I was so excited to try a new ink from Taccia. I picked up a bottle of the Hokusai Sabimidori (40ml bottle for $32). First, I have always liked the work of Hokusai and this ink collection includes four inks inspired by the Ukiyo-e prints of legendary artist Hokusai. I was able to see an exhibition of Hokusai’s work this year at the Nelson-Atkins Museum. Ukiyo-e is a style of Japanese printing from the Edo-period (17th century) that focuses on everyday life, a trend that continue to inspire artists today.
So, let’s get into the specifics of this inks.
This ink is very sheeny but is unusual in its hue. The base color is a very dark bluish green with reddish sheen. The green seems to only show on some papers, with the bluish hue becoming more vivid on others.
Ink Comparison
I have a few green-to-red sheening inks but the Taccia Sabimidori is distinctly different in both base color and sheen.
Octopus Inks Gremlin is a green base with a deep blue sheen, November Rain, Sea Turtle and Andrata Teal are all a green base with reddish-pink sheen. Sabimidori almost has a coppery vibe in comparison.
Final Impressions
Overall, Tacci Sabimidori is a very unusual ink. It looks different on different papers and at different angles. Just when I think I figured it out, it seems to shift. As a result, the longer I use and the longer I stare at it, the more I like it. It’s definitely worth trying it out as it is a truly unusual color.
DISCLAIMER: Some items included in this review were provided free of charge by Taccia Pen Company for the purpose of review. Please see the About page for more details.