The latest Nippon Art release is called “Origami,” and Crane is my favorite from the series. Prior to that was Ukiyo-e, or the woodblock print series. Done in the hira maki-e style, Ukiyo-e had Vidro (which I used to own, before I sold it to a friend), Courtesan, Sharaku and Festival.
Festival is what I now own.
The book is a collection of short stories by Richard Matheson, whose best-known work is likely “I Am Legend.” That was adapted into Omega Man with Charlton Heston and the eponymous movie with Will Smith. I figured the samurai on the pen needed some eye candy, and the lady on the cover seemed willing enough to be ogled.
It’s a lot of detail to squeeze onto the surface of a medium-sized pen, but the technique succeeds.
The warrior’s other arm has a cartoon dragon tattoo.
The cap has simply-rendered, eyecatching fireworks.
The nib is a standard Namiki/Pilot fine. I believe these pens are also available with medium and broad nibs, but I rarely see those.
Here’s a quick sample of the line it makes. A standard fine still has its charms. The ink is Caran d’Ache Caribbean Sea. I used cross-hatching over a hasty scribble of Aqua Procolor (water-based) markers.
