Van Dieman's The Wilderness Series Federation Peak Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

With summer ending and fall already laying its stake where I live, I've reluctantly gotten out some darker inks that I haven't tried out yet. The cooler weather and different feeling in the air seems like a perfect time to try out some more moody and ominous ink colors, right?

I've really been enjoying a small handful of ink samples that I got from Van Dieman's recently. Each ink I've used so far has so much to offer in terms of performance and color. The Wilderness Series is a collection of ten inks that represent the Tasmanian wilds that make me really want to visit some day. The latest ink in this collection that I've had the pleasure of using is called Federation Peak, sharing its name with the mountain found in Tasmania. The marketing copy does a great job of explaining the name:

This ink is an ash dark grey based upon Federation Peak, a lone quartzite mountain possessing a menacing sharp spire on the Eastern most tip of the East Arthur ranges, overlooking Hanging Lake and 600m above Lake Geeves in the southwest wilderness of Tasmania.

But I also encourage you to do your own reading on the mountain!

Getting back to the ink, it's a dark gray that looks more like a black ink when writing. If you look closer, you can see the ash gray mentioned earlier, but this is certainly a dark and ominous color. I like that's not so dark that you mistake it for a black ink. It looks black at first glance, but there's just enough character to make you look twice and notice the details. It can certainly pass for a black ink if needed.

What really makes this ink interesting for me is the small amount of shading that you can tease out in the thinner strokes. There's a dark gray tone and sparkle that peak out from under the black, similar to tall mountain peaks glimpsing out behind thick fog. This character makes me keep coming back to this ink over other bright inks that I have on my table. It's not a plan black or dark gray ink — it's something in between that has a small amount of sparkle, despite not having any kind of sparkle or glimmer ingredient. It's subtle and magical.

Like most (all?) Van Dieman's inks, this one is dye-based. It will resist water just fine but is gentler on your pens than a pigment-based ink. You sacrifice longevity, but it shouldn't be a problem for most people. If you need archival quality ink and paper, you definitely know what to look for.

In my use, the ink behaves really well. I haven't had any instances of ink getting stuck or not flowing smoothly. My experience with Van Dieman's as a whole has been nothing short of stellar. They make great inks that behave well in your pens, are dependable when writing, and feature interesting colors.

My ink collection is notably short on one thing at this point: true black inks. I just don't have space for them and have nearly zero interest in them. I know that there is plenty of nuance and character between different black inks, but it's not something that has interested me up to this point. With Federation Point and other dark gray inks, there's something about them that I am certainly drawn to. They're trying to show you something that is hidden beneath the surface, and I love watching that peek out in the shading on the page as you use the ink.

Federation Peak is available in a 30ml bottle for just under $13, or you can snag a small sample vial if you're not sure you want the whole bottle. These Van Dieman's inks are such a great value for what you get, and I encourage to check out all their other offerings!

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Van Dieman's Bass Strait Cobalt Blue Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

As I'm finding with all the Van Dieman's inks I've been testing recently, each ink brings along its own delightful research journey into a landscape or feature of Australia that I'd previously never stumbled upon. With this latest ink, I discovered that there is a name for the body of water that separates Tasmania from the mainland Australia (of course there is), and that it's called Bass Strait. It's commonly used as a shorter path between the Tasman Sea and Great Australian Bight, as opposed to going all the way around the southern point of Tasmania. Apparently, these waters can become treacherous in the right conditions, which is why the marketing copy for this ink includes some stormy undertones. I relate very closely to how this color blue reminds you of a deep body of water. It's beautiful and peaceful, but also dark and mysterious. In certain light and conditions, it can be frightening because of the unknown. With Bass Strait Cobalt Blue, the line between beauty and danger hiding beneath the surface is perfectly balanced.

I've really been enjoying testing all these inks from Van Dieman's because they're so well-behaved and easy to easy. On top of that, they're really unique colors with interesting background stories to go with them. With Bass Strait, you get a rich cobalt blue that shades between medium and dark blue, and you can even spy some purple in some areas. This depth and variation is what gives the ink its personality, and what really connects it to the name. With these Van Dieman's inks, I've found that you just have to sit back and enjoy the colors and unique ink properties — no need to worry about skipping or starting issues, clotting, or clean-up problems.

Bass Strait flows smoothly and hasn't had any issues starting or skipping, and I also haven't noticed any feathering or bleeding while using it. While your experience will certainly vary depending on what nib and paper combo you're using, this ink is exceptional in terms of performance and reliability.

My favorite thing about this ink, like so many others, is the shading properties. It's always a dark, rich blue, but there's just enough variation in the strokes to make it incredibly interesting. It doesn't matter if you're using a wide nib like I am in this sample or if you're using a small nib — the shading comes through. And if you're lucky, you'll get a glimpse of that purple hiding in the depths of the ink waiting for the right conditions to surface.

If you're looking for an ink that dries fast, this one won't win any awards. It routinely took about 20-25 seconds to dry completely, but it's currently incredibly humid where I live, and I assume that adds a couple seconds to the dry time. Definitely keep this in mind if you're a left-handed writer or want to use this ink in a fast-paced setting (like jotting a note in a notebook and closing it immediately).

While there are so many cobalt and cerulean inks (and I own so many of them), this one still speaks to me as an individual and unique entry that deserves some attention. If you already have 50 cobalt inks, you probably don't need another. But if you're looking for a lovely blue with great qualities and an interesting inspiration, definitely give Bass Strait a look.

You can purchase Bass Strait in a 30ml bottle or a 4ml sample vial. At just $12.95 for a bottle, you aren't risking much for what is a guaranteed excellent ink experience.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

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Van Dieman's Styx Valley Forest Green Ink Review

(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)

As summer is in full swing, I like to match some of the colors that I see outside. I also do the same thing during the winter, except my ink colors are the colors from outside that I miss seeing. At least I can enjoy this ink from the indoors where it's cool and not muggy. The latest ink I've been sporting indoors is the Styx Valley Forest Green from Van Dieman's.

Named after the Styx River Valley in Tasmania, this forest green does a great job of representing the source material.

Image Source: Wikipedia

Image Source: Australian Traveller

I've always had a soft spot for medium and dark green inks, but they just don't get the love they deserve because I'm such a sucker for more vibrant colors. A well-done dark ink can be just as satisfying to use for me — I just have to remember to use them even when my impulse always goes for the bright colors. I'd like to keep Styx Valley Forest Green in my rotation for quite a while because I'm just in love with the dark green hue and the moderate amount of shading that it lets through.

The amount of shading here isn't awe-inspiring, but it does provide some subtle shifts between a few dark and medium greens that makes me think of tall trees bending in a breeze. There's depth to the colors of a forest if you're looking at it as a whole instead of a single tree or branch. This ink, for me anyway, reminds me to slow down and take a breath. Life is short, but that's no excuse to rush through it. Appreciate the unique colors and senses.

Everything else about this ink is fairly standard. The flow is fantastic. I've never had a hard start or any skipping when using this ink, and that's not as easy to accomplish as you might think. It flows onto the page smoothly and leaves behind crisp lines. I haven't noticed any bleeding or feathering, regardless of what type of paper I'm using.

One thing that is worth calling out as a negative is the dry time. I'm not sure I've ever used a green ink that's been fast-drying, and this one is no exception. With this large 1.5mm stub nib, the drying times can be a little longer, but not by much in my experience. The ink is normally dry by the 30-second mark, but every now and then a large blob will take longer to dry. Just keep that in mind if your grip follows the ink or if you intend to jot down quick notes and close your notebook immediately after. This isn't a good ink for that because you'll end up with lots of smudges and little spots on the opposite page.

Cleaning out this ink is just what I'd expect — easy. There's not much more to say about that. The ink washes out easily without any fuss.

Van Dieman's Styx Valley Forest Green goes for about $13 for a 30ml bottle, which is a great price for the quality of ink you're getting. If you're not sure you want to commit to the whole bottle, you can always go for a 4ml sample for a few bucks. If you like green inks (or just need some cheer in your life!), try out Styx Valley in your next purchase.

(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)

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Enjoy reading The Pen Addict? Then consider becoming a member to receive additional weekly content, giveaways, and discounts in The Pen Addict shop. Plus, you support me and the site directly, for which I am very grateful.

Membership starts at just $5/month, with a discounted annual option available. To find out more about membership click here and join us!