(Jeff Abbott is a regular contributor at The Pen Addict. You can find more from Jeff online at Draft Evolution and Twitter.)
As I'm finding with all the Van Dieman's inks I've been testing recently, each ink brings along its own delightful research journey into a landscape or feature of Australia that I'd previously never stumbled upon. With this latest ink, I discovered that there is a name for the body of water that separates Tasmania from the mainland Australia (of course there is), and that it's called Bass Strait. It's commonly used as a shorter path between the Tasman Sea and Great Australian Bight, as opposed to going all the way around the southern point of Tasmania. Apparently, these waters can become treacherous in the right conditions, which is why the marketing copy for this ink includes some stormy undertones. I relate very closely to how this color blue reminds you of a deep body of water. It's beautiful and peaceful, but also dark and mysterious. In certain light and conditions, it can be frightening because of the unknown. With Bass Strait Cobalt Blue, the line between beauty and danger hiding beneath the surface is perfectly balanced.
I've really been enjoying testing all these inks from Van Dieman's because they're so well-behaved and easy to easy. On top of that, they're really unique colors with interesting background stories to go with them. With Bass Strait, you get a rich cobalt blue that shades between medium and dark blue, and you can even spy some purple in some areas. This depth and variation is what gives the ink its personality, and what really connects it to the name. With these Van Dieman's inks, I've found that you just have to sit back and enjoy the colors and unique ink properties — no need to worry about skipping or starting issues, clotting, or clean-up problems.
Bass Strait flows smoothly and hasn't had any issues starting or skipping, and I also haven't noticed any feathering or bleeding while using it. While your experience will certainly vary depending on what nib and paper combo you're using, this ink is exceptional in terms of performance and reliability.
My favorite thing about this ink, like so many others, is the shading properties. It's always a dark, rich blue, but there's just enough variation in the strokes to make it incredibly interesting. It doesn't matter if you're using a wide nib like I am in this sample or if you're using a small nib — the shading comes through. And if you're lucky, you'll get a glimpse of that purple hiding in the depths of the ink waiting for the right conditions to surface.
If you're looking for an ink that dries fast, this one won't win any awards. It routinely took about 20-25 seconds to dry completely, but it's currently incredibly humid where I live, and I assume that adds a couple seconds to the dry time. Definitely keep this in mind if you're a left-handed writer or want to use this ink in a fast-paced setting (like jotting a note in a notebook and closing it immediately).
While there are so many cobalt and cerulean inks (and I own so many of them), this one still speaks to me as an individual and unique entry that deserves some attention. If you already have 50 cobalt inks, you probably don't need another. But if you're looking for a lovely blue with great qualities and an interesting inspiration, definitely give Bass Strait a look.
You can purchase Bass Strait in a 30ml bottle or a 4ml sample vial. At just $12.95 for a bottle, you aren't risking much for what is a guaranteed excellent ink experience.
(Vanness Pens provided this product at no charge to The Pen Addict for review purposes.)
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