This Walnut ink was made from husks harvest in the south of Australia in my Mothers Garden.
------------------------------------------
Welcome to the world of botanical inks & natural bio-regional living colour palettes.
I hope these inks can inspire & encourage cultural changes in the way we create things. Moving away from acrylic and large production to smaller batches of locally handmade materials that ebb & flow with the sessional changes in emergence with the natural living world.
These botanical inks are best suited to the use of dip pens, brushes and mark-makers such as handmade brushes or textural pieces from nature. They are not stable for the use in fountain pens. Shake well & gently prior to use.
They can be used both on paper and fabric and will not wash out.
Use a pipette to put some in into a dish, shell or other vessels to use and/or add modifiers. You can adjust the flow of the ink to suit your own style by diluting the ink with water or adding extra gum arabic- small amounts at a time. There are handmade dishes available to purchase in the botanical inks section.
Part of the beauty & character of botanical inks is that each batch is slightly different depending on the season, growing conditions and the soil the plants have grown in.
The colour & consistency of botanical inks can also vary over time. They are still living colour. It is recommended to store them out of direct sunlight in a cool dark place. Ideally refrigerated if you are in a humid climate. It is recommended that artworks made with botanical inks are kept out of direct sunlight, or treated with a fixative spray such as spectrafix or shellac.
Modifiers can be used to alter the colours subtly and dramatically. You can dilute the modifiers or make them stronger. There are more options than I can list but you will receive a sheet sharing how to make your own modifiers. Modifiers dramatically extend the available colour palette through the use of some basic chemistry and alchemy of metals, acids & alkalis. Suggested modifiers are: Copper acetate, iron oxide, citric acid, bi-carb soda, sodium carbonate, lemon juice & vinegar. We have copper acetate and iron oxide available to purchase on our website already diluted into a solution. Alternatively, copper sulphate & ferrous sulphate are available on our website in powder form that can be used to create the copper and iron modifiers solution respectively.
It is important to not cross-contaminate modifiers and inks so you are able to continue using them, unless intended, by using separate or washed pipettes or brushes. If you have used a modifier with ink in a dish, store it in a separate jar. That way you can still have control with your natural living colour palette.
Any questions, feel free to send us a message. ciganka.creations@gmail.com
Please share your works, and tag us on Instagram or Facebook.
We would love to see what you create with the endless possibilities.