Colorverse No. 88/89 Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain — Deep Purple with Green Sheen & Dusty Blue with Pink Shimmer Fountain Pen Ink Set (65ml + 15ml)

Colorverse No. 88/89 Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain — Deep Purple with Green Sheen & Dusty Blue with Pink Shimmer Fountain Pen Ink Set (65ml + 15ml)

Colorverse No. 88/89 Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain is a two-ink fountain pen set from Season 7: Eye on the Universe — Colorverse's series dedicated to the most iconic images produced by the Hubble Space Telescope and humanity's extended vision of the cosmos. The set draws its names from two of the most celebrated astronomical photographs ever taken: the Pillars of Creation, the towering columns of interstellar gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula first photographed by Hubble in 1995 and reshoot in higher resolution in 2014, and the Mystic Mountain, the turbulent, craggy peak of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula captured by Hubble in 2010. Both images share a quality of sublime visual drama — structures of extraordinary scale rendered in colours that no human eye could see unaided, translated by Hubble's instruments into images that permanently changed how we understand the cosmos as a visual experience.

The inks translate those images with characteristic Colorverse precision. Pillars of Creation (No. 88) is a deep, saturated grape purple with a spectacular wild green sheen — a colour that carries the density and drama of the nebula's towering gas columns, with an iridescent green sheen at pooling points that mirrors the specific chromatic complexity of the original image. Mystic Mountain (No. 89) is a dusty, serene cornflower blue-grey with dense rose-gold shimmer particles — a colour that captures the luminous, atmospheric quality of the Carina Nebula's peak, with pink-copper shimmer that adds a genuinely magical dimension to every stroke.

As a Season 7 Eye on the Universe set, Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain represent two complementary visual registers: the deep, dramatic sheen of Pillars and the dreamy, shimmering lightness of Mystic Mountain. Used together, they produce pages of genuine astronomical beauty. The set arrives in Colorverse's signature constellation-decorated presentation box with illustrated stickers and a bookmark themed to the Eye on the Universe series. Mystic Mountain is also available separately in a 30ml bottle. Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

What Makes Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain Different

The pairing of a deep purple sheen ink with a dusty blue shimmer ink is, on paper, a straightforward complementary contrast. What makes Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain exceptional is the specific quality of each effect — and the degree to which both effects exceed what the base colour descriptions alone suggest.

Pillars of Creation's green sheen is the kind of effect that stops experienced ink collectors mid-stroke. Deep grape purple is a characterful and historically well-populated colour space; deep grape purple with a wild, massive green sheen that floods pooling points and stroke edges with a vivid iridescence is a genuinely rare proposition. The green is not a subtle edge glimmer — reviewers consistently describe it as wild, massive, spectacular, and the defining reason to own this ink. On Tomoe River under natural light, the green sheen transforms the ink from a beautiful purple into something that looks like it belongs in the nebula that inspired it.

Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer occupies a different register entirely. The dusty cornflower blue-grey base is serene and atmospheric; the dense rose-gold shimmer particles add a warm, luminous, almost otherworldly sparkle that reviewers describe as magical. This is the ink that introduces many writers to Colorverse — a blue that is unlike any standard blue, with a shimmer effect that is unlike any standard shimmer, and a combination that produces pages of genuine visual wonder. Many who encounter Mystic Mountain for the first time describe it as the ink that made them understand what shimmer ink could be.

Together, the two inks form one of the most celebrated pairings in the Colorverse catalogue — a set that is consistently cited among Season 7's most rewarding entries and among the most visually spectacular ink sets available from any Korean brand.

Ink Profiles

Pillars of Creation (No. 88) — 65ml

Colour

No. 88 Pillars of Creation is a deep, saturated grape purple — a rich, dense mulberry-to-aubergine purple with a subtle red-leaning warmth that prevents it from reading as cool or blue-toned. In the bottle, it presents as a deep, almost opaque purple with a jewel-like chromatic depth. On the page, it dries to a confident, fully saturated deep purple that holds its intensity well across nib sizes and paper types: rich and dramatic at medium to broad sizes, legible and clearly purple at fine sizes, and never thin or muted regardless of ink load.

Writers and reviewers describe the base as deep grape purple, rich mulberry, dark aubergine, or a deep saturated purple that leans slightly warm and red rather than cool and blue — a colour that is dense, dramatic, and immediately commanding on the page. The red-leaning warmth distinguishes Pillars of Creation from cooler blue-purples in the catalogue; it reads as a wine-adjacent purple rather than a violet, with a richness that suits both everyday writing and artistic applications equally well. Comparisons are frequently made to Lamy Dark Lilac, with Pillars of Creation generally described as slightly bluer and more saturated.

Shading

Medium and clearly present, most rewarding at broader nib sizes and on premium papers. Pillars of Creation shades from a slightly lighter, warmer purple in thinner strokes to a deeper, denser, richer grape at pooling points and heavier stroke areas. The shading gradient — lighter warm purple to deep dense grape — is clearly visible on quality papers with medium and broader nibs, adding tonal complexity to what is already a chromatic rich base. The shading is not the primary visual feature of this ink — that role belongs to the green sheen — but it contributes meaningfully to the ink's overall depth and rewards attention on premium papers.

Sheen

Intense, spectacular, and wild. The green sheen is the defining characteristic of Pillars of Creation and one of the most celebrated sheen effects in the Season 7 collection. At pooling points and saturated stroke areas, the ink develops a vivid, iridescent green sheen that stands in dramatic chromatic opposition to the deep grape purple base — a colour combination that directly evokes the specific chromatic drama of the Pillars of Creation nebula image, where deep purples and vivid greens coexist in the same frame. The sheen is not a subtle edge effect; reviewers consistently describe it as wild, massive, spectacular, and the primary reason to own the ink. On Tomoe River under natural or raking light, the green sheen floods pooling points and stroke edges with a vivid iridescence that transforms the ink's visual character entirely. On Cosmo Air Light paper, the sheen shifts toward gold-green. The sheen performs best on smooth, slow-absorbing papers with medium to broad or stub nibs; on standard papers, it diminishes significantly.

Shimmer

None. Pillars of Creation is a pure dye ink with no shimmer particles. The visual complexity — deep grape purple base, medium shading, spectacular wild green sheen — comes entirely from the dye formulation and its interaction with paper surface. No particle clogging risk; low-maintenance; safe for all pens.

Mystic Mountain (No. 89) — 15ml Glistening

Colour

No. 89 Mystic Mountain is a dusty cornflower blue-grey — a soft, atmospheric blue with grey undertones that give it a serene, misty quality entirely distinct from bright or saturated blues. In the bottle, it presents as a pale, somewhat translucent blue-grey with visible shimmer particles suspended throughout. On the page, it dries to a gentle, medium-light blue-grey that reads as calm and luminous: expressive and atmospheric at broader nib sizes where the shimmer distributes fully, softer and more muted at fine sizes where the grey undertones become more apparent. The dusty, slightly desaturated quality of the base is part of the ink's identity — it is not trying to be a vivid blue, but rather a blue that captures the specific atmospheric quality of a nebula image: soft, hazy, and luminous all at once.

Writers and reviewers describe the base as dusty cornflower blue, pale pigeon blue, blue-grey, pale periwinkle, or a calm dusky blue with grey warmth — a colour that is serene, contemplative, and more visually interesting than its palette description suggests, particularly once the rose-gold shimmer activates at broader nib sizes. Fine nib writing tends toward a softer, more muted blue-grey; broad nib writing reveals the full atmospheric depth of the base alongside the shimmer.

Shading

Medium to high, with notable tonal complexity. Mystic Mountain shades from a lighter, slightly greener blue in fine strokes to a deeper, more saturated blue-grey at pooling points and heavier stroke areas, with some strokes developing a subtle yellow-green quality in transition zones. The shading range — light cornflower to blue-grey, with occasional yellow-green flashes in mid-tones — is broader and more complex than the base colour alone suggests, and adds atmospheric depth to an already evocative colour. Reviewers note blue-to-grey tones on loops and overlapping lines, with the full shading complexity most apparent on Tomoe River and Rhodia with medium to broad nibs.

Sheen

None. Mystic Mountain develops no metallic sheen on any paper surface. The visual complexity comes entirely from the dusty blue-grey base, the expressive shading, and above all the rose-gold shimmer.

Shimmer

Dense, warm, rose-gold — and magical. The rose-gold shimmer in Mystic Mountain is one of the most distinctive shimmer effects in the Colorverse Glistening catalogue and a significant reason for the ink's enduring reputation as an entry point to the Colorverse range. The shimmer particles are a warm pink-copper rose-gold rather than a standard silver or yellow-gold — a colour that complements the dusty blue-grey base with a chromatic warmth that creates a genuinely otherworldly effect, as if the atmospheric haze of the Mystic Mountain nebula had been rendered in luminous copper-pink light. The distribution is dense enough that every broad stroke carries visible sparkle; the particle colour is warm enough to stand out dramatically against the cool blue-grey base.

Reviewers consistently describe the effect as magical, dreamlike, and unlike any other shimmer ink — a combination of dusty blue-grey base and rose-gold shimmer that produces pages of genuine visual wonder. In broad nib, stub, and dip pen applications on premium papers, the shimmer is most spectacular; in fine nib applications, the shimmer is reduced but the dusty blue-grey base remains characterful. Shake gently before each use to redistribute settled particles; flush every 4–6 weeks as standard shimmer-ink care. Note that Mystic Mountain is a wet writer — the generous flow contributes to shimmer distribution but extends dry time on premium papers.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Pillars of Creation (No. 88) — 65ml

Mystic Mountain (No. 89) — 15ml Glistening

Both inks are water-based dye inks, pH neutral, non-toxic, and safe for all fountain pens including vintage instruments.

How to Get the Most Out of Pillars of Creation & Mystic Mountain

Recommended Paper

Both inks are effects inks — Pillars of Creation for its green sheen, Mystic Mountain for its rose-gold shimmer — and both require smooth, slow-absorbing papers to perform at their most spectacular. Paper choice is more consequential for these inks than for most:

• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — the definitive paper for both inks; Pillars of Creation's wild green sheen is most spectacular here, flooding pooling points and stroke edges with vivid iridescence under natural or raking light; Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer distributes at maximum density and visibility; shading on both inks most active and most beautiful; the full visual drama of the set is most completely expressed on Tomoe River
• Cosmo Air Light — particularly noteworthy for Pillars of Creation, where the sheen shifts toward a gold-green iridescence on this paper; a premium paper choice for sheen enthusiasts who want to explore how the ink's effect changes across paper surfaces
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — excellent and reliable results for both inks; Pillars of Creation's green sheen develops clearly; Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer distributes well; the practical everyday choice for experiencing both inks at their best
• Leuchtturm1917 — good overall performance; deep purple saturation on Pillars; blue-grey saturation and shimmer clearly present on Mystic Mountain; a natural pairing for bullet journaling and daily logging with both inks in rotation
• Midori MD Paper — smooth surface supports good colour development and effects visibility for both inks; a reliable pairing for journaling and extended writing sessions
• Standard copy paper — functional at fine nib sizes for basic legibility; Pillars of Creation's green sheen largely absent; Mystic Mountain's shimmer significantly less visible; not recommended for the full visual experience of either ink

For both inks, prioritise Tomoe River or Rhodia with medium, broad, or stub nibs. The sheen and shimmer effects are the primary reason to use these inks; the paper and nib choice determine whether they appear at full intensity.

Recommended Nibs

Both inks reward wetter, broader nibs that deposit sufficient ink for their respective effects to develop fully:

• Stub and cursive italic nibs — the highest-intensity effects for both inks; Pillars of Creation's wild green sheen most spectacular at broad stub widths; Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer most densely distributed and most luminous; the definitive choice for experiencing both inks at their most visually extraordinary; the variation between thick and thin strokes showcases both sheen and shimmer most dramatically
• Medium and broad nibs — green sheen on Pillars clearly visible and active; Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer evenly distributed and clearly present; the recommended everyday choice for the full visual character of both inks
• Fine nibs — Pillars of Creation reads as a rich, legible deep purple; green sheen reduced but present at pooling points; Mystic Mountain reads as a soft dusty blue-grey; shimmer reduced but present in longer strokes; a practical choice where legibility takes precedence
• Extra-fine nibs — both inks fully functional at fine sizes; Pillars of Creation remains a characterful deep purple; Mystic Mountain tends toward a soft muted blue-grey; effects largely absent at very fine sizes; recommended only where fine line precision is the priority
• Eyedropper pens — an excellent pairing for both inks, particularly Mystic Mountain; high ink volume ensures consistent shimmer distribution and sustained effect performance; the generous flow of Mystic Mountain benefits from eyedropper volume for extended artistic work
• Dip pens — exceptionally well-suited to both inks' visual drama; Pillars of Creation's wild green sheen and Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer are most spectacular in dip pen applications with generous ink loads; a natural choice for astronomical-themed calligraphy, expressive lettering, and any artistic work where the visual drama of both inks is a compositional centrepiece

Pen Maintenance

Pillars of Creation (No. 88) is a pure dye ink with no shimmer particles — low-maintenance, no clogging risk, safe for all pens. Flush every 4–6 weeks under normal use. Mystic Mountain (No. 89) is a Glistening shimmer ink — shake gently before each use to redistribute settled rose-gold shimmer particles, and flush every 4–6 weeks as standard shimmer-ink care. Both inks are pH neutral and safe for all pen materials. Note: Mystic Mountain is a wet writer with a slower dry time on quality papers — allow adequate drying time to avoid smudging, particularly on Tomoe River. Mystic Mountain is best suited to pens with medium to broad nibs and open feeds; fine nibs may restrict shimmer particle flow.

Recommended Uses

• Astronomical and space writing — the direct connection to two of Hubble's most iconic images makes this set a natural choice for space enthusiasts, astronomy students, science writers, and anyone whose writing engages with the visual language of the cosmos; the inks translate the specific chromatic character of each nebula image with unusual fidelity, making them a genuinely appropriate choice for astronomical themes
• Artistic calligraphy and expressive lettering — Pillars of Creation's wild green sheen and Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer produce page qualities of extraordinary visual drama at stub and italic nib sizes; particularly effective for display lettering, title pages, and any calligraphic work where the visual drama of deep purple-green iridescence or dusty blue rose-gold shimmer is a compositional asset
• Dual-ink journaling and creative writing — the deep purple and dusty blue-grey are visually distinct but tonally harmonious; using both inks within a single journal or notebook produces pages of genuine chromatic complexity and astronomical beauty; the sheen and shimmer effects echo each other across the pair in a way that makes the two inks feel compositionally related
• Nature and science illustration — compatible with dip pens and brush application; Pillars of Creation's deep purple and green sheen are particularly effective for botanical and night-sky illustration; Mystic Mountain's dusty blue-grey and rose-gold shimmer suit atmospheric landscape, cloud, and nebula illustration
• Fountain pen photography and swatching — both inks are among the most photogenic in the Colorverse catalogue; Pillars of Creation's wild green sheen is most dramatic under natural or raking light on Tomoe River; Mystic Mountain's rose-gold shimmer is most spectacular under direct light; side-by-side swab photography of both inks shows the complementary drama of sheen and shimmer most clearly
• Ink collection display — the matched 65ml and 15ml teardrop bottles in the constellation presentation box are among the most visually striking in the Colorverse range; the deep purple and dusty blue-grey pair reads beautifully on a shelf as a coherent astronomical unit

About the Eye on the Universe Series

Eye on the Universe is Colorverse's Season 7 collection, dedicated to the most iconic and transformative images produced by the Hubble Space Telescope — images that permanently expanded humanity's visual understanding of the cosmos. Since its launch in 1990, Hubble has produced photographs of nebulae, galaxies, and deep-field images that combine scientific precision with extraordinary visual beauty, giving form and colour to structures that exist at scales beyond direct human perception. Season 7 translates the chromatic drama of those images into ink, with each colour in the series drawing its palette from a specific Hubble photograph. Pillars of Creation and Mystic Mountain, as No. 88 and No. 89, represent two of the series' most visually compelling entries — inks that carry the specific colour energy of their source images with unusual fidelity and produce some of the most spectacular effects in the Colorverse catalogue.

About Colorverse

Colorverse is a Seoul-based fountain pen ink studio dedicated to translating the wonder of the cosmos — and the quieter wonders of everyday life — into thoughtfully formulated, plant-based fountain pen inks. Founded in South Korea, Colorverse inks are made with plant-origin colorants and solvents, treated for hydration and antibacterial stability, and designed to maintain a neutral pH range for safe, long-term use in all fountain pens. Distributed internationally and available in Canada through select retailers, each Colorverse ink carries a number, a name, and a story. Shop the full Colorverse collection at Shosai — Ottawa and Gatineau's home for Japanese and Korean stationery.

Product Specifications

Bottle: Glass teardrop-base bottles (65ml + 15ml) in constellation-decorated presentation box with illustrated stickers and bookmark. Mystic Mountain also available separately in 30ml.

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
• 🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.