simple wet in wet technique is actually easier and quicker than watercolour painting! Without even touching upon the word ‘serendipity’ I think this would appeal to all amateur artists for this one reason alone. Harking back to my mantra of ‘less is more’, the illustration has been created with 2 inks although at first glance one might assume that 4 or 5 colours have been employed. For enthusiasts of art journaling, diary keeping and sketching, this simple and natural process enables a simple and seamless visual continuity and a medium continuity between image and the written word.

Water Based Techniques - Chromatography (continued)

Diamine inks

Robert Oster Inks

KWZ Inks

What is also of interest is that all ink ranges are made differently. Each ink maker has their own and recipes and processes. So, one range of inks may suit a particular subject matter better than another. Robert Oster Signature inks are ideal for bright conditions. KWZ inks are more suited to soft focus. Diamine are great for more graphic use. Noodlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s are more experimental and abstract.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Bleed, Resist and Bleach Techniques I have recently been testing document inks, which are bleach resistant, and this has thrown up a whole new area of experimentation and techniques when used together with non document inks!

Diamine Sunset, Noodler’s Lexington Grey and bleach wash

The final effect is visually pleasing in many ways as not only has the outcome been achieved using only two inks, adhering to my ethos of ‘less is more’, but because of the limited colour palette, the complex final image looks fresh and not overworked. The mottled gold areas where the bleach hasn’t obliterated the background colour add those magical serendipity effects unique to this process.

Bleed, Resist and Bleach Techniques (continued)

Diamine Teal and bleach

Taking inspiration from historical woodblock prints and incorporating a circular concept to evoke a sense of infinity, I have employed one of my own art techniques. I chose Diamine Teal ink not just for its colour. It bleeds easily with water on a Bockingford watercolour paper giving a range of mottled greeny blues at the breakdown of the wash and responds dramatically when subjected to bleach, revealing in some areas a pale salmon pink colour. The linework was applied once the background washes were dry, and was achieved using the same dark Teal ink with a brush and dip pen with a Zebra G nib.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Bleed and Bleach Techniques

De Atramentis Ebony and bleach

It’s this unique combination of dyes and bleach that makes what I’m investigating different. It would appear to be a niche genre - immediate, different and visually impactive - but more than anything else, it’s captivating and inspiring through its inherent serendipity.

Bleed, Blend and Bleach Techniques

Various Diamine Inks and bleach highlights

Various Diamine Inks

Cult Pen Diamine Deep Dark Purple and bleach flecks

The blending qualities of Diamine fountain pen inks are unique. Adding pink on top a dark colour for example one would expect the dark colour to absorb the pink - not here! The pink comes to front! Using bleach as a highlighter is both more immediate and more vivid than using a white paint. The depth and tone of the colours are another unique attribute. The degree of visual complexity is up to the artist.

Diamine Metallic Shimmer Inks

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Blend Techniques (continued)

Abstract Calligraphy with Diamine Metallic Shimmer Inks

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Four colour (CMYK) mixing

Another aspect of fountain pen ink art, is creating colours out of the four base colours: cyan, magenta, yellow and black. Once a colour has been created it can be used for handwriting with a fountain pen. As well as for writing, these four colours can be used like watercolour paints for illustration and painting in the studio or plein air, plus, they all react with bleach, which can be used for erasing, highlighting and as a colour catalyst.

The colour wheel has been created using the four base colours

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Four colour (CMYK) mixing (continued)

Spot the difference? The top 2 illustrations were created with individual inks. The bottom 3 illustrations were achieved making colours with the CMYK kit and bleach! NOTE: As a professional graphic artist I can also deliver top tips for concept development (the creative process), design and composition, to help students maximise the visual impact of their art.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Abstract marks

Fountain pens are the obvious tool for employing fountain pen inks but this doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to be the case any longer. Applying the inks is another area of investigation which the workshops can cover and involves looking at pens and brushes which may deviate in concept and design from the accepted norms and can involve personal customisation.

NOTE: There is also the opportunity to abstract the processes further by adding metallic dusts to the art while wet.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Workshops - Case Study 01 - Sakura Fountain Pen Gallery, Diest

With 22 students varying in age from 12 to 74 years, the first task was to investigate a few drops of Parker Black ink and observe their chromatic behaviours when added to wetted areas on cartridge paper. We looked at the colours that came out of solution and the serendipity effect of the drying patterns. The students were then asked to create a series of black shapes which once semi dry, were decorated with marks created with dip pens and a 50:50 concentration of bleach and water.

Task two involved blending two coloured inks together and repeating the task once again. As well as observing the subtle chromatography and blending outcomes between the colours, they noticed that the bleach can affect different colours in different ways. In this case turning areas of the brown ink green and areas of the purple ink electric blue.

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Workshops - Case Study 01 (continued)

Task three involved looking at paper textures. Watercolour paper samples were perfect for allowing the students to de-construct a few drops of Noodler’s Rome Burning. The heavier the water colour paper, the more intense the colours will appear with beautiful purples and yellows bleeding out of the brown. Once dry, they used their dip pens to add illustration and handwriting with the original dull brown Noodler’s Rome Burning ink.

The final task involved blending metallic inks together using automatic pens. A good quality cartridge paper is perfect for this. Using Herbin Amethyste de l’Oural, Caroube de Chypre and Emerald de Chivor the students were encouraged to use both the full width of the pens and to then turn the pens sideways to achieve a thin line giving a lovely linear contrast. Alternating the colours and then flooding colours and bleach into the lines while still wet gave some stunning outcomes. And once they were fully dry, the sheens and the metals appeared too. So, by blending 2 or 3 metal inks they got the base colours, the sheen colours, the metal colours, the blend colours AND the bleach colours. So much from so little! And all achieved in 2.5 hours.

Workshops - Case Study 02 - Illuminating Beasts, Rochester Cathedral

Identity created with Diamine fountain pen inks

The Illuminating Beasts project at Rochester Cathedral was a community project using inks and bleach. With 68 students (ranging from ages 6 to 82 years - some with special needs), I used 12 small bottles of various coloured Diamine fountain pen inks, 16 dip pens, 16 brushes and a ream of cartridge paper over 6 workshops of 2.5 hours duration each. Using the mythical beast featured in the ‘Textus Roffensis’ as the main source, each student was tasked with producing one illuminated capital letter ‘R’ using only fountain pen inks and bleach. The workshop began with a brief slideshow outlining the history of illuminated letters, delivered by myself. This was followed by reference collecting direct from the cathedral using sketch books and cameras. Once back in the studio, the students had 1.5 hours to create their own illuminated intial capital letter. I supplied a sheet of ornamental designs and patterns for the students to use in case of creative block and gave a quick demonstration of blending inks and adding bleach. I then worked ‘one to one’ amongst each group of 11 students until completion. The workshop received 100% satisfaction score on the participant evaluations!

Students at work

Workshops - Case Study 02 (continued)

Student work with various Diamine Inks and bleach highlights

Student work

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Workshops - Case Study 03 - KJV400, Rochester Cathedral

I worked with ten elite sixth form art students from across north Kent to produce a stunning art show for Rochester Cathedral to celebrate the 400th year of the King James Bible. Each student was tasked to produce 3 banners measuring 2000mm x 850mm over a total of 6 full day workshops. All artworks were hand crafted using a limited palette of Quink ink and bleach on paper with copious amounts of serendipity. All texts were taken from the Book of Psalms. With artwork strung from scaffold prism frames, the event culminated with a 2 week long show in the Cathedral Crypt. The exhibition attracted 20,000 visitors in a two week period, a record for the Cathedral. 2 days were dedicated to experimentation, 1 day to the concept and design of the panels and 3 days set aside for the artwork. When you see the final results, the finished art is incredible. These students had never been anywhere near ink and bleach in their lives!

Students at work Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

Workshops - Case Study 03 (continued)

Testimonials and Validation ‘The work Nick is doing is a fascinating exploration into some of the yet-to-be-discovered aspects of the composition of fountain pen ink. With a recent boom in diversity of fountain pen ink colours, Nick is exploring the makeup of these inks through his art in a way I haven’t seen done before. His work is visually stunning and fascinating to those within the fountain pen community as well as those who can simply appreciate beautiful art. I support Nick in his efforts to explore the boundaries in what can be expressed with fountain pen ink. I am Brian Goulet and I am founder of GouletPens.com, one of the largest online fountain pen retail stores in the world. I have over 1,000 videos reviewing and showcasing various pens, notebooks, and fountain pen ink. I know or am connected to just about anyone who is moving the needle in the fountain pen world, and Nick came up on my radar in last year through his exploration of ink and bleach. It’s incredible to see his talent and dedication to his craft, for the creativity expressed in his art and for the excitement and enthusiasm he’s generated within the fountain pen community.’ Brian Goulet Co-owner/CEO at Goulet Pens brian.goulet@gouletpens.com www.GouletPens.com

‘Rochester Cathedral first worked with Nick Stewart in 2011 on the KJV400 project. Nick ran a series of inspirational Quink ink and bleach workshops for teenagers which resulted in a stunning exhibition in the Cathedral crypt. The exhibition attracted 20,000 visitors in a two week period, a record for the Cathedral. The project linked Facebook page is still attracting interest. www.facebook.com/KJV400-256256614393655/?hc_ref=SEARCH We then engaged Nick again in 2016 to deliver a series of workshops on illumination taking inspiration from beasts real and mythical found in decoration in and around the building. This time his medium was coloured fountain pen inks and bleach using techniques learned through his personal project. Nick delivered 6 workshops to varying audiences including families, adults, teenagers, retirees and students with special needs. Nick was informative, inspirational and encouraging in his approach. The resulting exhibition inspired over 1,000 cathedral visitors to submit their own illuminated letter for inclusion in the display. We are just about to embark on another ink and bleach calligraphy project with Nick. The target audience will be local teenagers who will be encouraged to explore and experiment in the art of penmanship taking inspiration from manuscripts in the cathedral collection. Nick is a creative thinker who passes on his enthusiasm for ink and bleach to each audience he works with.’ Helen Bradshaw Education Officer at Rochester Cathedral Helen.Bradshaw@rochestercathedral.org (Evaluation document available on request).

Testimonials and Validation (continued) ‘Nick came to our attention during the launch of our fountain pen Shimmer Inks. Not only did he test the new range with his perfect handwriting but he used our inks in artistic and calligraphic ways that we could never have imagined. His in-depth research and chromatic based artworks posted on his blog are an inspiration. As an international manufacturer of one the world’s largest ink ranges, we are aware of his ambitions to promote fountain pen inks and bleach as a stand alone art medium. An ambition that Diamine sincerely hope is realised.’ Phil Davies Production Manager at Diamine Inks phil.davies20@btconnect.com www.diamineinks.co.uk

‘What Nick has achieved with Fountain Pens Ink and Bleach is quite significant. Not only is this a visually impactive illustration and lettering investigation that has caught the imagination of an international audience, but he may well have stumbled upon a new art medium through re-imagining an already existing product intended for use in a related but separate visual communication sector. He has certainly remained true to his manifesto and the outcomes he has revealed to-date would suggest that he’s unwittingly found himself at the forefront of something new and exciting. I very much like the idea of taking a process from the science lab and transforming it into art forms with new techniques found through the project investigations. With some wider recognition and credibility behind it, this project has the potential to grow into a seminal piece of creative investigation with genuine value for creativity as a whole.’ Jonny Tucker Editor at Blueprint Magazine johnny.inc@btinternet.com www.blueprintawards.com www.designcurial.com

Testimonials and Validation (continued) ‘I ran into Nick’s work at the beginning of 2016. I myself I am an avid inkophile who has been experimenting with inks not only as a utilitarian tool for writing but also, as tool for expressing oneself in an artistic fashion. Nick’s work caught my attention because of its immense creativity and innovation. No one but him has jumped into the field of combining Ink and Bleach as a medium of artistic significance. His work is breathtaking and I am in awe of his talents in successfully combining various techniques (washes, calligraphy, line work etc) with ink and bleach. I am a known Ink Reviewer at The Fountain Pen Network (FPN) and although I have reviewed hundreds of mass-produced inks, I specialized in testing and reviewing hand crafted inks. The Fountain Pen Network is an international online community with more than 100,000 members (101,778 members as of January 2017). The last 10 years we have seen an explosion of colour in the ink market and it is Nick’s work that brings forward the immense new possibilities for ink as an artistic tool. Seeing what Nick can do with ink and bleach reminds people that in this era of technological advances, there are still basic things, ordinary things like fountain pen ink that can give us great satisfaction in our artistic pursuits. Nick’s impact on the Fountain Pen Community is tangible; every time he experiments with a brand of ink there is a surge from the FP community to acquire the inks he uses so they can also recreate his famous washes and swatch cards. In our exclusive, but ever growing Fountain Pen Community, Nick is a Rock Star!!!’ Claudia Astorquiza Fountain Pen Network Administrator Owner at Bauer Inks Claudia.Astorquiza@gmx.net www.bauerinks.ca

Testimonials and Validation (continued)

Robert Oster Owner at Robert Oster Signature Inks signature@robertoster.com www.RobertOster.com

Nick Stewart - Fountain Pen Inks and Bleach ÂŠ2017

The Potential I believe that there is a huge opportunity for fountain pen inks and bleach as a creative medium. I have shown their versatility and how easily they adapt to mainstream art areas. I am also suggesting that they could be considered as a stand alone genre in their own right. I have found ways to harness their natural behaviours - their bleach reactions, their chromatic qualities and how to unlock the serendipity inherent within individual inks. I have enhanced their creative possibilities and maximised their visual impact. And as the testimonials would suggest, there is more to come.

Workshop Levels I have outlined the possibilities and show cased 3 workshops - from an easy introduction and overview, to two specific workshops with themed outcomes - one at an easy level and the other at an advanced level. I can tailor workshops to suit any format at any level from easy bleach on ink patterning to intricate colour mixing and bleaching. I can also create workshops to complement and enhance ‘O’ level, ‘A’ level, Further Education and enrichment programmes.

Why commission or partake in a workshop? - it’s new, exciting, engaging and unique - suitable for most age groups - 8 years and upwards - huge range of fountain pen ink colours - scalable and manageable - swatch cards and sketch books to larger scale art - encompasses handwriting, lettering, calligraphy, illustration, painting and abstract art - huge range of stunning visual outcomes - helps individuals to start thinking ‘outside of the box’ - naturally encourages individuals to experiment and learn from making mistakes - supports the current retro interest in traditional art processes - caters for all technical and creative abilities - 100% positive feedback from all workshops run to-date - complements ‘O’ level, ‘A’ level, Further Education and enrichment programmes.

For further information please contact: Nick Stewart 25 Davy Court, Rochester, Kent ME1 1AE M +44 (0)7956 365155 T +44 (0)1634 880705 Email: nick@stewart2.com Website: www.quinkandbleach.wordpress.com Instagram: @quinkandbleach Facebook: facebook.com/inkandbleach/ Twitter: @NickiStew