Van Dieman's 2026 - Dragon - 100ml Shimmering Fountain Pen Ink

Dragon There are creatures that belong to myth, and then there are those that feel older than it. Across cultures, the dragon is not merely a beast of power, but a symbol of dominion, wisdom, and something far more difficult to define. It is guardian and destroyer, sovereign and exile, a creature that does not fit within the natural order, but instead seems to stand above it. Where the phoenix speaks of renewal, and the faun of unity, the dragon speaks of control. Of something ancient that does not yield. To name May’s ink Dragon was not simply to evoke strength, but to capture that sense of presence. Something vast, watchful, and enduring. At its core, Dragon is a rich indigo-purple, sitting deep between blue and violet. Saturated and commanding, it carries the weight of Royal Starfish and Ghost Ship, while drawing on the depth and density of Hanging Lake. On the page, it lays down dark and confident, then begins to separate. Shadows deepen into near-black pools, while cooler undertones emerge subtly through the body of the ink. A dark green copper sheen forms across heavier applications on high-grade paper, rising to the surface like oxidised metal or the shifting scales of something alive. It appears strongest where the ink gathers, clinging to edges and contours, adding structure and contrast rather than distraction. The shimmer is where the ink reveals its full nature. Multichromatic and deliberate, it shifts from a deep, embered purple red when the light hits at a low angle to a vivid green as the light strikes from behind the viewer. In some moments it burns, in others it cools, never settling into a single identity. The artwork, painted by Belinda entirely with Van Dieman’s inks, reflects this same balance of control and intensity. The composition and form draw inspiration from a Tutorial by Cartooning Club XL, whose work helped guide the structure of the dragon itself. Dragon is an ink that declares itself boldly, with dominance, presence.