Fountain pen ink is more than just something that makes words appear on paper. It's a medium of expression, a way to personalize your writing experience, and a collectible item for many fountain pen lovers. Whether you're a seasoned pen enthusiast or just starting out on your journey, curating a fountain pen ink collection can be a rewarding and exciting experience.
What is Curation?
Curation is the process of selecting, organizing, and maintaining a collection of items. It involves carefully choosing items based on specific criteria, arranging them in a meaningful way, and preserving their condition. This practice is common in various fields, such as art, music, food, and even fountain pen inks. For example, an art curator selects and presents works of art in a museum, while a fountain pen ink collector chooses, organizes, and cares for a collection of fountain pen inks.
Why Curate Your Fountain Pen Ink Collection?
Whether you have a modest collection of 10 inks or an extensive one of 100, taking the time to review your ink stash can be beneficial. By assessing your preferences, identifying duplicates, and recognizing gaps in your collection, you can make more informed decisions about future purchases. This is especially helpful if you plan to attend a pen show or want to avoid repeatedly buying the same color ink from different brands.
Steps to Curating Your Inks
There are several steps you can take to curate your ink stash properly.
1. Inventory
Taking an inventory of your fountain pen inks is a valuable practice. It offers numerous benefits, the first of which is better organization. An inventory provides a clear overview of your collection, making it easier to locate specific inks and identify what gaps you would like to fill. You can also assess their value more accurately, especially if you ever decide to sell or trade them. A detailed inventory can help you determine each ink’s fair market value.
By maintaining a record of your inks, you can avoid accidentally purchasing duplicates, which saves you time and money. An inventory also allows you to easily identify which inks you're missing. This can help you prepare more informed shopping lists. Furthermore, an inventory can help you track your progress and identify areas where you need to expand or cut down if you are building a themed collection.
In addition to these practical advantages, taking an inventory can also enhance your appreciation for your fountain pen ink collection. It allows you to reflect on your choices, identify trends, and discover new connections between different inks. By investing time in inventory management, you can gain a deeper understanding and enjoyment of all your fountain pen inks.
2. Swatches
Swatching fountain pen inks is a crucial step in ink curation for several reasons. First and foremost, it allows you to see the true color of the ink on the paper you intend to use. Different papers can affect how the ink looks, so keep this in mind when you do your swatches. Swatching also helps you observe the ink's sheen and shading properties. This process also allows you to measure the ink's dry time. This is important to avoid smudging or feathering.
Another important reason you should swatch all your inks (and yes, we mean all!) is so that you can compare inks side by side, hone in on your preferences, and get rid of inks that are too similar to one another. It’s also nice to just have a visual record of your entire ink stash. You can make more informed decisions about which inks to add and remove to ensure that they meet your needs and preferences.
3. Adding and Removing
Now, it’s time to determine which inks you will keep and what you will purge. This can look different for everyone depending on their priorities when curating fountain pen inks. Generally, you can consider the following when adding or removing inks from your collection:
- Usage. If you haven't used an ink in a long time, it might be a good candidate for disposal.
- Color Preferences. If you no longer enjoy the color or shades of a particular ink, it might not be worth keeping.
- Performance Issues. If an ink is prone to feathering, bleeding, or other issues, it might not be worth keeping as well.
- Collection Goals. If you're trying to curate a specific collection, such as limited edition inks or inks from a particular brand, you might want to keep those inks even if you don't use them frequently.
- Sentimental Value. If an ink has sentimental value, such as being a gift from a loved one or associated with a special memory, you might want to keep it regardless of its usage.
4. Organization and Storage
Don’t forget the last step, which is organization and storage. This is essential for a good curation of your fountain pen inks. A well-organized collection makes it easy to access your inks and helps preserve their quality. Proper storage also protects your inks from environmental factors that can cause deterioration. This also prevents accidental spills or leaks. An organized system simplifies inventory management so that you avoid duplicates and don't overlook existing inks. Lastly, a visually appealing and well-organized collection can be enjoyable and satisfying. By prioritizing organization and storage, you can enhance the overall experience of curating your fountain pen ink collection.
The Bottom Line
Curating your fountain pen ink collection is a very personal process. You’ll discover a lot about your ink preferences and, hopefully, enjoy the experience. By understanding the basics, building your collection thoughtfully, and caring for your pens and inks, you can create a unique and satisfying collection. You can even do this as you figure out how to start your fountain pen collection. Remember, the most important aspect is to have fun and appreciate the beauty of your fountain pen ink as well as your fountain pens.
Written by EndlessPens Blogger Ramona Kabigting
