Art Cards
February 16, 2025
I’ve loved working with ink since I was a teenager, when I was introduced to “playing” with ink on paper by my art teachers. One session they encourage us to move India ink around on the page, to add water, to continue working with it when it was partially dry, shake salt on the wet paper – all with a view to see how it behaved under different circumstances. I was hooked, and this memory has lived with me for years.
When I started painting and drawing again in 2018, ink was among the first media I reached for, perhaps because of that experience. As a media, it seemed both forgiving and difficult to control at the same time. It almost required a sense of play or abandon.
Shortly after that I discovered Jason Logan’s book “Make Ink”, and the die was cast. The thought of making my own artist materials blew my mind. The scientist and tinker in me were activated and combined with a sense of wonder about the materials around me.
I’ve been learning and experimenting with making my own ink ever since.
This workshop will introduce you to the art and science of making ink. We’ll exploring pigmented and non-pigmented inks derived from mineral and plant sources. Enjoy practical, hands-on experience making ink and also learn about the history of ink production across different cultures and disciplines.
The session will cover two main categories of ink. Pigmented inks will be created by grinding solid colorants such as minerals, and “laked” plant materials into fine powders and combining them with binders like gum arabic or shellac. Non-pigmented inks, by contrast, will be made by extracting dyes from plant materials and other traditional chemistry.
You will gain hands-on experience preparing and mixing raw materials, adjusting consistency, and testing color variations on different surfaces. This workshop will emphasize safety, and experimentation, encouraging you to appreciate the tactile process of transforming natural resources into usable artistic tools while gaining insight into the chemistry and craftsmanship behind handmade inks.
Cost: $150, all materials supplied.
Everyone will leave the workshop with a few bottles of the ink we make as well as enough knowledge, recipes, and practical experience to start making ink on your own.
We have only 10 seats available. Book now by calling 250-217-6374.
Questions? Email me
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