How did you fall down the rabbit hole of fountain pens and stationery? AKA, the moment that made you fall in love with writing tools and supplies.
For stationery it started way back in my childhood, where there was one stationery store just on the first floor of our apartment. I would visit there everyday after school and spend most of my allowances collecting different colors of the Pilot Hi-tec-c and Uniball Signo pens. And several decades later, I then encountered fountain pens and inks when someone else gifted me a Benu Talisman(Four leaf clover), and I immediately bought another Kaweco(Iguana Blue) right after that. These pens all come in my favorited color families, and in order to match a perfect ink with those pens, I fell right into the next rabbit hole of the endless ink color options!
What do you do for work? Is there any way this hobby is intermingled with your work?
I work as a freelance illustrator, painter and designer. I love using fountain pens as a sketching medium, as well as the go-to pen when drawing inside my art journal. I also love brainstorming new ways or ideas of using stationery, such as some of the rubber stamps I designed for fountain pen and ink tracking!
What else are you in to that you would like to share with people to better know you?
I'm also greatly inspired by botanical illustrations and houseplants. I love being surrounded by nature and all sorts of animals too!
What words/quote would you like to share to other aspiring creatives?
Art(as a career) is a marathon, not a sprint. Every artist is on their own different path and experiencing a different stage in their career:)
What do you believe is the best starter fountain pen? Where should people start?
I always suggest the Pilot Kakuno! It is very beginner friendly but also provides a really smooth writing experience. Especially the transparent ones where you could see how fountain pens work, or trouble-shoot when something's wrong with the ink flow, like when shimmering particles get piled up inside the pen and block the flow.
What's your go-to pen and ink combo?
Sailor Pro Gear Slim (Medium nib) and Pilot Vanishing Point Decimo (Medium nib) with shading or dual-shading inks. My favorite pen and ink combo at this moment is a limited edition Pilot VP Decimo - Kuki with Sailor Manyo - Nagi.
What's your favorite color? :)
Teal!
