🥱 Feeling depleted?

reignite your colour revolutionary fervour here.

Happy day after the full hot strawberry super-moon. I participated in this amazing pigments symposium last week which was a serious volley in the ongoing ink revolution. I am kind of exhausted, and at the same time kind of elated. The revolution which aims at no less than to put the means of production of colour back into the hands of the people, question and undermine the colonial and individual artist genius myths around colour, overthrow capitalism, let the iron age breath again, trouble enlightenment hierarchies and erase the age barrier to playing in mud puddles.

So instead of writing I am sending you the TOP 8 QUESTIONS from my talk (Reaching Out: A Discussion of Matter and Spirit in Pandemic Times) at the conference. And my answers. These are small details but together they make up a kind of approach to ink and colour that is my piece of the group project of revolution. I am sometimes slow, but I really like answering questions. Hope everyone has a great weekend. Next week I will send out more dreamy inkscapes in case this is getting too serious. Keep reading and spreading the colour revolution comrades.

Rebecca Everett 3:18pm

is there a favourite paper that you love to use with your inks?

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I really like Stonehenge warm white because it comes in big sheets which I can cut down (yes I bought a paper cutter), lets the ink stay on top for a while as it dries and is relatively cheap so I can use lots of it. I also really like experimenting with Japanese Papers. If you are in Canada this place is the best!

Jules Bishop 3:23pm

what binder do you use for printmaking?

3

I don’t make a lot of print-making ink but the best binder for printmaking is a clear gel medium. I have seen people use bits of minerals, metals, flowers and mica flecks in a printing medium to amazing effect. I have also used agar agar as well as really boiled down form of black walnut ink which becomes kind of gelatinous.

Elisabeth Heying 3:18pm

Can you talk about lightfastness of inks coming from organic materials, such as black walnut?

Black Walnut is actually amazingly lightfast but in general if you want consistent, archival, long-lasting and predictable inks they are out there at the art supply and stationary stores. Personally I like inconstant, unexpected, wild inks that I can observe unfold on paper. Toronto Inks are alive. I do make the occasional last-forever black ink which is extremely archival.

3

Rebecca Everett 3:20pm

do you prefer to use the ink straight from the plants, etc, or do you prefer to lake?

2

I have only ever just dipped my toe in Lakes (sorry), but it is a process I am very interested in. Natalie Stopka does some great work in this area.

Hannah Sharpless 3:20pm

I tend to exclude binder from most of my inks, especially petal and berry ink that seems most like a dye on paper. Do you have inks that absolutely require binders?

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I would say carbon or charcoal inks really want a binder otherwise I think a gentle pure stain is really beautiful and worth experimenting with.

Bonnie Levinthal 3:18pm

do you test your inks for lightfastness?

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I like to see how they behave in the sun and sometimes document the changes. I don’t worry about it though.

Jennifer Rain Crosby 3:18pm

oak gall ink tips?

2

Oak gall ink is pretty easy if you can find oak galls. If you can’t find them I highly recommend these guys

Rebecca Everett 3:56pm

and be grateful

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Thank you for the notes of encouragement. It can be strangely lonely to give a talk without being able to see the listeners. And I felt very supported.

Crystalynn Tarr 3:56pm

Thank you so much Jason! If you’re reading off a script you e veneer lost the real and honesty. Beautiful, so inspiring.

1

thank you

Jennifer Rain Crosby 3:53pm

rusty nails and acorn caps recipe?

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Its in my book MAKE INK. But if you just boil them up together and filter it you will some really beautiful silver tones!

Bridgette Schnider 3:32pm

Are the mussel shells toxic at all when ground?

1

Any dust that you breath in is bad for your lungs (and shells in particular) . When making fine powders I always wear a mask. Some really good safety and other rules here

Bridgette Schnider 3:31pm

How can we learn more about your white ink? I'm wondering what it would be like to use in Islamic geometry.

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my book MAKE INK has a recipe for white. Its a tricky colour but well worth it. Also Islamic Geometry is a world I would love to go deeper into.

Ayelet Shastél 3:21pm

any shelac tips ? :) specially how to incorporate properly

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Shellac can be broken down with borax (a natural ingredient that I LOVE). You need to make sure the shellac binder is totally integrated before you add it to your colour. Kremer pigments in NY and Germany sells a shellac medium that is great if you want to save time, and spend a bit of $$

Sam Hodge 3:21pm

Which inks darken with time?

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really tannic inks (like black walnut!) and also inks with iron in them. (Ochres, Bricks, rust, oak gall inks) all darken and intensify over time.

Meritxell Alterio 3:19pm

Do you keep a record of the color changes through time?

1

It really is rewarding to take pictures of your ink on paper like a photo album of children.

Morgan Syring 3:18pm

Do you think your ink making practices are more research based or experimental based?

Truely both.

Amanda Trought 3:18pm

Do you have to put anything in the ink to preserve it

1

I like to put a clove at the bottom of the bottle or a drop of winter green oil or just treat it like jam (sterilize the bottle put a really tight fitting lid on it and refrigerate after opening)

Madisen Judge 3:17pm

is it just bound with water?

Water is a magical ingredient, the universal solvent and has its own internal tension. Why not try water as your first binder.

Bridgette Schnider 3:13pm

Is there a user friendly ink that I could make for use in stamping that won't bleed through watercolor paper?

Black Walnut is a pretty good place to start. Non-toxic, rich and thick if boiled down.

Katharine Allard 3:57pm

I love this. Maybe the ideas need to sink in, like ink

well said

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