Octopus Write and Draw Ink - Green Squirrel

[Yazeh]

This is my first review of an ink made by Octopus Fluids. The Write and Draw, lineup are waterproof and lightfast and are creatively named after animals.
You can read more about the inks here. In a nutshell what they emphasize on is that these inks should be used in well-sealed pens. So no drafty pen

and the complete line up of 38 inks is here:
https://www.octopus-office.de/shop/e...-draw-ink/?p=1

This is one lovely ink and while it has one fault (It doesn't like copy paper), it's been a pleasure to use it. It’s a lovely grey olive green. The type of green/grey that I never get tired of.

Let's start with the uninspiring chroma:
Chroma - Octopus Green Squirrel 1.jpg

Writing samples:
The elegance of this ink shines in writing.
Rhodia Octopus Green Squirrel.jpgMidori - Octopus Green Squirrel.jpegTr 68gr- Octopus Green Squirrel.jpeg
As you can see there's ghosting and bleed through on thin paper.
Hammermill - Octopus Green Squirrel.jpg
Photo (Paper is Mnemosyne, Nib Osmiroid Copperplate)
20230823_122709.jpg
Comparison
If you like a lighter colour Octopus Green Crane or De Atramentis Green Grey (review coming) is also another excellent choice.
Comparison Green Squirrel.jpg
Nothing budges: Paper is Mnemosyne
Watertest -DeA Green Grey .jpeg
I did a quick little sketch to show case the range of the ink (Paper is Talens)
Squirrel.jpg



· Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Lamy Safari (EF/F/M/B/Stub 1.1), Osmiroid Copperplate nib
· What I liked: I loved almost everything about this ink, wet, so lubricated that you can even write reverse with Lamy Ef. Beautiful shading. It looks lovely in all nibs.
· What I did not like: Nothing much.
· What some might not like: 30s dry time on Japanese paper, if you are allergic to wet inks 😝, or are forced to use copy paper.
· Shading: Yes.
· Ghosting: On cheap paper
· Bleed through: On cheap paper
· Flow Rate: Wet
· Lubrication: Excellent
· Nib Dry-out: Nope
· Start-up: None.
· Saturation: No.
· Shading Potential: Excellent
· Sheen: None.
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: If the pen is wet, primed and you insist writing on copy paper.
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: None.
· Staining (pen): None.
· Clogging: No.
· Cleaning: Surprising very easy
· Water resistance: Excellent.
· Availability: 50 ml

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

[catbert]

... In a nutshell ...

I see what you did there.

Fantastic squirrel too.

[Yazeh]

... In a nutshell ...

I see what you did there.

It was subconsciously intentional

Fantastic squirrel too.

🙏

[penwash]

Give me a murky, dusky green inks anyday! (or murky, dusky any-colors ink for that matter )

Thank you for sharing a review of this lovely ink, from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

[LizEF]

Thank you, Yazeh! Great review of an ink I haven't even heard of. It looks very interesting, colorwise. Love your squirrel and the kitty + squirrel - is it me, or is Mr. Mouse upset that he's lost his place atop kitty's head?

[mizgeorge]

Love it! Great review and love the artwork

I'm also very taken with some of these - I think I've been using grey frog and grey fox continuously since I first got them and have just added a couple more including... yep, green squirrel

Thank you for giving me something so nice to look forward to!

[Yazeh]

Give me a murky, dusky green inks anyday! (or murky, dusky any-colors ink for that matter )

Thank you for sharing a review of this lovely ink, from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

Most welcome There's something so pleasing about these colours, in their neutrality

[Yazeh]

Thank you, Yazeh! Great review of an ink I haven't even heard of. It looks very interesting, colorwise. Love your squirrel and the kitty + squirrel - is it me, or is Mr. Mouse upset that he's lost his place atop kitty's head?

Most welcome! And yes you got it mouse is not happy! Mouse and squiggys don't mix

[Yazeh]

Love it! Great review and love the artwork

Thank you! I'm so glad seeing you posting again

I'm also very taken with some of these - I think I've been using grey frog and grey fox continuously since I first got them and have just added a couple more including... yep, green squirrel

It's so pleasant when one find's an ink that one can continuously use. A sense of contentment

Thank you for giving me something so nice to look forward to!

🙏

[Thom.]

... from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

Octopus fluids is originally a printer ink manufacturer that took over the fountain pen ink production from the insolvent "Barock" in 2011. The roots of "Barock" are not unknown.
http://www.thepalimpsest.co.uk/2010/...arine-ink.html

[Yazeh]

... from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

Octopus fluids is originally a printer ink manufacturer that took over the fountain pen ink production from the insolvent "Barock" in 2011. The roots of "Barock" are not unknown.
http://www.thepalimpsest.co.uk/2010/...arine-ink.html

Have you ever made the ink Thom?

[Thom.]

... from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

Octopus fluids is originally a printer ink manufacturer that took over the fountain pen ink production from the insolvent "Barock" in 2011. The roots of "Barock" are not unknown.
http://www.thepalimpsest.co.uk/2010/...arine-ink.html

Have you ever made the ink Thom?

No. It doesn't work like that either, because indigo isn't water soluble. Leonhardi used indigo sulfonic acid, meaning he dissolved the indigo in sulfuric acid and this is the key element in keeping the IG water soluble.

[Yazeh]

... from a maker whom I never heard before, nonetheless.

Octopus fluids is originally a printer ink manufacturer that took over the fountain pen ink production from the insolvent "Barock" in 2011. The roots of "Barock" are not unknown.
http://www.thepalimpsest.co.uk/2010/...arine-ink.html

Have you ever made the ink Thom?

No. It doesn't work like that either, because indigo isn't water soluble. Leonhardi used indigo sulfonic acid, meaning he dissolved the indigo in sulfuric acid and this is the key element in keeping the IG water soluble.

What I'm curious about how do they create the greenish colour as Madder (Alizarine) is red and indigo dark blue. It doesn't seem right.

[Thom.]

... What I'm curious about how do they create the greenish colour as Madder (Alizarine) is red and indigo dark blue. It doesn't seem right.

Madder was left out later. But indigo is also one of those things. The sulfonated indigo will be partially reduced to the leuco dye by the divalent iron and it is yellow. But the iron oxidizes to trivalent iron, and I don't know how you can keep such an ink stable over the long term.

[Lloyd]

Their safety message is a bit two-sided

Are there any restrictions on the use in the fountain pen?

Yes and No! You can use the Write & Draw Inks in your fountain pen without hesitation, as long as you take care not to let the ink dry up in the fountain pen. We therefore recommend that you clean your writing instrument thoroughly immediately after use. To be on the safe side, we also advise against using particularly expensive fountain pens for these reasons.

As decisive as the scarecrow


Typos courtesy of Samsung Auto-Incorrect™

[Chrissy]

I read that and wouldn't consider using any of them in my fountain pens. For me they would be treated as dip pen inks only.

[Carpio]

Hello,

I have several of Octopus' ink, and whilst I am to ink knowledge what it seems Aaron Boone is to management, all I can add is,... their Sepia Black is awesome. So much so I bought a .25ltr bottle of it.... and as a couple of you good people know, when I was on my hunt for a nice 'yellow' ink (still searching for an 'auto-saved' yellow), I did try Octopus' 'yellowish' inks out. Octopus Mango is a very nice ink to use. Not, as it turns out to be, the yellow I want, but certainly something I am happy to have in my growing ink collection. Likewise, is the Octopus' 'Bronze'. As is with both the inks - they seem to me (as a total layman) to get brighter after they have dried. Sorry if that makes no sense, but as they say,... as long as I know what I mean, eh

,... and Yazeh - love the squirrel, but now it's broken cover, I guess it is no longer 'secret'

Carpio

[Yazeh]

Their safety message is a bit two-sided

Are there any restrictions on the use in the fountain pen?

Yes and No! You can use the Write & Draw Inks in your fountain pen without hesitation, as long as you take care not to let the ink dry up in the fountain pen. We therefore recommend that you clean your writing instrument thoroughly immediately after use. To be on the safe side, we also advise against using particularly expensive fountain pens for these reasons.

As decisive as the scarecrow


Typos courtesy of Samsung Auto-Incorrect™

Isn't this the classic disclaimer for all pigment/IG inks? We all know that you have to a have well seal with pigment inks, otherwise you're doomed. And frankly I have had "normal" inks which were more difficult to clean than pigment inks.
Surprisingly, this ink was one of the easiest inks to clean, one flush and it was gone. That's a first for a pigment ink

[Yazeh]

I read that and wouldn't consider using any of them in my fountain pens. For me they would be treated as dip pen inks only.

This one could easily be used in Safari, if you want to ever try it. It's very easy to clean. I wouldn't put it in a piston filler though

[Yazeh]

Hello,

I have several of Octopus' ink, and whilst I am to ink knowledge what it seems Aaron Boone is to management, all I can add is,... their Sepia Black is awesome. So much so I bought a .25ltr bottle of it....

Yes indeed it is. I'll post a review of it in a couple of weeks

and as a couple of you good people know, when I was on my hunt for a nice 'yellow' ink (still searching for an 'auto-saved' yellow), I did try Octopus' 'yellowish' inks out. Octopus Mango is a very nice ink to use. Not, as it turns out to be, the yellow I want, but certainly something I am happy to have in my growing ink collection. Likewise, is the Octopus' 'Bronze'. As is with both the inks - they seem to me (as a total layman) to get brighter after they have dried. Sorry if that makes no sense, but as they say,... as long as I know what I mean, eh

It makes sense. That's what we like or hate about some inks

,... and Yazeh - love the squirrel, but now it's broken cover, I guess it is no longer 'secret'

Carpio

Thanks a lot!