Old school writing.

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen a post on my new Lamy Al-Star fountain pen. It's a deep, sultry metallic maroon-purple and it seems to glide over paper in cursive flicks and halting prints.

Ink and steel

You may be aware that the blog URL is inkandsteel. Why? Is it a mere reference to my love for piercings and tattoos?

Or is it a pun, considering that I am also an artist?

It's me, of course it's a goddamn pun.

I've always had a fascination for art materials and writing stationery. I have piles of pens and pencils at home and given the chance (and more importantly money) I would definitely have a pricey mechanical pencil to fondle.

Having had a wonky detached and abstract interest in fountain pens instilled by my father (who taught me all about fountain pens and Lamy as an inexpensive but reliable brand), I was finally persuaded by Samuel (shameless shout out to Samuel yay) to invest in one.

And so I did.

It's officially sold as a black purple and yeah, it's as classy as it sounds.

Solidity and elegance

I've this and the Neon Lime Lamy Safari and I find them both to be good workhorses. The Extra Fine nib I use on the Al-Star is a wee bit scratchy, but that is a fault with the nib that would be easily adjusted by an experienced pen master. The Medium moves with broad sweeping strokes and trailing smoothness when paired with heavily lubricating ink and good paper.

I currently own the Lamy Black and Lamy Turquoise, both reliable colours that I find works well on my cheap college test pad and foolscap sheets. Minimum, if any, bleedthrough - which is obviously the most important factor of any ink purchase for me as I can hardly afford to take my notes on anything more expensive than what can be found for RM 5 for 100 sheets.

Lamy inks are not particularly waterproof, however, and I'd advise you to be careful with drinking close to your paper. The black fares alright when splashed, but the turquoise fades quickly in a little puddle.

I've been eyeing the Lamy Blue/Black ever since I used it with a tester pen at the Lamy concept store in Bangsar Village II (it's right across Borders - you can't miss it!). It looks like the kind of ink that blows you a kiss and winks before gliding away in a tight fitted dress with slits slashed up both thighs. I think I'm in love.

Wet flow

Maybe I'll expand my ink "collection" (ha, if you can even call it that) once I've made a visit down to Singapore this weekend. There's a place there on Orchard that sells Noodler's inks and I'd love to check it out.

If anyone has any suggestions and recommendations, I'd gladly hear them.