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. 😉
When we backed the Stanford Pen Studio (SPS) crowdfunder last year, I ordered two pens, and Jim ordered one. Imagine my surprise when Jim’s pen arrived with a stowaway! I’m honored to have been gifted one of the Intwana Kitten models with Brandon Lodewyk‘s art on it. Thank you so much to Di, Dave, and Brandon.
Not only is it a great fit for me — as a cat-themed pen — but it also means I have a pen with Brandon’s art now, putting me one step closer to having a pen with each partner artist’s work.
Before I get started, I want to make sure you know that, while the Koi and Seahorse designs are not currently listed on the SPS website, the Chameleon, Dragon, Giraffe, Kitten, Llama, Penguins, and Phoenix designs are all still available.
360° views
Per usual, I’m starting with the 360° views. I’ve included one of the images Stanford Pen Studio had as part of their crowdfunder campaign (left) and my own 360° view of Brandon’s art.
The Art
In an interesting twist (for me) this pen is really meant to be looked at from further away. I’m not sure if it’s pencil, charcoal, or a mix, but the shading and some of the line work looks smudgy when you zoom in too close — as would be expected when blending is involved — and these photos are definitely larger than real life.
I appreciate the variation from stark white to full black to draw the eye to details. And, of course, the red nose, tongue, and arrowhead draw your eye almost immediately.
The butterfly is adorable, and a nice touch to help break up the bubbles.
Signature
While it may not be to everyone’s taste, I love how bold and easy-to-see Brandon’s signature is. Perhaps it’s because I consider these pens as fine art in the shape of a pen, I prefer a prominent signature.
Final thoughts
Another cherished addition to my SPS collection, and fountain pen collection as a whole.
What do you think of the Intwana Kitten? Do you like the grayscale art? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to hear from you.
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