Hello, my name is Ruth. I am a custom pen maker and urushi artist based in the UK. Most people know mw on here for my custom ebonite pens with urushi finish. However I wanted to use the Make 100 opportunity to introduce a a different urushi concept that I cannot use on ebonite.
Fukui Urushi
Urushi is a highly toxic tree sap that has been used in Japan for the preservation and decoration of other natural materials for thousands of years. Fukui urushi uses medium refined urushi directly on the wood as means of preserving the wood and bringing out the beauty of the grain. This is a natural finish to enjoy the natural beauty of wood.
For this project, I want to offer backers three choices of wood to enjoy the true beauty of a simple, elegant, urushi finish.
Walnut
Dark browns with black grain contrasts perfectly with the brass hardware. This is a very cool looking pen with a classic feel.
Olive
The natural beauty of the olive grain is enhanced buy the urushi rendering the naturally light wood a warm brown colour. This olive wood looks as if it has been aged over many years despite being freshly turned.
Maple
The urushi layer inverts the maple grain rendering a unique finish. The final outcome is so glossy that the finish almost looks like glass.
Thank you very much for watching the video and reading to the end of my campaign. Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions.
This project uses urushi. Urushi is closely related to the poison ivy family. When wet it can cause severe reactions in certain people. When fully cured, the urushi is rendered inert. Whereas every care is taken to ensure that the product is fully cured, please do not buy this product if you are particularly sensitive to poison ivy. The wooden base of the pens and the urushi are natural materials and can sometimes behave in unpredictable ways. I have delivered several pen projects over Kickstarter and I do not have any particular concerns with this one. My plan is to manufacture each pen, give an urushi coat and allow to cure for a month before release. Please note that the nibs are fixed and cannot be changed. A converter is supplied with each pen