Van Dieman’s Here Kitty Kitty — Ink Review #204

 

Van Dieman’s Here Kitty Kitty

 

Ink Review # 204

 

Originally posted on FPN: Sep 22, 2025

 

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🧾 Description

 

Ink: Van Dieman’s Here Kitty Kitty

Brand: Van Dieman's

Country: Australia

Available: 30 ml bottles worldwide.

Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF,  Kaweco (EF/F/M/B/ BB, Stub 1.9) , Kanwrite with FPR Flex nib.

 

Van Dieman’s is a prolific ink company based in Tasmania, Australia.

 

Part of the Feline series, Here Kitty Kitty is a pale pink, beige ink with heavy gold shimmer. 


I don’t like shimmer inks in general, and this one is no exception. I made the mistake of reviewing it under artificial light. At times I couldn’t read what the “shimmer” I was writing. 


Sometimes it was too bright, sometimes too pale. It is legible once it dries. 

I could not ascertain if the flow was wet or not, at times it was, but then it stopped writing. It might be I didn't fill the pen enough or there was just too much shimmer. 

Yet, I can see some enjoying this type of colour for a secret journal or writing breakup letters to disappointing partners blinding them with fury. :D  

 

I most enjoyed it for drawing. It has a pleasing colour. 

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 🧪 Chroma

 

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 ✍️ Writing Samples (scan)

 

JEF stands for Japanese EF nib.

Rhodia / Iroful

 

Midori /Tomoe River 68gsm

 

Scan is off. 

 

Hammermill 20lb

 

 📸 Photo

 

Rhodia/ Iroful

 


Midori / Tomoe River 68 gsm

 

Hammermill 20lb

 

Close-up Shimmer

 

If there’s one image to remember, it’s this one!

 

 🔍 Comparison

 


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 💧 Water Test

 


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 🎨 Artwork

 

Romeo, Romeo

 

I used a bit of Herbin Gris Nuage, and a touch of Noodler’s Eel Red Rattler, Paper is Talens Mixed Media.

 

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- What I Liked: The base color. Drawing. 

- What I Did Not Like: Too much shimmer, hard stops, too bright under artificial lights. 

- What Some Might Not Like: Shimmer, pale.

- Writing Experience: Shimmer hell. 

- Pros: Lovely base colour, shimmer. 

- Cons: Pale color and shimmer. 

 

 🧷 Ink Characteristics

 

- Shading: I don’t know. 

- Ghosting: Faint. 

- Bleed Through: A hint with BB

- Flow Rate: I’m not sure. 

- Lubrication:  Below average. 

- Nib Dry-out: Not sure. 

- Start-up: Depends. 

- Saturation: Really?!

- Sheen:  I think not. 

- Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line:  Did not notice.

- Nib Creep / Crud: Did not notice.

- Staining (Pen): No. 

- Clogging: At times I had to use a waterbrush. 

- Cleaning: Because of shimmer I went with pen jacuzzi. 

- Water Resistance: Ok. 

 

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 💬 Closing

 

While I don’t like shimmer inks in general, in retrospect I found the colour soothing and peaceful, especially for drawing. 

 

No fountain pens were hurt in preparing this review. 😉

 

Please don’t hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments — the more the merrier.😊

 

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