Disclaimer: I take no responsibility for pen envy or impulse purchases resulting from viewing this post.
Per usual, you can click on the images to view them larger. I do my best to provide you with high-quality pen porn. 😉
I’m back today with a commissioned pen, my first from Kseniia Nel. When Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) posted her snake pen, I almost bought it, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted. After a bit of thought, it occurred to me that the style would be perfect for Egyptian-style cat statues.
What I was expecting was basically the same idea, but with cats, and probably something cat related instead of the flowers. But, what I got was so much MORE! Kseniia really knocked out of the park.
360° View
As usual, I’m starting you off with the 360° views, both video and photo. Unfortunately, photos, and even video, just don’t do this pen justice.
I don’t know how Kseniia managed to keep the shimmer off of the black areas. But, since she did, the stark black against the gold is simply marvelous. I really can’t adequately convey the beauty of the varying contrasts on this pen. It’s mesmerizing.
Cats
This pen has five cats, two on the cap and three on the barrel, all featuring a variety of dotted and lined designs. Don’t ask me to pick a favorite.
Circular Patterns
Speaking of designs, let’s start with the circular patterns. I’m in awe of the time, patience, and steady hands required to paint them all so perfectly. I love the mix of dotted and lined patterns.
Linear Patterns
Complementing the circular patterns, there are a multitude of linear patterns. They are all so pretty! I could quadrupal the number of photos in the post and still not show them all off. I especially love the mix of silver, gold, black, and white along the tails.
Finials
As expected, the cap finial is topped with an SPS logo coin, in gold. The barrel finial has a mandala-esque design that really needs magnification to appropriately appreciate. Like the rest of the gold paint, it has the most beautiful shimmer.
Background
And last, but not at all least, there is the delicate beauty of the background. It’s remarkably difficult to capture in photos. There is the gray background, but it looks mottled, like Kseniia dry-brushed it with various shades of gray. Then, there is a fine layre of gold shimmer that sparkles as the light hits it.
In what I can only consider serendipity, my randomizer chose this pen to be part of my weekly rotation, so I got to write this post with it. It’s so beautiful, much more so than photos can convey.
Can you pick a favorite from the five cats on this pen? Would you be interested in one that is similarly themed? Or were you the lucky person who snagged the Bindi Cats pen? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful blog post. And what an astonishing pen. Well done to you, Rachel on describing and capturing the magic of this pen so superbly. And well done to Kseniia for painting such a mesmerising work of art on a fountain pen.