Monarca - Arena Blanca
Monarca - Arena Blanca - Ink drop
Monarca leapt onto the ink scene at the end of 2021. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, they describe their inks as, “inspired by the beautiful landscapes of Mexico.” At the time writing of this review, they offer two, four-ink collections, and a special edition ink. Even at just nine inks, it’s a diverse range including a couple of sheens and shimmers. Beautiful landscape themes cover the packaging, but what instantly set them apart was including a lovely, banak wood combination bottle holder and pen rest with every 30ml bottle!
Monarca - Arena Blanca - color range and edge
My first ink from Monarca is Arena Blanca or “white sands” from the Caribbean series. This is a very attractive, quite unusual ink. It’s a deceptively complex blend of khaki and taupe, but there are subtle orange qualities at times, as well. There’s a bit of shading, but the most change comes from nib and paper choice. From a lighter sandy, orangish tan to a darker smokey taupe, it wore a different mask on each of my six test papers! I was instantly attracted to this ink.
Monarca - Arena Blanca - Lights and darks
Arena Blanca is a fairly wet ink with a thin, low-viscosity consistency. It’s not uncomfortable at all, but thinner than I normally like. Both water tests and the grey line at the bottom of the chromatography indicate this is a surprisingly water-resistant ink. I didn’t expect it, and while the tans and taupes generally fade, a highly readable grey remains. There’s a nice stroke edge on coated papers that adds decidedness to the ink, as well. Drying was reasonable, and I’d call this a nice writing ink.
Monarca - Arena Blanca - Stroke shading and edge
Monarca offers a bit of everything, and they are proving to be an innovative, very attractive addition to the market. You can order directly from Monarca, or they’re available at a growing number of retailers. I really like Arena Blanca and look forward to more! Enjoy!
Monarca - Arena Blanca - Ink swatch card
Monarca - Arena Blanca - Ink swatch comparisons