Starry Ink - Xenopeltis Tail
Starry Ink Xenopeltis Tail - Ink drop
Xenopeltis Tail is the third of three inks in the Mood Tail series from Starry Ink, and it is packed with creative potential! I’ve really been enjoying these fascinating color-shifting inks in this series. They are said to change based on temperature and humidity, and change they most definitely do!
Ink Swatches on Cosmo Air Light and Tomoe River
The Xenopeltis is better known as the sunbeam snake. It gets its name from its iridescent scales and the magical colors that are seen when they’re seen in sunlight. It’s quite impressive, and the range of colors that show in this ink make it a perfect match for the snake.
Ink Swatches on Iroful and Bank papers
From a base of earthy, army green, deep blues and purples emerge as the ink dries. They fill stroke centers in broader, more saturated strokes, but the shifts are there in even the thinnest line. The result is an unusual blend of greens and blueish purples, and I don’t think I’ve seen this combination in any other ink. There’s strong sheening in the swatches, and traces in written strokes as well, but I don’t think of this as a sheening ink. It’s all about the multiple personalities of the color.
Writing sample on Cosmo Air Snow paper
The 40 ml bottle (nicely packaged) comes with a vial of gold shimmer to add as you desire. I added a small amount for the ink splatter image, but the swatches and writing samples were all created without any added shimmer.
In writing, this is a neutral to slightly dry ink, but it was never uncomfortable or problematic. I didn’t find any feathering or spread, and ghosting was minimal. No problems.
Starry Ink Xenopeltis Tail - Swatch Card
This is an impressive ink, captivating as it shifts from brownish green to blueish purple and back. It’s hard to predict what you’ll find in the end. I recommend broader, wetter nibs to get the most active color shifts. Go light on the shimmer, so it doesn’t cover the main star of the show.
Check out Starry Ink’s new website for their full range of products, and info on free international shipping.
Starry Ink Xenopeltis Tail - Swatch Comparisons
Special thanks to Starry Ink for sending this and several other inks over to try!
Starry Ink Xenopeltis Tail - 40 ml Bottle