Barock Umbra

[Yazeh]

Barock Umbra

Barock inks are a reissue of East German brand, which went kaput in 2011 and was revived by Octopus. As of 2024 there a 6 colours.
“The story of the brand goes back to 1826, when the company August Leonhardi was founded. August Leonhardi became famous for his patented, legendary Alizarin inks. These were the first inks in the world that could be called document proof. “
You can read more about it here:
https://www.octopus-office.de/shop/en/barock/

This is a complex, brown/green wet, with below average lubrication. I enjoyed it most with M nib on Iroful/Tomoe River 68 gsm and with Pilot F3A with a subtle Ef semi-flex nib. The wetter the nib the darker it becomes. It will be best with a soft nib. I wouldn’t use it in a Kakuno with Ef nib. Ink has no water resistance.

This has been a personal favorite and I tried to keep it in my pens as long as possible.

It has one of those complex chromas

Chroma- Barock Umbra.jpeg

Writing Samples:
Rhodia-Barock-Umbra.jpg

Midori-Barock-Umbra.jpeg

TR68-Barock-Umbra .jpeg

Iroful-Barock-Umbra.jpg

Hammmermill-Barock-Umbra.jpg

Photo:
Barock.jpg
Comparison:
Comparison-Barock-Calamus-LiedeThe-Romeburning.jpg
Water test:
Left side 10 seconds under running water. As you can the shadow of Mr. Cat (mouse) was washed away
Watertest-Barock-Umbra.jpeg
Art Work:
This was part of the inktober 2024 challenge: Uncharted or Chat-man (pronounce shaman ) Chat is cat in French.
The idea was that with shamanic music one's psyche can go to unchartered territories

Another inktober challenge 2024 prompt: Roam
Here is a mixture of three inks with different dilutions

Diamine x Niche pens Alexandrite,
Barock Umbra
Noodler's Lexington Gray


· Pens used: Pilot F3A, Lamy (EF/F/M/B/ Stub 1.1)
· What I liked: Earthy colour. Drawing/sketching with.
· What I did not like: Nothing much, but if I want to nitpick, lack of waterproofness and being a bit low on lubrication.
· What might some not like: Lack of lubrication maybe?
· Shading: Yes.
· Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper.
· Bleed through: Yes, on cheap paper.
· Flow Rate: Wet
· Lubrication: Below average.
· Nib Dry-out: Did not notice.
· Start-up: Ok
· Saturation: Medium
· Shading Potential: Yes.
· Sheen: No.
· Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.
· Nib Creep / “Crud”: Did not notice.
· Staining (pen): No.
· Clogging: Did not notice.
· Cleaning: Easy
· Water resistance: Non-existent.
· Availability: 30 ml bottles.

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

[Sailor Kenshin]

Wowza! I love the chroma, but...

Pastel, did you say? (Though it doesn't look ALL that pastel in those interesting quotes). Low lubrication? Let me think about that a while... 😉

The chroma is a teeny bit like Monteverde Moonstone's but Moonstone is quite dark, and well-lubed. Your illustrations seem to take us to very uncharted territories! What is that wild instrument in M Chat's paws?

The color combo in Roam, though, is very soothing. And I'm getting a kick out of the paper towel 'branding mark.'

Yazeh,thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations! Keep ‘em coming! 👏🏻

[LizEF]

Great review, Yazeh!

Another interesting chroma! Liz sees: "Alizarin", Liz hears Bob Ross's voice saying "Alizarin crimson". (It's like Pavlov's bell...)

Too bad about the below-average lubrication, but then, I do have a few broader and smoother nibs...

Brown with hints of green - my kind of color... Good shadow quotes (and this time I had to go back to read them as I was too busy looking at the ink. ) I like the color seen in the photos better than that seen in the scans.

That sequence of swatches makes the Calamus brown look downright brick red! Nice arrangement there. So many browns, so little time... I've decided I need to always have a brown and a murky green inked, along with a blue-black of course.

Whoosh! Poor shadow mousey. Washed away... Really like that shaman - can totally see the scene! And I still like Roam - instantly reminiscent of 60s movies (of course, I always think of the Cary Grant ones...).

Thanks Yazeh, for the intro to this ink you enjoyed so much!

[Yazeh]

Wowza! I love the chroma, but...

Pastel, did you say? (Though it doesn't look ALL that pastel in those interesting quotes). Low lubrication? Let me think about that a while... 😉

I made a mistake. It's medium/ dark saturation With a nice pen/ soft nib, you'll be fine. With a scratchy nib, it'll be scratchy. It's not Kyo Tag dry, just to precise.

The chroma is a teeny bit like Monteverde Moonstone's but Moonstone is quite dark, and well-lubed. Your illustrations seem to take us to very uncharted territories! What is that wild instrument in M Chat's paws?

It's shamanic drum inspired by Sámi (Northern Finno-Scandinavian) people. I believe similar drums exist in First Nation in Canada.
Here is a piece by a Faroe Islander musician

The color combo in Roam, though, is very soothing. And I'm getting a kick out of the paper towel 'branding mark.'.

I managed to go for the pastel palette, which I love. I always have a tissue paper handy. I try my best to remove the "braining mark"

Yazeh,thanks once again for making life colorful with your detailed, entertaining InkSplorations! Keep ‘em coming! 👏🏻

A pleasure. It's fun reviewing fun inks

[Yazeh]

Great review, Yazeh!

🙏

Another interesting chroma! Liz sees: "Alizarin", Liz hears Bob Ross's voice saying "Alizarin crimson". (It's like Pavlov's bell...)

Too bad about the below-average lubrication, but then, I do have a few broader and smoother nibs...

It's not that bad. I used it in a. vintage Sailor with a scratchy nib. It had nice feedback. But ideally it's best with a soft nib

Brown with hints of green - my kind of color... Good shadow quotes (and this time I had to go back to read them as I was too busy looking at the ink. ) I like the color seen in the photos better than that seen in the scans.

That's great when the ink takes over the quotes

That sequence of swatches makes the Calamus brown look downright brick red! Nice arrangement there. So many browns, so little time... I've decided I need to always have a brown and a murky green inked, along with a blue-black of course.

Pavlov dog again

Whoosh! Poor shadow mousey. Washed away... Really like that shaman - can totally see the scene! And I still like Roam - instantly reminiscent of 60s movies (of course, I always think of the Cary Grant ones...).

The shaman was really fun to do. I did in a low light situation.

Thanks Yazeh, for the intro to this ink you enjoyed so much!

I'm so happy

[Sailor Kenshin]

Loved the drumming video. Very...elvish?

[Yazeh]

Loved the drumming video. Very...elvish?

Yep, very elvish/ rune-ish/ Tolkien-ish

[penwash]

@Yazeh, this is the kind of color that I think I'd enjoy sketching with.
Thanks for the pointer (and the review, of course), I wonder if anyone in the US carry this brand.

[Yazeh]

@Yazeh, this is the kind of color that I think I'd enjoy sketching with.
Thanks for the pointer (and the review, of course), I wonder if anyone in the US carry this brand.

Yes, Vanness does and only this colour.
Alternatively, you can them from fountainfeder in Germany in case you want to sample other hard to find European inks

[penwash]

@Yazeh, this is the kind of color that I think I'd enjoy sketching with.
Thanks for the pointer (and the review, of course), I wonder if anyone in the US carry this brand.

Yes, Vanness does and only this colour.
Alternatively, you can them from fountainfeder in Germany in case you want to sample other hard to find European inks

Thank you for doing the research. I appreciate it.

[Yazeh]

@Yazeh, this is the kind of color that I think I'd enjoy sketching with.
Thanks for the pointer (and the review, of course), I wonder if anyone in the US carry this brand.

Yes, Vanness does and only this colour.
Alternatively, you can them from fountainfeder in Germany in case you want to sample other hard to find European inks

Thank you for doing the research. I appreciate it.

A pleasure!