Octopus Write and Draw - Grey Merkat

[Yazeh]

Octopus Write and Draw - Grey Merkat
I’m not sure why they made a “mistake” with the spelling. I’m sure meerkat’s won’t mind

I post this information systematically on all Octopus Write & Draw ink reviews:

They suggest that the shelf life of their ink is two years, which is a bit surprising.
The ink is ISO 12757-2 and DIN ISO 14145-2

Here is the list of complete line up:
https://www.octopus-office.de/shop/e...-draw-ink/?p=1

And warnings:
https://www.octopus-office.de/info/en/write-draw-ink/

Now to the review. This is a nice, wet, juicy grey, like a 6b pencil.
The chroma, shows some green surprisingly :
Chroma - Merkat Grey.jpeg


It writes wonderfully with all pens, especially the Japanese Ef nib. It might be too wet for some. It’s waterproof and especially great for sketching and washes.
I saw shading with a B nib. But the scanner disagrees and sees it all over the place

Writing Samples:
It seems I'm a bit dyslexic and have inverted the name It's Grey Merkat. Also my automatic spell check has corrected the spelling

Rhodia-Oct-Meerkat Grey.jpg

Midori- Oct-Meerkat Grey.jpeg
There was a hint of ghosting on this paper:
TR 68gr Oct-Meerkat Grey.jpeg
There's some ghosting/bleed through on copy paper but it's much much better than Herbin inks
Hammermill - Oct-Meerkat Grey.jpg
Photo:
Merkat Grey -Photo.jpg
Comparison:
Comparison -Oct-Meerkat Grey.jpg
Water test:
Watertest-Meerkat Grey.jpeg

And finally an artwork, inspired by Meerkats, entitled: Art of the Fugue
Note the light grey washes were created by using a water brush on the feed of Lamy Safari. If you dip the water brush directly in the convertor, you'll get a much dark colour.

and another one a prompt of Inktober yearly challenge: River
It's a nod to the song Moon River from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's. The Yellow ink is J Herbin Bouton d'or


· Pens used: Pilot Kakuno Ef, Stub, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/Stub 1.1), Osmiroid Copper flex nib.
· What I liked: Writing, drawing, washing.
· What I did not like: Liking it so much.
· What some might not like: It’s a pigment ink, it might be too wet for some.
· Shading: If you scan your writing
· Ghosting: Faint on Tomoe River 68 gr paper.
· Bleed through: With F nibs onwards on copy paper. But much better than Herbin inks.
· Flow Rate: Wet
· Lubrication: Above average.
· Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
· Start-up: Did not notice.
· Saturation: Gorgeous grey.
· Shading Potential: With M/B nibs and dry pens.
· Sheen: Did not notice.
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.
· Staining (pen): Did not notice.
· Clogging: Nope.
· Cleaning: Easy
· Water resistance: Excellent.
· Availability: 50 ml bottles.

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

[mizgeorge]

Love it!

What an awesome review of what looks to be my next Octopus write and draw!

I can't think of anything I don't like about this one - and the artwork is faultless. The water test sketch of the meerkat is brilliant! Art of the Fugue is genuinely inspired, and I now have Moon River in my head, where it will doubtless stay for days!

Thank you so much Yazeh - these are always a treat, but this one especially so. 🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

What a delight this is, from review to writing to chroma to drawings. And who doesn't love meerkats?

The water test—-looks like no actual water touched paper! That combined with the meerkat symbol really has me tempted, though I swore off new inks.

Thanks, Yazeh. This one's really cool.

[LizEF]

Wow, Yazeh! This is a great review. The way the green seems to separate sideways before climbing up the chroma column is interesting... And I see a bit of purple (blurple?) off on the right side. That this ink works for all nibs and all uses is a rarity, seems like a keeper!

Most importantly, you outdid yourself with the artwork! That water-test meerkat is adorable as all get-out! I vote for him to be a recurring guest in your drawings. The singing meerkats make me smile! And Moon River meerkat is very, er, hep... :P

Thanks for a fun and fabulous review!

[Yazeh]

Love it!

What an awesome review of what looks to be my next Octopus write and draw!

Thank you. Hope it lives up to all the positive comments. I really have enjoyed working with it. With your touch, it'll sing

I can't think of anything I don't like about this one - and the artwork is faultless. The water test sketch of the meerkat is brilliant! Art of the Fugue is genuinely inspired, and I now have Moon River in my head, where it will doubtless stay for days!

Thank you. I have been playing with the moon river motive and am working on something else The meerkat for some reason reminded me of organ pipes they way they pop their head up and down

Thank you so much Yazeh - these are always a treat, but this one especially so. 🙏

A pleasure. And thanks for your support 🙏

[Yazeh]

[SIZE=3]What a delight this is, from review to writing to chroma to drawings. And who doesn't love meerkats?

Thank you. Meerkat's are fun

The water test—-looks like no actual water touched paper! That combined with the meerkat symbol really has me tempted, though I swore off new inks.

Tempting isn't it?

Thanks, Yazeh. This one's really cool.

It was fun doing this review, when the ink does the work for you

[Yazeh]

Wow, Yazeh! This is a great review. The way the green seems to separate sideways before climbing up the chroma column is interesting... And I see a bit of purple (blurple?) off on the right side.

You're right. I might do another chroma just to be on the safe side.

That this ink works for all nibs and all uses is a rarity, seems like a keeper!

It seems to the one grey

Most importantly, you outdid yourself with the artwork! That water-test meerkat is adorable as all get-out! I vote for him to be a recurring guest in your drawings. The singing meerkats make me smile! And Moon River meerkat is very, er, hep... :P

Thanks for a fun and fabulous review!

Thank you! I'll try to incorporate them, if it works well with the drawings
I have another Moon River inspired one in the works, if I manage to finish it

[Yazeh]

I re-did the chroma. There's no green. Blue/ Purple and black:

Chroma.jpg

[LizEF]

Interesting. I wonder where the green came from.

[Yazeh]

Interesting. I wonder where the green came from.

I do batch chromes when I receive samples.
They'll be hanging on radiators (in winter). It might be a green ink migrated to the grey chroma. Or they were too close