REVIEW: Jacques Herbin Kyanite du Népal Ink

Kyanite du Népal is the third fountain pen ink from Jacques Herbin’s 1798 line, meant to commemorate the end of the French Revolution and the company’s relocation and expansion that year.

The 1798 inks are notable for their lovely sheen and silver shimmer. They are formulated to resemble the colors of mineral gemstones.  The first year’s was “Amethyste de l’Oural”, the second year Cornaline d’Egypte, and this year, Exaclair sent me a bottle of the new Kyanite du Népal, a beautiful blue with a pink or burgundy sheen.

The Video

Kyanite du Népal ​- Look and feel

This year, I received a trial bottle of Kyanite du Népal​ ink since it had not yet been put on the market.  You can see the type of bottle that is now available for purchase at my review of last year’s Cornaline d’Egypte.

Looking at the ink in the bottle, at first you might just think it was another blue ink.

As you hold the bottle up to the light, you’ll see where the shimmery particles have settled.  Before using, whether pen or brush, you need to shake the bottle to distribute the particles.

I’m using the terms shading, sheen and shimmer in this review.  Kyanite du Népal has all three.  Shading refers to an ink that is darker or a different blue shade according to how thickly the ink is applied.  Sheen is a characteristic of the dye used in the ink and means the ink has two different colors at times.  It appears when the ink is very wet, and the paper is slow to absorb.  This means it won’t show up with all pens or on all papers.  Shimmer occurs when glittery particles have been added to the bottle.

This was a difficult review for me because no matter how many ways I scanned or photographed, I couldn’t pick up the silver shimmer unless I was directly by a light and so close that I could only capture a small part of the page. I was expecting this to some extent because this isn’t my first shimmering ink, but the problem seemed worse than usual.

The sheen was even more difficult to catch.  The best example I could get occurred in this photo. You see the burgundy very well and hints of pink here and there.  I accidentally dropped a big splotch of ink on already dry ink and the sheen is most apparent in that splotch. The shading shows here as well.

I’ve seen some reviews where the sheen shows up beautifully so I believe the lack lies with my ability and the paper I have on hand.  I also did my examples when the air was very dry, so it is possible the ink was simply drying too quickly.

By the way, if you decide to try creating your own splats with a syringe as I do in the video, be sure to wear an apron.  Heck, wear 2 or 3 and maybe a Kevlar vest.  Paste the room in newspaper.  That ink comes out with enough force to launch a cannon and it stains – be warned!

The ink starts out as a dark blue on the paper, but immediately the colors start changing and soon you get beautiful shades of blue and a silvery shimmer.  I used the very last of my sample ink on this splat so it’s extra loaded with silver.

This splat was done in a Rhodiarama journal with Clairefontaine fountain pen friendly paper, but applied this heavily, the ink does bleed through the paper.  I think what you get on the back is as interesting as the front, and I’ll use both sides for a drawing of some kind later.

Performance

Kyanite du Népal shades nicely. It leans to turquoise, but I found the shades of blue you get change according to the paper – particularly on watercolor type papers versus the smoother paper you might use for writing. I’m assuming this has to do with absorbency and sizing.

I don’t actually use fountain pens for writing very often – I seldom write! Too busy drawing and painting! But I love using this ink in my art, whether with pen or brush. Because this is a watercolor site, I’ve focused more on using a brush in this review. I also feel with shimmering inks, like the 1798 line, a brush brings out more of the beauty.

Plus, with a brush, you don’t have to worry about clogging. Particles that shimmer and sparkle in any ink can clog a fountain pen. I haven’t had a problem with the 1798 inks myself, but it’s only common sense to expect it can happen.

This example was done using both a brush and a fountain pen.  Scanned flat on, little of the shimmer or sheen shows, but in real life both are definite.  I used a mixed media style of paper so the different shades of blue really show up.

Notice that characteristic turquoise as well as the shimmer when I photograph the drawing at a slant (I’ll show more of the sheen later).

The ink is so transparent that when you use it over a drawing (waterproof pen works best), the line work shows right through.  It’s fantastic for negative painting.

You can see the shading, but it’s more subtle on paper this smooth.  I think the shimmer is more evenly distributed, probably because there is less tooth to catch the particles.  I didn’t get any of the sheen in this painting.

Even if you have a work with color that you want to liven up, this ink is fantastic for negative painting.

The color doesn’t show through, but it creates a subtle shading in the blue that I love.  I’ve seldom had a problem with the original color smearing, but the paper and the color medium matter. You might want to test a small area before starting your negative painting.  

It might just be me, but this painting makes me think of those 3D drawings where you have to squint to see the image.

The color can also affect the color of the shimmer.  In this painting, the shimmer turned gold in some areas, and more of a silver steel in others.  I don’t know if there was sheen – the color would mask that.  You just never know exactly what you’ll get, except it will be beautiful!

Orange and blue are complementary colors that make each other pop when next to each other, but can be muddy when actually mixed.  I don’t think these two inks create mud, but it looks like they did from the scan.  I wish you could see the real thing. Last year’s Cornaline d’Egypte really pairs well with the Kyanite du Népal.

Where I actually used the orange over the blue, I got a sort of seaweed green that I think worked well for a mermaid painting.  You can see the pinkish burgundy sheen here too, where I used a wet pen over dried ink that I had painted earlier.

Kyanite du Népal – Overall

Kyanite du Népal is the third of Jacques Herbin’s 1798 line of inks.  It has shading, silver shimmer, and a burgundy/rose sheen.  As with any ink that has sheen, the sheen only shows up with wet ink and slow-absorbing paper.  I think it is most likely to show if you apply wet ink over dry. The blue shades from turquoise to true blue and some shades in-between.

The color is highly transparent, making it a good choice for adding color to existing drawings or paintings. The line work will show right through.

Tools

• Jacques Herbin 1798 Collection Fountain Pen Ink Kyanite du Népal
• Jacques Herbin 1798 Anniversary Ink – Cornaline D’Egypte
• Hahnemühle Report & Art sketchbook A5
• Princeton Snap!™ Brushes
• Rhodia Webnotebook Webbies – Dot Grid Hardback
• Rhodia Rhodiarama Webnotebook

Other Reviews on Doodlewash

• Cornaline d’Egypte Fountain Pen Ink Review
• REVIEW: Hahnemühle Report & Art Book

Sandra Strait

I’m a self-taught artist who dances about with all sorts of artistic mediums. My main loves are Watercolor, Zentangle and Ballpoint pen. The subjects of my work are many and varied and change at whim. I’m a little bit crazy, but doesn’t that come with being an artist? I post Reviews and Tutorials here on Doodlewash.

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