• Colour: Dusky Pink is a perfect old Victorian mauve. I think the phrase “dead Victorian’s lipstick” describes it well. A perfect pink, in other words.

 • Special attributes: There is a lovely amount of shading and, in the bigger swatch, there is a very small (maybe too small to mention) amount of dark purple sheen. The water solubility is workable but not extreme. No shimmer.

 • Harkens to mind Victorian pillows and the word ‘mauve’

 • Similar to: A less saturated version of Noodler’s Black Swan in Australian Roses and a darker version of Herbin Bouquet d’ Atan.

 • Expense: Robert Oster inks in the US (the non-shimmer variety) are $17/50ml nowadays. I would assume it’s cheaper in Australia since it’s an Australian ink.

• Example: Morrissey seems to fit the dead Victorian lipstick look well. Dramatic but also morbid. Drawn inside a Moleskine sketchbook