![]() Modern brush painting ink often comes pre-ground, in liquid form, in bottles. These were pressed into a stick, and as this was ground and added to water would make an ink that is very water and light resistant. The ink sticks were traditionally made by combining carbon, usually in the form of soot from burnt pine or other wood, along with various binders like shellac. ![]() In traditional Chinese/Japanese/Korean brush painting you would make your ink by grinding an ink stick on a stone with some water. I’ve not tried them, but if you can find them, a “small” bag is very inexpensive and should last you the rest of your life. Some say you can also buy Van Dyke crystals used in woodworking, and they work the same. Perhaps with some papers you might need it but not with the ones I use. Some people add gum arabic (see below) to it to thicken it a bit, but I’ve never felt the need. All you need to do is add the right amount of crystals to water, shake it up, let it sit for about 20 minutes and you have ink. I prefer the dried form because it is significantly cheaper, lasts for a very long time in crystal form, and is very easy to mix up. You can purchase walnut ink in either dried crystal form, or in pre-mixed liquid form. ![]() One of my favorites, especially for daily practice because it is so cheap, is walnut ink. These kinds of inks should, if they’re behaving well, give you thin hairlines and deep, rich color. This can make these inks quite permanent and water and light resistant. These may have some pigment in them, but mainly the ink gets its tint from a reaction with the paper. These inks are generally either a pigment based ink, like india ink, with some binders and pigment, or what are known as iron gall or IG inks. Others, like McCaffery’s are a recent addition to the world of ink. Some, like Higgins and Hunt, have been around for a very long time. There are a number of manufacturers who make inks designed and marketed for dip pens, mainly for calligraphy. Let’s start by looking at a few of the most common types of ink. There are some solid facts and some traps to avoid that may help you as you explore the wonderful world of ink and paper. Everyone has favorites and opinions about different inks. It merely has to be liquid, and have the ability to flow. Steel pens, unlike fountain pens, can use a wide variety of inks. But there are some basics we can cover, and I’ll let you know what I use. Finding the right combination requires some experimentation, and can differ depending on the type of writing you do. I’m covering both together because it’s the combination of ink and paper that can spell the difference between success and failure. We’ve covered your pen and holder, but I would be remiss without addressing the issues of ink and paper. There are three elements of any writing experience.
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