Feral Ink

Natural inks foraged from the kitchen and the backyard, boiled and bottled.

Every changing, always surprising.

  • Ruddy Dagger

    Bur Oak acorns gathered from my parent’s backyard. Sooty black from adding iron solution to Gypsy ink.

  • Gypsy

    Bur Oak acorns gathered from my parent’s backyard. Creates a soft brown. Adding an iron solution creates deeper tones of brown to black.

  • Imperial

    Goldenrod wildflowers, found just about everywhere in Autumn. Starts off pale yellow, dries bright, shifts to green over time.

  • Pero

    Blueberries, leftover in my fridge. A deep blue-purple that can be shifted by adding vinegar or baking soda.

  • Bad-Wing

    Blueberries, left over in my fridge. Shifted to a deep blue-green.

  • Primrose

    Beets from the organic section. Creates a brilliant pink-red.

  • Luna

    Red cabbage from the organic section. Shifted the natural pastel purple to soft green.

  • Sweetfern

    Sumac spice from my pantry. A drop of iron solution creates a dusty pink.

HOW TO EXPLORE YOUR FERAL INKS

All feral inks are carefully handmade in my kitchen in tiny batches.

No two batches are alike, as each plant varies in its own soil and growth conditions.

Feral inks can shock and surprise, as they respond differently to paper surface types, fabrics, woods, and even each other. Ink in the bottle looks different from ink on the paper. Wet ink will differ from dry ink. Playing with the pH yields all sorts of unexpected results.

Color and consistency of feral inks will change over time. Keep them out of direct sunlight and in a cool, dark place. Refrigerated would be ideal.