Kitty Ink Pot - Unstoppable Snake

[yazeh]

Kitty Ink Pot - Unstoppable Snake

 

Ink Review # 235

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🧾 Description

This chromo-shading belongs to the 2025 Kitty Ink Pot series. It honors the year of the Snake. The official name is The Snake is Unstoppable. 

Many thanks to @A Smug Dill for introducing me to this brand. 

 

The bottles are quite cute: 

 

 

The colour is difficult to describe. It’s a light green-grey when wet, then it dries to a tan-grey. It was most striking with a 1.9 mm, flex, and dip pen nibs. A hint of gold or bronze haloing effect appears, though don’t expect fireworks, unless you use an ink brush. 

 

 

This ink is made for Midori paper. With other papers it’s just decent. 

 

The ink is medium-dry with slightly below-average lubrication. 

 

It’s well-behaved on copy paper unless you start flex dancing on it.  

 

This ink is best for art and calligraphy with wide or very wet flex nibs. However, my FPnibs nib with its triple-channeled ebonite feed was often starved of ink.

 

Over time it grew on me, and I enjoyed using it for drawing. It has decent water-resistance and it’s easy to clean with most pens. With some, it’s more involved. 

 

A decent ink with a unique colour, though not worth the price or the hassle to obtain if you’re specifically looking for a chromo-shading ink.

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🧪 Chroma

 

 

 

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✍️ Writing Samples (Photos)

- Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/stub 1.1, 1.9), Karas Kustoms Vertex with FPnibs Ultra-flex and extra-wet ebonite feed, Hongdian forest Blade nib, Brause Pumkin dip pen. 

 

Quotes: 

·      Rhodia DotPad 

“There is no need to be overly serious; the world itself is not solemn.”
Qian Zhongshu (1910–1998), Chinese novelist and scholar

·      Iroful 
“The most amusing things in the world usually carry a bit of risk.”
Wang Xiaobo (1952–1997), Chinese novelist and essayist

·      Midori 
“I am merely someone who enjoys a bit of liveliness.”
— Eileen Chang (1920–1995), Chinese novelist and essayist

·      Tomoe River 68gsm

“Days are lived forward, not backward.”
— Yu Hua (b. 1960), Chinese novelist

·      Hammermill 20lb 
“Originally there was no road; when many walk it, it becomes one.”
— Lu Xun (1881–1936), Chinese writer and cultural critic

Translation by ChatGPT. Published translations may differ in wording and tone.

 

 

 

Rhodia 

 

 

 

Iroful

 

 

 

 

Midori 

 

 

 

Tomoe River 68gsm

Note: Tomoe River used here is 68 gsm, not the thinner 52 gsm version commonly referenced in reviews.

 

 

 

Hammermill 20lb  

 

 

 

Close-up

 

 

 

 

 🔍 Comparison

Col-O-ring. Scans are approximative. 

I have no ink like this. Scan colour is off. 

 

 

 

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 💧 Water Test

 

 

 

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 🎨 Artwork

The Sphinx and the Snek

Inspired by @LizEF, Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh. 

 

Fountain pen and ink brush, Kitty Ink Pot, Unstoppable Snake, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook

 

 

Puttin' on the Ritz

Inktober52 – Prompt 8: Pretend

Cat & Mouse like puttin’ on the Ritz when the world looks blue, pretending everything will be okay, as long as there’s imagination.

 

Kitty Ink Pot Unstoppable Snake, Jinchen Lantau Dream, Yellow highlighter, Signo White gel pen

Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 

 

 

Guardian

Fountain pen study inspired by the hybrid guardians of ancient Mesopotamia.

 

Kitty Ink pot Unstoppable snake, Jinchen Lantau Island, Talens Mixed Media

 

 

 

Inktober52: Prompt 9: Horse
Cat & Mouse were inspired to travel back in time and experience firsthand the Parthian shot. 

Kitty Inkpot Unstoppable Snake, J. Herbin Bleu Azur, JinChen Lantau Dream, Talens Mixed Media Sketchbook.

 

 

Parts

Fountain pen and inkbrush, Kitty Ink Pot Unstoppable Snake ink, Talens Mixed Media Notebook.

 

 

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- What I Liked: Ink washes. Flex nib on Midori. 

- What I Did Not Like: The hype. Lack of lubrication. Price if not on sale. 

- Writing Experience: Ok, but I’ve seen better. 

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics

- Shading: Lovely. 

- Ghosting: Only with flex nib. 

- Bleed Through: Same as above. 

- Flow Rate: Watery, yet it couldn’t supply ink for the flex nib. 

- Lubrication: Not bad, could be better. 

- Nib Dry-out: Did not notice. 

- Start-up: No problems. 

- Saturation: Nope.

- Sheen: If sheen is chromo-shading then yes.  

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Only with dip pen.  

- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.

- Staining (Pen): No. 

- Clogging: No.

- Cleaning: Ok with most. Only one pen needed a bit more effort. 

- Water Resistance: None on coated paper. 

 

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 🛒 Availability

 

- Available in 30 ml bottles from AliExpress and other Chinese websites. 

 

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 💬 Closing

 

I had high hopes for this ink, but unless you’re an artist or calligrapher, you won’t see much of its chromo-shading potential in regular writing. That said, it’s a unique colour and worth considering.

 

No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this ink review.

 

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.  

 

 

[A Smug Dill]

Thank you for the review! I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the ink.

[yazeh]

28 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

Thank you for the review!

Welcome! 

28 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the ink.

I am! 

[LizEF]

Aw, cute little danger noodle on the label! 

 

Whoa! Look at that chroma! They stuffed a whole rainbow in there. 

 

Good quotes.  Interesting color.  I'd probably enjoy it while it lasted, but not buy more.  I see what you mean about Midori. I'm going to assume the yellow cast to the paper brings out the inks best side.  

 

 Loving the water test. I'm imagining a snek with flying magic!  Gotta keep up with Makhabesh!

 

How could I not love the Makhabesh and Essri drawing!  Thank you!

 

Clearly this inspired you, given all those drawings!  Of the remainder, I like "Horse" and "Parts" the best.  

 

Thanks for a wonderful review, @yazeh!

[inkstainedruth]

@yazeh Not really a color for me.  Although it does appear to be better for artwork than for writing, I'd be concerned about it not being remotely water resistant.  But thanks as usual for the review (and you really went to town on the artwork this time ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[Sailor Kenshin]

Holy chroma, Batman!  And I like the color.  And the quotes.  
 

I do have El Lawrence, and my own mix, Noodler's Murk, but they probably don't have such a cool chroma.  

 

Artwork is absolutely superb!  😻 🐭 🐈‍⬛

 

Thanks, @yazeh.  I'm almost wishing I could buy a bottle (nice design).  🐍

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

Aw, cute little danger noodle on the label! 

That's what had me. How could I resist an Ethrie look a like?

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

Whoa! Look at that chroma! They stuffed a whole rainbow in there. 

Hence the yellow brick road.

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

Good quotes.  Interesting color.  I'd probably enjoy it while it lasted, but not buy more.

I think you'll like it. It's quite close to the Gutenberg ink.

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

  I see what you mean about Midori. I'm going to assume the yellow cast to the paper brings out the inks best side.  

Midori has been amazing with some of these Chinese inks. It shows off sheen and chromo-shading like no other paper. Surprisingly, Iroful has been been meek.

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

 Loving the water test. I'm imagining a snek with flying magic!  Gotta keep up with Makhabesh!

  This ink has given me a snek n'sphinx overload. 😂

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

How could I not love the Makhabesh and Essri drawing!  Thank you!

It's so much fun imaging them and giving them life.

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

Clearly this inspired you, given all those drawings!  Of the remainder, I like "Horse" and "Parts" the best.  

I didn't post all. This ink is a sketchers dream ink.

 

1 hour ago, LizEF said:

Thanks for a wonderful review, @yazeh!

Glad it was enjoyable and made you happy. 🙏🙏🙏

[yazeh]

42 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

@yazeh Not really a color for me.

I'm glad your wallet is sighing in relief.

42 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

 Although it does appear to be better for artwork than for writing, I'd be concerned about it not being remotely water resistant.  

Your observations are spot on. Surprisingly, on mixed media paper it's more water-resistant as the ink soak into the paper fibers. I'm assuming it'll be much better on absorbent paper.

42 minutes ago, inkstainedruth said:

But thanks as usual for the review (and you really went to town on the artwork this time ).

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

Thanks. I had to restrain myself not to post more drawings. These neutral colors are much more inspiring to draw with.

 

[yazeh]

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Holy chroma, Batman!  And I like the color.  And the quotes.  

Thanks. 🙏

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

I do have El Lawrence, and my own mix, Noodler's Murk, but they probably don't have such a cool chroma.  

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Artwork is absolutely superb!  😻 🐭 🐈‍⬛

Thanks. 🙏

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

 

Thanks, @yazeh.  I'm almost wishing I could buy a bottle (nice design).  🐍

Glad I tempted you 😊

[AmandaW]

Love it. A grey made with all the colours. And people reckon grey isn't colourful... 

[yazeh]

11 hours ago, AmandaW said:

Love it.

 🙏

11 hours ago, AmandaW said:

A grey made with all the colours. And people reckon grey isn't colourful... 

Plus you can get it easily at Soe & Soe.

 

[knarflj]

Thanks, @yazeh!  Great review.  I like the colour, but probably not enough to get a bottle.  Love the artwork, though.  "The Sphinx and the Snek" and "Parts" are my favourites, but I enjoyed all of them. 

[yazeh]

32 minutes ago, knarflj said:

Thanks, @yazeh!  Great review.  I like the colour, but probably not enough to get a bottle.

🙏:)

 

 

32 minutes ago, knarflj said:

 Love the artwork, though.  "The Sphinx and the Snek" and "Parts" are my favourites, but I enjoyed all of them. 

I had fun playing with this ink. Glad you enjoyed my artsy ink-explorations.

[USG]

Hitting the Like button…..  😀👍

 

[yazeh]

1 hour ago, USG said:

Hitting the Like button…..  😀👍

 

Hitting the thank you buttons. 🙏😂😊

[PithyProlix]

Thanks! I like it but not enough to buy it.

 

On 3/22/2026 at 8:24 PM, yazeh said:

💧 Water Test

 

 

False advertising! The snake is NOT unstoppable!

[yazeh]

6 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

Thanks! I like it but not enough to buy it.

Welcome. Good to see you back. 🙏

6 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

 

 

False advertising! The snake is NOT unstoppable!

[LizEF]

7 hours ago, PithyProlix said:

False advertising! The snake is NOT unstoppable!

I dunno.  Take another look.  You try your best and its neon-yellow spirit continues on, unimpressed by your attempt...  

[yazeh]

7 minutes ago, LizEF said:

I dunno.  Take another look.  You try your best and its neon-yellow spirit continues on, unimpressed by your attempt...  

Snake may not be unstoppable. Snek, however is, it has woven it's a way in our hearts.   

 

[PithyProlix]

2 hours ago, LizEF said:

I dunno.  Take another look.  You try your best and its neon-yellow spirit continues on, unimpressed by your attempt...  

 

I see. Reminds me a little of the slapstick 'electrocution skeleton reveal' in old cartoons, e.g. Tom & Jerry, Looney Toons, Tex Avery, etc. 🔌