Acrylic mascara vs water-based mascara - a comparative review. Her Majesty ink. A millennium-long history
Today I will show my feathers and various mascaras.
And I will also compare how three different black mascaras differ from each other and show how they draw which feathers.
First, I’ll tell you about the mascara cans I have.
Let's start with the cheapest ink (and ink) - these are the products of Gamma and Koch-i-nor, here they are:
I only have purple ink, by the way, its expiration date came out in May 2009, i.e. 4.5 years ago, then I just started trying ink painting and buying the first jars. To my surprise, it is still in good condition, I have not tried to draw with it before.
I also had green ink for a long time, already 4 years ago, I accidentally poured the first such vial onto the notebook directly on the pair, which ruined the notebook on analytical chemistry (by the way, the text was not damaged). Unfortunately, KiN green ink is now of a different color (as far as I can tell in the store, transparent and more like the color that Winsor & Newton has, but at first glance, I didn't buy it, so I don't know how it looks on paper. I like this particular color more, the one that was before.
Black, brown and white mascara. As far as I remember this is acrylic mascara, and I was always confused by the inscription about the fact that this mascara is highly resistant to water, but at the same time it is not indelible. I didn't try to paint over this mascara with watercolors, who have tried - share the result. Brown is pleasant, and black is black, while white quickly settles and shakes worse and worse over time, and it is also slightly transparent when applied, so I prefer a white gel pen more - it is more convenient and faster. 
Here you can see how these mascaras look on paper, a brush, and below is a water blur. On top of the colored ones, I painted with white (you can see the transparency yourself) 
I will also talk about a special type of mascara, about which, for some reason, most of the drawing people of which I know have no idea at all.
This is latex mascara. She is the only one that is EXACTLY not washable. It has several drawbacks: you rarely find it where you find it, where I find the shelf life is already half (the last one had to be thrown out, and this one, though it ended, I bought it only in the spring and she writes), it is only black (I only have such I saw it), well, it sticks obsessively to the pen, you need to immediately wash it off, wipe it off, then you have to scrape it off with a knife.
I have the way it looks on paper, but it's black and waterproof (when dry), perfect for contouring in watercolor. 
Next, I'll talk about expensive cans of mascara from Winsor & Newton
I have these, the emerald one has been living with me for a long time and when I bought it I could not see how it looked on paper, but the color turned out to be not at all what I expected. And in general, this is always the case with all ink except black.
The mascara that in small glass jars is considered mascara for artwork and is perfectly diluted with water (so they said in the store) and the mascara that is in large jars is for calligraphy, but not finding the red and brown I need among the artistic ones, I took these without looking. .k the color in the jar was as it should, I did not try on paper and regretted it a lot.
Emerald mascara is not emerald at all, but something closer to turquoise, I like blue (I have no complaints about it, a very nice color).
But brown and red, what is it? Brown is pleasantly red, and red with a raspberry hue!
By the way, I liked how the ink for calligraphy is divorced more.
Always try what ink looks like on paper before using it! 
Well, the third type is Chinese calligraphy ink. I have two. I bought the first one (in plastic packaging) at the beginning of summer, but didn’t try it, and I bought the second one in St. Petersburg. at Miroedova School we used it and I found it comfortable. I found this only somewhere in one place and already forgot where, in Leonardo, or something. And the one in a plastic jar comes in a box and is sold with us everywhere. I cannot compare in cost and ml. 
But while doing this review I came across an amazing one:
1) The one that is more convenient to use in glass, the one in plastic has a spout for drops and you cannot dip a brush or a pen there.
2) But the ink that was praised in school turned out to be not black at all. I don't know if it is visible in the photo, but it is dark-dark gray and is inferior in brightness to that in plastic (as well as mascara from Koch-i-nor) 
And now the second part: what I write and draw with.
Here it is my wealth (though there are three joke-holder pens, not one) 
For starters, the most authentic and ancient invention: bamboo sticks. For some reason I draw with them a little, but they are very interesting, the line can be of different thickness and you can make different effects). True, one of the three was defective. Such, if desired, you can make yourself from bamboo and, probably, from reeds (it grows often in our latitudes. I'll have to try. 
The leftmost one is very thin, not often found, but it scratches the paper and holds very little ink in it. I once bought it for biological and entomological purposes, it is convenient for them to sign a very small label.
The good old feather with an asterisk is the most comfortable, 23 has a tip, but its line is thick, I also liked the Chinese one, it has a thing for more mascara. 
These are LEONARDT nibs and their numbers. The pen -400- is already spoiled and does not draw, most of all I like the blue Lieno -40- 
This is all together:
I don't know how it turned out, but I have two asterisks, and number 23 as many as three.
The brushes that I paint with were in the previous review. 
I also have a real, larger, quill pen, but I didn’t use it for writing or drawing, sorry.
Mascara and ink are colorants with a rich history. Each of them has its own characteristics and scope. Consider how ink differs from ink.
General information
Materials of this kind have been known to mankind since the advent of parchment. To make recordings, a composition was required that would adhere well to its surface. Different peoples had their own recipes for making such paints. And now ink and ink are produced in a large number of variants.
Comparison
When comparing two tools that are indispensable today, you should first pay attention to what they are made of. After all, it is in the composition that the main difference between ink and ink lies. And this also determines the properties of the drugs under discussion. Mascara is usually a suspension. Its essential components are dyes and adhesives. The former are responsible for the color of the product. So, for the preparation of a classic black ink, which gives a very rich tone, soot is used. Along with this type of paint, formulations of other colors are also produced.
The adhesive ingredients in the mascara play a binding role. They can be represented by shellac, gummilac, various synthetic resins. From what kind of substance of this kind is used in a particular carcass, its resistance to water depends. Most of these formulations are not washed off the work surface after drying. They are thick and give the image a slight sheen. But there is also a water-soluble ink.
Meanwhile, most inks are solutions, that is, mixtures with a homogeneous structure, the color of which can be different. Such formulations partially penetrate the paper and can blur, therefore, a sufficiently dense base should be used when working. Good mascara, in contrast to ink, does not absorb into the work surface, but is fixed on it with a thin film, and in case of an error, the applied ink can be cut off with a blade.
Ink gives a paler finish than mascara and takes longer to dry. They can leave noticeable smudges on the sheet, and the lines applied by this paint repeatedly in the same place are clearly visible. Works made with such material may fade over time. In addition to solutions, there are among the inks and options in the form of suspensions, containing a pigment as a coloring matter. They are more resistant to light.
What is the difference between ink and ink regarding their application? The fact is that it is precisely the paint of the first type, which makes it possible to obtain clearer lines, that is used to perform delicate, professional works. Ink is indispensable for creating drawings, graphic images. It is used in calligraphy. The samples obtained are stored for a very long time without losing their intense color.
Ink is used today when working with seals and stamps. This ink is used to fill printer cartridges. In addition, we constantly encounter such compositions when writing - it is with ink that fountain pens are filled with ink.
I decided to raise just such a Temko and I propose to leave my comments to all knowledgeable, knowledgeable and simply not indifferent people.
The post was created based on the materials of various Internet publications.
What was the reason for this question and why I decided to ask it. In fact, I was prompted to this, firstly, Chinese painting and calligraphy, including ink and watercolors, and ... not the opportunity to buy distress ink at the Needlework Formula Exhibition. Moreover, in the Hokku topic for a friend of the Wanderer, I described that I drew all the hieroglyphs with ink.
Putting these 3 things together in my mind, I accidentally stumbled upon artistic ink of different colors.
We must start by defining the composition of these mascaras and how they are subdivided (correct me if I’m wrong).
Translated from English Ink - ink, ink. It is customary for us to separate these 2 terms. In English, I did not find much difference.
Mascara- can be liquid, concentrated and dry in the form of sticks or tiles.
There is also the so-called colored ink (a special type of liquid paints)
Ink- a coloring liquid used for writing or creating other images (in particular, many drawing techniques, stamping stamps).
There are 2 main directions in ink - Calligraphy ink and colored ink.
Calligraphy ink I probably will not describe in each of the firms I have disassembled there is a series of calligraphy.
Artistic color ink.
What distinguishes one mascara from another is the composition of pigments: natural pigments (fewer colors), acrylic pigments (the palette is not limited).
Dilute mascara with natural pigments only with distilled water. Dilution with plain water will degrade the pigment.
What are the same mascaras on our market now?
1. Let's start with one of the most common brands Koh-I-Noor.
Here's what they write about their mascara on the website: http://www.koh-i-noor.cz/ru/art-club/umelecke-tuse
"Artistic mascara is a water dispersion of pigment in a solution of natural resin, it is intended for both beginners and professional artists. The quality of the mascara is comparable to well-known European brands - it is distinguished by high pigmentation, brilliant shades, water resistance and lightfastness. Mascaras are mixed with each other, they are suitable for drawing with a brush and pen. quality shellac and first-class inorganic and organic pigments. Pigments with the required light fastness, purity and medium fastness are supplied by leading European manufacturers.
Qualitative parameters (opacity, lightfastness) are given on boxes of individual shades. Shake the mascara thoroughly before use, as if the material is not used, a precipitate forms, which is especially characteristic of white, silver and gold colors. "There are 14 colors in the palette, including gold and silver."
2. Artistic ink Winsor & Newton. http://www.winsornewton.com/products/inks/drawing-inks/
High quality Sennelier mascara based on natural ingredients.
- It can be applied with a brush, fountain pen and even with an airbrush.
- The mascara has a deep saturated color, bright intense shades due to the presence of shellac in its composition.
- It dries quickly and is resistant to water, however it is not indelible. Ideal for calligraphy, brush and pen drawing, sketching and painting on textiles. The drawing can be fixed with a pencil or pastel fixative, which will only increase the lightfastness of the paints.
- All colors mix perfectly with water and with each other.
- All Sennelier Colorines mascara colors adhere well to each other and form a matte film when dry. This mascara can be applied with a brush, fountain pen or airbrush on surfaces such as layered paper, lined cards, etc.
- Colorines mascara is extremely easy to use and gives an even transparent finish when airbrushed. It can also be used as liquid watercolor to frame a painting.
Sold in separate bottles or sets.Check out the ink drawings.
Now I will say a few words about mascara with acrylic dyes. I can't say for sure, but I got the impression that these mascaras are amateur.
FW Pearlescent 22 colors, pearlescent shades.
Mascara- a very comfortable material, popular for many centuries. She played an important role in the art of Ancient China, from where the saying came to us: "Ink contains all shades", testifying to the richness of tonal possibilities of ink, even within the same color.
However, the mascara used in one work does not have to be exclusively black or monochrome, as there are many colored mascaras today. They may not be used as widely as traditional blue, black, and sepia ink, but other colors can add flavor to your piece. Mascara is water-resistant and soluble, and the latter can be used as a water-based paint and diluted with water to obtain lighter shades. Among the waterproof ones are acrylic ink; it comes in a variety of colors and can be mixed for missing colors. Once dry, waterproof mascara will no longer accept water.
There are three types of mascara: waterproof mascara (made on the basis of natural resin - shellac - and is not miscible with water); non-waterproof(even after drying, it can be diluted with water and grinded); liquid acrylic (it can be diluted with water to apply light or semi-dark strokes, but after drying it becomes water-resistant). Like other dyes, mascara comes in a wide range of colors.
ARTIST'S ADVICE
To remove unwanted lines, paint over with gouache or gently scrape off with something sharp. Both methods change the properties of the paper, so use them at the end of your work.
Waterproof mascara.
Insoluble after drying, this mascara is made from soluble shellac-based dyes. It is thicker than water-soluble mascara, forms slightly shiny spots after drying and is suitable for fine work. In this case, ink gets dirty quickly, so brushes and pens should be thoroughly cleaned before use (do not use fountain pens). Liquid acrylic mascara is a special version of waterproof mascara. Unlike shellac-based mascara, it is usually not dye compounds that are used for its manufacture, but insoluble pigments, from which it takes their lightfastness. Acrylic mascara should not be mixed with shellac mascara.
When dry, the mascara shines less.
Water-soluble mascara.
The non-waterproof mascara is shellac-free and can be washed off with water on dry stains. Such mascara is absorbed into the paper more strongly than its waterproof counterparts and becomes matte after drying. It is widely used for glazing over waterproof mascara.
Liquid acrylic ink and liquid watercolor.
Acrylic mascara becomes waterproof after drying, and its main colors are lightfast. It can also be used as a shellac-based mascara, but should not be mixed with the latter. Liquid watercolor comes in a variety of colors, but like regular watercolor, it can fade in bright light.
Acrylic mascara becomes waterproof when dry.
Liquid watercolor
Mascara.
At the heart of Chinese calligraphy ink are burnt resins and fats of vegetable and animal origin. Ink differs in the composition of the processed resins included in it into many types, and each type has its own characteristics in shades of color, gloss, solubility in water, etc.
The carcass is based on a variety of resins and vegetable oils - resin of tung tree, pine, hemp oil, etc. The soot from the burnt resin is processed in a special way, pressed into tiles or bars and aged from several months to a year or more.
The tiles or mascara bars themselves are often beautifully designed and are often small works of applied art. On the bars, relief images of flowers, dragons or birds are made, gilding is applied. Expensive varieties of ink often, in addition to exquisite design, also have special cases, finished with silk, varnish, etc.
Chinese ink
(Set of dry colored ink in a briquette - Nevskaya palitra)
Before use, ink is diluted (rubbed) with a small amount of water on a special, most often stone, site - an inkpot. During the work, the ink lies on the calligrapher's table on a special stand, when the work is finished, the ink is dried and stored in a case. Experts evaluate the quality of mascara by a variety of signs - density, smell, and even the sound when tapped.
High quality diluted mascara is thick, slightly stringy and oily.
Natural resin-based mascara.
There are many types and varieties of this carcass, differing in place of production, solubility, etc. It is also used as a Chinese traditional medicine.
Special mascara.
It is an amalgam of natural mascara based on resin soot and various extracts. The most common type of commercially produced mascara.
Pine soot mascara.
This type of carcass is based on soot from burning pine branches. Distinctive features of the mascara - deep black color, lack of gloss, good solubility in water.
Colored ink.
It comes in different colors: yellow, blue, green, red, etc. Expensive varieties of colored mascara are made on the basis of natural minerals, and the drawing left by them is distinguished by extraordinary durability and the ability to not fade.
In addition to the listed types, there are also various types of black and colored mascara on a synthetic basis.
Liquid ink.
Regular types of liquid mascara are not suitable for serious calligraphy, but expensive special varieties (Beijing liquid mascara, Shanghai liquid mascara based on resin black) are not inferior to good types of solid mascara and are widely used by artists and calligraphers.
Choice of mascara.
For beginners in calligraphy, pine soot mascara, Tsinmo black mascara or good liquid mascara are quite suitable. Cheap varieties of mascara are difficult to handle, do not fit well on paper, and can contribute to the development of the wrong skills when used for exercise.
Chinese ink
(6-piece calligraphy set in a colorful gift box (cardboard, silk): 2 brushes with bamboo handle, dry Chinese ink, stone for rubbing ink, inkwell, scoop.)
Chinese ink
(11-piece calligraphy set in a colorful gift box (cardboard, silk): 4 marten brushes with bamboo handle, dry Chinese ink, stone for rubbing ink, brush holder, blank for printing, stamp ink, inkwell, scoop.)
Calligraphic ink
Ink pot.
The greatest variety of shapes, materials and types of execution are possessed by ink pots - special stands for grinding ink. Ink pots are made from:
- stone - the most common type of ink-pot;
- baked unglazed clay (tiled ink);
- metal (very rare);
- filtered clay (antique ink-cutters of the highest grade);
- jade (were widespread during the Han era, made from white jade);
- ceramics (glazed fired clay);
- porcelain (quite rare).
According to their shape, inkpots are divided into several types:
Ink cutters with a depression in the middle.
The most common form of ancient inkpots, convenient for grinding large ink slabs.
Tiled ink-pot.
In the very middle of such an ink-pot there is a small elevation surrounded by a groove with a smooth edge shape.
"The sea of carcasses".
The name of an old ink pot designed for large volumes of ink and working with large brushes. Nowadays, this is the name for round inkpots of various sizes.
"Long ink pot".
There are two types of such inkpots - in one form the inkpot is divided into two sections: deep for water and shallow for grinding ink; in another, shallow and deep from division do not have a distinction, in shallow mascara is rubbed, which subsequently flows into the deep part.
Custom inkpots.
As a rule, they are performed in the form of intricate woody leaves, bamboo joints, etc. Not very easy to use, but valuable as works of art.
Flat ink tanks.
They are made in the form of a flat rectangle without a special cavity for collecting the mascara. Designed for grinding a very small amount of mascara.
The choice of ink pot.
Ink pots are available with or without lids, light portable and heavy stationary. When choosing an ink pot, you need to pay attention not only to its size and shape, but also to the quality of the work surface finish. The bottom of the ink pot should be smooth, free of cracks and protrusions, and well polished.
A TIP FOR THE ARTIST
For best results, use smooth paper. Always keep a jar of clean water close at hand and rinse the pen or brush before using it again. There should also be blotting paper or napkins nearby: they are used to clean the instrument.
Pen, ink and ink are excellent and versatile tools that have been popular with artists for centuries. Today, nibs are available in a variety of styles: there are fountain pens with replaceable nibs, fountain pens for drawing or fountain pens (the nibs of which can also change), traditional goose nibs, reed nibs and bamboo nibs. They have different characteristics, so experiment on separate sheets of paper first and choose the type that works best for your purposes.
Fountain pens and points
Fountain pens with replaceable points are made of wood or plastic. They come in different shapes and sizes, so try different ones first to see which one works best.
Nibs are also available in many shapes and sizes, but not all of them will fit your pen, so when choosing it is better to know the parameters of the latter. The tips can be produced for specific purposes, but they are all suitable for drawing. Several different handpieces can be used in the same job. If the nib won't accept mascara, wipe it with saliva. The flexible tip allows you to get lines of different thickness and quality.
Traditional fountain pens are suitable for many types of interchangeable nibs, which give both thick and thin lines.
Fountain pens for drawing have a can that refills with ink. The nibs of these pens can be very different.
Bamboo and reed feathers
Bamboo feathers are made from short bamboo sticks. They vary in thickness and often have two points at different ends. The bamboo nib leaves a fixed-width footprint with an uneven rough texture and is suitable for free style work. Reed feathers have a more pliable point and are easier to sharpen with a sharp knife.
Pens made from hard and brittle materials such as bamboo, reed, and bird feathers are suitable for drawing.
Reed feather
Bird feathers
Large flight feathers of birds such as swans, geese and turkeys are used for drawing. If you find a pen like this, it shouldn't be difficult to adapt it to work with paints. Bird feathers are more brittle than bamboo feathers. They wear out during use and need to be sharpened from time to time.
HOW TO SHARP A PEN
1. To sharpen the nib, first cut off the bottom of the nib at an angle.
2. Align the two cut sides of the feather
3. Split the tip of the pen to make the ink flow out. The pen is now ready to use.
Bird feathers
They began to be used for writing around the 700s A.D. It is a great calligraphy and painting tool. The feather pen allows you to create crisp lines that are virtually indistinguishable from those made with a steel feather. The pen shaft serves as a reservoir for the ink.
In connection with the onset of Inktober, I finally decided to publish my review of different types of mascara. We are talking about the usual Gamma and Koh-i-Noor mascara on an acrylic basis.
I already wrote in my that mascara can be on a different basis and, depending on this, is waterproof or not. In fact, mascara, depending on the composition, has different properties. So in order.
Gamma ink is the most widespread and readily available, it is cheap, you can find it in any stationery store. By the way, it also happens in tubes in the form of a concentrate, which must be diluted with water, but I have never come across this. The composition on the label says “water, soot, protein”. The presence of protein immediately raises the question of shelf life. Therefore, when buying, always pay attention to the production date. This mascara can turn sour and then it has a very pungent unpleasant odor. She does not need to draw, it is better to buy a new one. To prevent this from happening during work, ink should be poured into a small container (this particular one can be in the lid from the can itself), so water does not get into it, which can provoke souring. The mascara itself is very liquid, when applied, it often lays down too transparent layer, has a warm black tint. In places where mascara lays down in a thicker layer, a slight glossy shine is observed. Sold in large 70 gram jars. It is easily washed out with water and, after drying, forms a thin brittle film.
pros
- Large volume
- Readily available
- It is good to do tonal fillings, changing the tone with the amount of water
- Not waterproof
- Too liquid and low pigmentation
- May have different color saturation depending on the batch
Koh-i-Noor mascara is a water-based acrylic mascara. Non-dried mascara is washed off with water, but when dry forms a strong waterproof film. It is artistic, therefore it is suitable for drawing and has many different colors. Designed for both beginners and professional artists. The mascaras are mixed with each other, they are suitable for drawing with a brush and pen. Shake the mascara thoroughly before use, as a sediment will form if the material is not used, which is especially characteristic of white, silver and gold colors.
There is also the same one, but with a white label, also on an acrylic base, but I still could not understand the difference between them - who knows, tell us.
This mascara has a peculiarity - it dries very quickly and turns into an elastic, slightly rubbery film. The same happens when acrylic dries. Therefore, she needs to paint either with a brush with water, or quickly with a pen and very carefully wash the tools immediately after drawing. Plus, I always keep a napkin close at hand while drawing and erase excess ink in the process if I draw with a pen, because ink, drying out, crumples on the tip of the pen and spoils the line.
The jar is tiny, only 20 grams, under the lid there is a special stick that helps stir it. The color is more neutral than warm or cold.
pros
- Rich dense coverage
- Waterproof
- Price and volume
- Requires getting used to and a certain style of work
There are comparative colors in the gallery, they clearly show the uniformity of the kokhinor and the erosion of the range by water.
Let me remind you that ordinary ink, regardless of its composition, should not be poured into brushes, ink liners and pens, because it dries quickly and clogs the working channel. As a result, the writing part will have to be cleaned and soaked without guarantees that the subject will come back to life. Therefore, for writing pieces, there is a more liquid ink with a special composition.