Finding a remote teaching rhythm
My first week back in school is fully remote. The beginning of the calendar year offers a chance to reset. To consider my writing and thinking tools with fresh(er) eyes. And to select six pen and ink combos that will help me slip into a rhythm.
My attention has kept Diamine’s inkvent inks firmly in frame for four weeks now. I’m expanding this week. The focus is on inks I haven’t given ample time to of late.
The three Colorverse inks that were gifted to me are the heart of this week’s palette. I added Diamine’s 25th inkvent ink, All the Best, and kept Festive Joy for my accents. I didn’t give Festive Joy a true shake-down last week. And we can all use January holiday accents. Lastly, I snagged my favorite orange ink, Orange Indien, for an eye-searing pop of color.
Fun and sentimental
These six colors offer a balanced palette: one grey, one blue, two earth tones, and two accent colors. I have a pen and ink combo for whatever task crops up this week. And every color both contrasts and accents the others.
I stocked large, forgiving nib sizes this week. Two Zoom nibs, a B and a M sit on the desk. I can write and jot notes quickly. So I can focus on building forward momentum with my students — and their parents.
Bring it, January.
Grey/Black
Loft Highworth Teal Ocean (EF). Colorverse α UMa. This week’s daily driver. The large diameter pen is comfortable for long writing sessions. The quiet and smooth threads also make for a fun fidget-spinner — half turns open and closed. The EF nib pairs well with UMa, resulting in a mid-toned grey with fabulous shading. Task management, scratch notes, lecture notes, lesson plans, reading notes.
Blue/Teal
Visconti Homo Sapiens Silver Age (F CI, by Nibsmith). Colorverse α And. And is a ghostly grey-blue with prominent shading. And is a fun ink I find myself reaching for over and again. The Visconti’s crisp CI grind is one of only two slow-writing nib choices this week. This pair is wet enough to require a coated paper — otherwise this combo feathers like a bird. Lesson plans, journaling, lecture notes, meeting notes.
Earth Tones
Nakaya Neostandard Heki-tamenuri (B). Colorverse α Psc. The Nakaya and Psc make a dynamic duo. I mean “dynamic” literally. Upon uncapping, this pair writes wetly and with fun shading. The pair grows drier and whispier after half of an A6 page. The feed and ink do not play well together. Journaling and other reflective writing are key as I frequently re-cap my pen while reflecting.
Sailor Pro Gear Slate Blue (Z Architect, by Custom Nib Studio). J. Herbin Orange Indien. I enjoy Orange Indien. An orange that pops off the page and shades noticeably on the right paper. The Z nib lays down wide lines wetly. Together, this combo makes for an excellent accenting writer. For instance, this will be my status marking and highlighting pen. Plus: lesson plans and journaling.
Wild Cards
TWSBI 580-AL Silver (M). Diamine All the Best. A magenta with purple shimmer and green sheen. All the Best is well-suited to personal writing and accent work in notebooks only I see — so: process work. The M TWSBI nib offers a middling wetness. Combined, this pair provides fun shading, too. This is an accent and scratch notes writer. Perhaps some journaling, too.
Sailor Pro Gear Graphite Lighthouse (Z). Diamine Festive Joy. A firehose of a combination. Festive Joy sits up on the page for 30-60 seconds before drying. However, quickly jotted notes remain smooth and easily keep up with my writing pace. This is my meeting notes pair while teaching remotely. It is also my during-class scratch notes pen. And journaling — because why not?
