Shikiori Brush Pens, #206 Doyou (Day of the Ox)

These beautiful new brush pens have something surprising inside: Sailor Shikiori fountain pen inks. Shikiori is Sailor's flagship collection of inks: twenty nature-inspired colors that celebrate Japan's four seasons. Because they use fountain pen ink, Shikiori Brush Pens lay down brilliant, transparent marks. They can be layered, blended, and diluted with water, so it's possible to make entire illustrations with Shikiori Brush Pens.

The flexible brush tip is the killer feature of these pens, and it's probably what will get the most use in artists' studios. It's capable of thin or thick lines, and the water-thin ink flows freely for quick fills and saturated strokes. Every color is subtle and well-chosen, and each responds differently when blended with water. You'll notice the little ripples and waves of the various dyes as they separate in dilution. Fountain pen users and urban sketchers, of course, will already be familiar with the unique beauty of a dye ink wash.

Even if you don't draw or paint, Shikiori Brush Pens might still merit a prominent spot on your desk. Because they're so bright and transparent, they're excellent for highlighting, underlining, color coding, and taking notes. This is where Shikiori's other tip really shines. It's a flexible, fine, porous point, similar to other Japanese "sign pens," with nice line variation even though the tip is quite small. You can use the darker colors for general writing—and in our experience, your handwriting will look pretty great.

Made in Japan.