Kala Nostalgia Gemstone Scapolite

[yazeh]

Kala inks are based in Taiwan and make mostly pigment inks, the Gemstone (variations on grey), Abstraction (variations on Khaki, Grey and Purple) and Tribute to Neon (highlighter), They have also 3 series of dye-based inks, as of now (2023).

This is my first pigment ink from this brand. 

According to https://geology.com/minerals/scapolite.shtml

"Scapolite is a name used for a group of aluminosilicate minerals that includes meionite, marialite, and silvialite"

 

No comment

 

Now about the ink.

 

Chroma:

Kala Scapolite belongs to the Gemstone series. It is a dark green, grey. With finer nibs it’s almost black. It needs a drier, wider nib, in order to enjoy the green. It reminds me of Noodler’s Zhivago or dark El Lawrence.  

Comparaison:

 

 

 

 

Ink is very wet, to the point I can easily write/sketch in reverse with a European fine nib. 

I am not a fan of pale/ pencil greys or grey blacks. Initially I thought, I should have gone with a paler green, grey, yet I’ve been refilling my Lamy Safari, constantly with it. I really like writing and sketching with it. 

Writing samples:

Rhodia

TR 68 gr

 

Photo of the scan above:

Marumann

 

Midori

Cheap Paper (Front)

Cheap paper (back)

 

This ink is water resistant but not 100% waterproof. Rubbing or washing it will spread the green dye, which makes it perfect for washes. 

A simple wash on Canson Water colour paper:

A sketch I did for inktober (shadows) - Note I used a wet brush to float the green dye about. (my apologies to Georges de La Tour)

 

I had to use a pen cleaner for the Safari. Note this was after the half a day of soaking in water.... Ironically the Pilot didn't need that much cleaning...

 

 

 

· Pens used: Lamy Safari (Fine/ Medium /Broad) /Pilot Kakuno (M), Kanwrite Ultraflex /TWSBI Go Stub,

· Shading: Only wide a fude nib.

· Ghosting: Yes On cheap paper 

· Bleed through: Yes, with absorbent papers. 

· Flow Rate: Very wet

· Lubrication: Great. I enjoyed reverse writing with a Japanese M 

· Nib Dry-out: Not noticed. 

· Start-up: No problem. 

· Saturation: Dark.  

· Shading Potential: Only with a fude nib…needs a dry pen

· Sheen: Faint

· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Not noticed

· Nib Creep / “Crud”: No 

· Staining (pen): No

· Clogging: No. 

· Cleaning: Lamy Safari needed a pen cleaner. 

· Water resistance: See for yourself

· Availability: 30 ml bottles 

 

Comments appreciated but not obligatory 

 

[LizEF]

Thanks for the very thorough review, @yazeh!    I think I would prefer a little more green and a little less grey...  That wash is quite interesting, though.  There's something very pensive about your sketch.  It keeps drawing me back, wondering what the subject is thinking.

[lapis]

Nice one (both the ink and your review). I like it. Something "authentic" about it.

Liz, I'd say the subject is thinking about what the ink's colour is supposed to represent. (No harm meant.)

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, lapis said:

Liz, I'd say the subject is thinking about what the ink's colour is supposed to represent. (No harm meant.)

[yazeh]

10 hours ago, LizEF said:

Thanks for the very thorough review, @yazeh!   

I don't know how I did it, 🐌s

10 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

I think I would prefer a little more green and a little less grey... 

Same here, I'll stick with El Lawrence

 

10 hours ago, LizEF said:

 

 

That wash is quite interesting, though.  There's something very pensive about your sketch.  It keeps drawing me back, wondering what the subject is thinking.

Probably it reminds you of the original

as for the subject:

Maybe she's listening to 

or having an inner dialogue:

"How long do I have to sit here? Why can't he be like the other painters and draw me naked? Is something wrong with me?  I'll soon need the chamber pot....."  

[yazeh]

3 hours ago, lapis said:

Nice one (both the ink and your review). I like it. Something "authentic" about it.

Thanks @lapis I'll hopefully post Hematite in a couple of weeks

[Sailor Kenshin]

Thanks, Yazeh!  Interesting ink.  I like the color AND bottle.  By coincidence, I've copied that DeLa Tour painting many times.

[yazeh]

9 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Thanks, Yazeh!  Interesting ink.  I like the color AND bottle.  By coincidence, I've copied that DeLa Tour painting many times.

Thanks @Sailor Kenshin. I would love to see your versions

 

[Sailor Kenshin]

34 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Thanks @Sailor Kenshin. I would love to see your versions

 

One of them turned into Santa Claus….

[LizEF]

2 hours ago, yazeh said:

Probably it reminds you of the original

Actually, now the original reminds me of your sketch.

 

2 hours ago, yazeh said:

as for the subject:

Maybe she's listening to 

Thankfully, the video had subtitles to translate.

 

3 hours ago, yazeh said:

or having an inner dialogue:

"How long do I have to sit here? Why can't he be like the other painters and draw me naked? Is something wrong with me?  I'll soon need the chamber pot....."  

:SMH:  Only you, @yazeh!  Are you sure your head is OK?

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

One of them turned into Santa Claus….

Now that sounds interesting.

[yazeh]

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

:SMH:  Only you, @yazeh!  Are you sure your head is OK?

That's debatable