Papa J Studios Floral Pens: Two Artisan Fountain Pens with Embedded Botanicals

Introduction

Custom fountain pen makers face a familiar challenge: standing apart in a market full of ready-made designs and resins. Papa J Studios, run by Luke Wikman and his wife Christina out of Normal, Illinois, has managed it through resin work that is genuinely hard to replicate. Their blanks incorporate natural elements such as flowers, feathers, and pine cones, alongside gold flake and glitter, and most of the resin designs come from Christina herself.

The company is named after Luke’s father-in-law, who was heavily involved in supporting people through addiction recovery before passing away in 2020. A portion of the business’s proceeds regularly goes to charities supporting that cause.

We spent time with two of their models: the Floral Finial in Jade Mermaid resin and the Floral Body in Pine Cones and Petals resin. Both arrived with cartridges, a converter, and nibs tuned by a well-regarded independent nib specialist.

The Floral Finial: Jade Mermaid Resin

The Floral Finial pairs an in-house resin called Jade Mermaid with a clear cap infused with gold flake. Real flowers are embedded in the resin at the finial, which gives the model its name. The translucent green barrel has a subtle iridescence to it, and the gold flake in the cap plays nicely against the gold nib visible through the clear resin. The section is also visible through the material, which adds to the layered look.

Structurally, it shares the same platform as its sibling: the cap twists off with just over two rotations, the section has a gentle flare that transitions into a slight dip and then straightens out to the threads, and there is a medium-sized step up to the barrel. The grip position falls naturally where that dip sits, and the resin feels solid rather than hollow. The barrel is not designed to post, though with material this interesting on show, that is arguably a feature.

It is a cartridge converter pen accepting standard international cartridges, and since the barrel is solid resin, an eyedropper conversion with appropriate silicone grease should be viable. Of the two pens, this one is slightly thinner and lighter.

The Floral Body: Pine Cones and Petals Resin

The Floral Body takes a different approach: the in-house Pine Cones and Petals resin embeds actual pine cone fragments and flowers, plus feathers and gold flake. What is impressive is how smooth the finish is, with nothing protruding from the surface, suggesting the materials are ground down and sealed under an outer resin coat or fused into the body itself.

The cap is made of an opaque white resin that is also infused with gold leaf, which is an unusual combination and creates a clean transition between the two materials. This model is slightly thicker than the Floral Finial, with a slightly different profile, and carries a bit more weight thanks to the dense embedded materials.

Like its sibling, it is a cartridge converter pen with a solid resin barrel, so eyedroppering with silicone grease is a reasonable option. The grip, step, and two-plus-rotation cap are identical in style.

Writing Performance

Both pens shipped with stainless steel number six Boch nibs that had been professionally tuned, and the tuning shows. The Floral Finial came with a medium nib that writes on the finer side of medium, with pleasant feedback and reliable flow. Reverse writing lays down an extra-fine line, though it is a touch scratchy. Fast writing is no problem; the feed keeps up well. Line variation is minimal, as expected from stainless steel.

The Floral Body arrived with a broad nib that actually sits closer to a medium in practice. Ink flow leans medium, feedback is pleasant, and the feed handles faster writing comfortably. Reverse writing is not this nib’s strength.

For ink pairings, a darker green ink suits the Jade Mermaid pen’s barrel, while a golden shimmer ink complements the Pine Cones and Petals model nicely.

Pricing and Buying Advice

Papa J Studios pens generally range from $225 to $350 on their website, which sits in line with other comparable custom makers given the specialized resin work involved. One thoughtful detail: the site keeps sold-out pens listed, which makes it much easier to judge the breadth of their past work before commissioning something custom. They also release themed editions, including recent Halloween designs with a witch’s hat finial and a bubbling cauldron complete with eyeballs.

Of the two, the Jade Mermaid Floral Finial is the more compelling pick if you are drawn to translucency and the way gold flake plays with a gold-toned nib. The Floral Body is the better choice if embedded natural materials in a heavier, thicker pen appeal to you. Neither is a budget purchase, but both justify their pricing through genuinely unique materials and well-tuned nibs.

Conclusion

Papa J Studios has built its reputation on resin that looks like nothing else on the market, and these two models make the case clearly. Tasteful execution, solid construction, and professionally tuned nibs make both pens easy to recommend to anyone who wants a bespoke pen with real personality. Check the maker’s site for current availability and past designs before committing to a custom order.