Best Ink Colours for Beginners: A Whimsical Guide to Your First Colour Story

1. Shading — The Gentle Storyteller

Shading inks create light-to-dark variations within each stroke, almost as if the ink itself is whispering a soft narrative across your page. Perfect for beginners, shading inks offer:

• High readability
• Low maintenance
• A soft, enchanting gradient that flatters any handwriting style

Ferris Wheel Press favourites for first-time shading lovers include:

• Hampton Harbour Sage — A tranquil, sea-kissed green
• Dreaming in California — A breezy, sunlit blue
• Sweet Honeydew — Soft, juicy, and delightfully charming

Shading inks are wonderfully forgiving and pair well with most papers—ideal for Aria’s everyday journaling rituals.

Try our 10 ml sampler.

Explore more colours in our writing ink collections:
Writing Inks Collection
10 ml Fountain Pen Inks

2. Shimmer — The Party Guest Who Behaves Surprisingly Well

Shimmer inks sparkle with suspended metallic particles, transforming every letter into a celebratory flourish. Though they have a reputation for being “extra,” modern formulations are perfectly beginner-friendly with just a touch of pen awareness and sensible care.

Expect:

• Festive brilliance on the page
• Magical light play as you tilt your paper
• A writing experience that feels collectible and delightfully fancy

Beginner-friendly shimmer shades to explore:

• Radiant Rosewing — A rosy blush with fairy-like sparkle
• Plaited Gold Tress — As if Rapunzel lent you her shine
• Woven Warmth — A warm, autumnal shimmer with cosy charm

For a first dip into shimmer, choose a mid-toned colour you can imagine using often for journaling and headings, then enjoy the sparkle as a delightful bonus rather than the main event.

Begin your shimmer journey with a smaller size: Try our 10 ml sampler.

3. Sheen — The Dramatic, Sass-Filled Showstopper

Sheen is the bold, glossy, “look at me” effect created by high dye saturation. These inks appear one colour when writing, then reveal surprise flashes of metallic contrast under different lighting and angles.

Sheen inks are best for:

• Journal spreads
• Headers, titles, and quotes
• Fans of drama, glamour, and page-turning flair

Beginner-friendly sheening delights:

• Cabernet on the Lake — Berry wine with emerald sheen
• Poison Envy — A wicked green with ruby overtones
• Majestic Maple — Autumn red kissed with golden sheen

Sheen inks look extraordinary on dense, fountain-pen-friendly papers—think velvety planners, artisan notebooks, or special letters to beloved pen pals.

To experiment without committing to a full bottle: Try our 10 ml sampler.

Blues — The Polite Professionals

Blues are endlessly versatile, comfortably at home in both professional and personal settings. They are ideal for work notes, study logs, or heartfelt letters.

Try shades such as:

• Bluegrass Velvet — A refined blue with character
• Mapmaker’s Quiet River — Calm, thoughtful, and steady

Greens — The Creative Dreamers

Greens feel imaginative and grounded, perfect for journaling, mood tracking, nature-themed spreads, and creative planning.

Consider:

• Hampton Harbour Sage — Gentle and sea-sprayed
• The Fluttering Dreams — Soft, whimsical, and story-ready

Pinks and Corals — The Soft Romantics

Pinks and corals are expressive yet approachable, adding warmth and whimsy to your notebook without overwhelming the page. They are quintessentially Ferris Wheel Press.

Lovely options include:

• Malibu Blush — A gentle, sunlit pink
• Radiant Rosewing — A romantic hue with a touch of shimmer

Browns and Neutrals — The Vintage Traditionalists

Browns and neutrals evoke old-world letters, sepia photographs, and timeless stationery. They pair beautifully with textured paper and vintage-inspired spreads.

Try:

• Atlas Iron Ore — Deep, grounded, and classic
• Pumpkin Patch — Warm, autumnal, and inviting

For Everyday Writing

Choose medium-saturation shading inks that stay legible across long pages and multiple types of paper.

Ideal everyday companions:

• Dreaming in California
• Hampton Harbour Sage

For Journaling Rituals and Mood Tracking

Subtle shimmer or expressive hues help differentiate headings, highlight special entries, and mark mood changes in your journal.

Try inks such as:

• Radiant Rosewing
• Majestic Maple

For Artful Headers and Bold Statements

If you want your titles and quotes to practically leap off the page, reach for a sheening ink.

Excellent choices include:

• Poison Envy
• Cabernet on the Lake