What Is Blue

[Gawain]

Greetings!

 

For me, blue is sky blue. Not the darker ball point pen blue. I love sky blue!

 

Nathan Tardif nailed it in my estimation when he manufactured North Star Liberator for the Commonwealth Pen Show in 2016. I bought a bottle from Nathan. I really enjoyed meeting him in person.

 

I had a genuine gem in my position and I didn't know it. I have been trying in vein to find a replacement if *gasp gag* my bottle ever runs out.

 

The closest I've come is Noodler's Monkey Hanger Blue. I just ordered a bottle from Pure Pens, now all I have to do is wait a month for it to arrive from Great Britain (I'm in the U.S. of A).

 

I was wondering if anyone else has been on my quest?

I was wondering if anyone else fell in love with North Star Liberator?

I was wondering what is your most accurate sky blue you have discovered in your inky thoughts and inky writes. Not much green, just perfect sky blue.

 

Here is a write up I found on the internets: (https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/limited-noodlers-ink-north-star-1871611195)

"Simply not available.This is a very pure blue color - a real 'primary'. Smooth wet ink. Very interesting, Nathan said it's raw ingredients are simply too expensive for this ink to ever see production. Special ink from Commonwealth Pen Show in Boston 2016. "

 

Thanks for your musing, investigations, reading, responding, and overall love of inky hands. I NEVER WEAR GLOVES!

[inkstainedruth]

Never got that one, although I've been to the Commonwealth a couple of times. So I don't know how that ink compares to others. I really like Noodler's Liberty's Elysium, which is available at Goulet Pens, but am starting to really like the color of De Atramentis Sky Blue and (even more) Iroshizuku Kon-peki for bright blues.

For me, the trouble with "Sky Blue" is very subjective. Do you mean the hazy pale blue of summer, or the bright crisp blue of early autumn, for instance. And I also really like darker cobalt blues. I'm less enamored of blues that lean purple (inks with "Sapphire" in the name, for instance, or "Royal Blue"). So while I have a bottle of Noodler's Bay State Blue, I don't use it a lot (and then in a dedicated pen -- currently a Noodler's Charlie so it doesn't matter if the barrel gets stained, and I can easily estimate how much to dilute with distilled water to prevent BSB's tendency to feather. Right now one of my favorite darker blues is KWZI Chicago Blue (which sadly was a limited edition made a couple of years ago for the Chicago Pen Show -- I was able to snag a bottle when the people running that show had a table at another pen show a while back and they still had a few bottles left).

I do remember someone looking for a pale sky blue a number of years ago, and someone else suggesting Diamine China Blue, but I haven't tried it.

Your best bet is to look at reviews and comparisons of blue inks (but depending on how well calibrated your monitor is, they may not look the same to what the original poster sees).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[senzen]

Everyone has an idea of blue, Kon Peki does sound like a good candidate. Here are my current blues on Rhodia paper:

 

http://i64.tinypic.com/2vbk64g.jpg

 

From left to right: Ama Iro, Kon Peki EF nib, Kon Peki F nib, Kon Peki M nib, Équinoxe 6 + Sheaffer Skrip Blue, Souten, Tsuyu Kusa, Asa Gao, Asa Gao FM nib, Ajisai.

 

For me Tsuyu Kusa is "the" blue, followed by the lightest Asa Gao, but I've come to appreciate Kon Peki more and more... In its three shades but particularly the middle one.

Edited July 1, 2019 by pseudo88

[Gawain]

Here is an accurate representation of my bottle of North Star Liberator from a FPN member, next to Monkey Hanger which is why I just ordered a bottle of Monkey Hanger from England. (I'm in Tennessee)

http://www.sheismylawyer.com/2016_2_Ink/10-October/slides/2016-10-03_22.jpg

[Gawain]

Thanks pseudo88, looks like Kon Peki is what I'm looking for if your image correctly represents the color.

Everyone has an idea of blue, Kon Peki does sound like a good candidate. Here are my current blues on Rhodia paper:

 

 

 

From left to right: Ama Iro, Kon Peki EF nib, Kon Peki F nib, Kon Peki M nib, Équinoxe 6 + Sheaffer Skrip Blue, Souten, Tsuyu Kusa, Asa Gao, Asa Gao FM nib, Ajisai.

 

For me Tsuyu Kusa is "the" blue, followed by the lightest Asa Gao, but I've come to appreciate Kon Peki more and more... In its three shades but particularly the middle one.

[Gawain]

Thank-you AA for your detailed response. I always enjoy reading your posts and replies.

Never got that one, although I've been to the Commonwealth a couple of times. So I don't know how that ink compares to others. I really like Noodler's Liberty's Elysium, which is available at Goulet Pens, but am starting to really like the color of De Atramentis Sky Blue and (even more) Iroshizuku Kon-peki for bright blues.

For me, the trouble with "Sky Blue" is very subjective. Do you mean the hazy pale blue of summer, or the bright crisp blue of early autumn, for instance. And I also really like darker cobalt blues. I'm less enamored of blues that lean purple (inks with "Sapphire" in the name, for instance, or "Royal Blue"). So while I have a bottle of Noodler's Bay State Blue, I don't use it a lot (and then in a dedicated pen -- currently a Noodler's Charlie so it doesn't matter if the barrel gets stained, and I can easily estimate how much to dilute with distilled water to prevent BSB's tendency to feather. Right now one of my favorite darker blues is KWZI Chicago Blue (which sadly was a limited edition made a couple of years ago for the Chicago Pen Show -- I was able to snag a bottle when the people running that show had a table at another pen show a while back and they still had a few bottles left).

I do remember someone looking for a pale sky blue a number of years ago, and someone else suggesting Diamine China Blue, but I haven't tried it.

Your best bet is to look at reviews and comparisons of blue inks (but depending on how well calibrated your monitor is, they may not look the same to what the original poster sees).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Gawain]

I should identify where I stole that image.

amberleadavis

 

Thanks amberleadavis

[VivaTerlingua]

Tough decision. I suppose I associate lapis lazuli/ultramarine with being "blue" - although I prefer the complex colors of the deep sea, I think the former fits the definition a bit better in my eyes.

 

As for an ink... definitely not the unfortunately-named Sailor Ultramarine! Perhaps Monteverde Sapphire fits the bill best off the top of my head.

[chromantic]

I loves bright blues - Skrip Turquoise, Waterman Inspired, Bleu Pervenche, heck, even GvFC Gulf Blue. My current go-to in this range is Stipula Light Blue. When I think 'blue'. however, it's probably Monteverde Sapphire that springs to mind.

[amberleadavis]

Here is an accurate representation of my bottle of North Star Liberator from a FPN member, next to Monkey Hanger which is why I just ordered a bottle of Monkey Hanger from England. (I'm in Tennessee)

http://www.sheismylawyer.com/2016_2_Ink/10-October/slides/2016-10-03_22.jpg

 

 

So glad to enable!!!!

[amberleadavis]

I should identify where I stole that image.

amberleadavis

 

Thanks amberleadavis

 

 

My pleasure!

 

I admit, I love sky blue, but the Nevada sky is not the same color as other skies. Something to do with our red dirt and mountains (and lots of other things)...

 

Here is Caliente Nevada from Matador.com

 

[jmccarty3]

I like Sailor Sky High, the current version of Souten. Tsuyu-kusa is a long-time favorite.

[Noihvo]

[tonybelding]

Everyone sees colors a little differently, and everyone describes them even more differently. We've had disagreements here before about what is pure blue, what is sky blue, what is turquoise blue, what is violet, cobalt, royal blue, etc. What one guy says is pure blue, another calls aqua. What one guy calls purple-ish, another says is pure blue.

 

Computers have caused a lot of confusion, because they've made most people aware of the RGB color model — Red, Green, Blue. The problem is that the B in RGB is really violet. It should be called the RGV model. Think back to your rainbow. . . Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet. The V in Roy G Biv is the same as the B in RGB. (And to make matters even worse, even as children we were taught that "roses are red, violets are blue!" Way to spread confusion!)

 

Complicating things even more is that some people tend to perceive any shade of blue as being more violet-ish if it's darker, for example if you're using a wetter pen. The hue hasn't changed, but your perception of it does.

 

So with all those caveats stated, here are how my eyes see things:

blue = Iroshizuku Kon Peki

indigo-blue = Diamine Asa Blue

indigo = Parker Penman Sapphire, Monteverde Horizon Blue

violet = Noodler's Baystate Blue

[Intensity]

My pleasure!

 

I admit, I love sky blue, but the Nevada sky is not the same color as other skies. Something to do with our red dirt and mountains (and lots of other things)...

 

Here is Caliente Nevada from Matador.com

 

That photograph was very probably taken using a circular polarization filter on the lens, which gives the effect of darker, more saturated sky on the photograph, plus either a darkening exposure reduction gradient in post-processing or a graduated neutral density filter/circular polarizer combo (you can see the darker stripe across the whole image at the top). The sky did not look like that in person. (I photograph a lot, and I travel a fair amount, including to the southwest).

[Lloyd]

I have and love "North Star Liberator". Sadly, I don't know of any ink with both the looks and the characteristics of it.

[Arkanabar]

Does anyone have a comparison for North Star Liberator and VMail Midway Blue?

[wallylynn]

Blue jeans are (were?) dyed with the indigo plant...

 

In China+Japan (possibly more), there was no language distinction between green and blue for the longest time.

 

BTW, I dilute Baystate Blue to eliminate the violet-ness (and reduce feathering). Turns into a nice bright blue, thought not as light as sky-blue.

[samasry]

Everyone has an idea of blue, Kon Peki does sound like a good candidate. Here are my current blues on Rhodia paper:

 

http://i64.tinypic.com/2vbk64g.jpg

 

From left to right: Ama Iro, Kon Peki EF nib, Kon Peki F nib, Kon Peki M nib, Équinoxe 6 + Sheaffer Skrip Blue, Souten, Tsuyu Kusa, Asa Gao, Asa Gao FM nib, Ajisai.

 

For me Tsuyu Kusa is "the" blue, followed by the lightest Asa Gao, but I've come to appreciate Kon Peki more and more... In its three shades but particularly the middle one.

 

 

 

I have been stuck in the land of suyu Kusa, Asa Gao from the start.

 

Somehow I never thought Kon peki to be that close to Ama Iro

 

I always considered Ama Iro is sky blue and tsuyu Kusa is the deep blue, and Kon-Peki is undefined.

 

Perhaps I should try it soon. That was very helpful.

[FOUR X FOUR]

Everyone sees colors a little differently, and everyone describes them even more differently. We've had disagreements here before about what is pure blue, what is sky blue, what is turquoise blue, what is violet, cobalt, royal blue, etc. What one guy says is pure blue, another calls aqua. What one guy calls purple-ish, another says is pure blue.

 

Computers have caused a lot of confusion, because they've made most people aware of the RGB color model — Red, Green, Blue. The problem is that the B in RGB is really violet. It should be called the RGV model. Think back to your rainbow. . . Red Orange Yellow Green Blue Indigo Violet. The V in Roy G Biv is the same as the B in RGB. (And to make matters even worse, even as children we were taught that "roses are red, violets are blue!" Way to spread confusion!)

 

Complicating things even more is that some people tend to perceive any shade of blue as being more violet-ish if it's darker, for example if you're using a wetter pen. The hue hasn't changed, but your perception of it does.

 

So with all those caveats stated, here are how my eyes see things:

 

blue = Iroshizuku Kon Peki

indigo-blue = Diamine Asa Blue

indigo = Parker Penman Sapphire, Monteverde Horizon Blue

Ditto on your sentence. Especially when both eyes have undergone cataract surgery

violet = Noodler's Baystate Blue