Ink making and drawing at Walderchain Wood

Description

Make your own inks and pen from found and foraged material - and use your natural colours to explore the woodland environment through drawing. A one-day workshop in Walderchain Wood with host Mark Saich and artist ink-maker Amanda Thesiger. Unleash your inner alchemist and stir up creativity in an ink-making workshop! In this fun and hands-on experience you'll delve into the fascinating world of inks and craft your own vibrant concoctions from scratch using natural ingredients. Steeping berries to create a rich crimson/purple ink, simmering red cabbage to release its blue hues (and playing with its ph to get new colours), or coaxing buttery yellow from alder buckthorn bark; these are just a few of the rich, gentle colours that you – and nature can produce. Discover some of the many processes of ink-making, from preparation, to extracting colour, to preserving your inks and ways of working with them Learn about the historical/cultural significance of some natural inks, and the basic principles of colour theory. Explore a variety of natural materials, such as, plants, roots, berries, and minerals, and explore their hidden colour potential Inks are liquids or pastes that contain colour. Many trees, plants and minerals can be used to make ink; from the soil to the roots, from the nuts to the leaves to the flowers and the fruits, providing different hues through the seasons. Inks share common roots of myth, and methods with dye-making, though ink-making produces more intense colour. Natural inks are alive and can vary subtly on different papers and as they dry. Timings and amounts are approximate – and there’s a fair bit of testing and trying out. This workshop will show you how to produce simple inks from vegetables/fruits, chalk and charcoal, earth, bark and galls, using different processes. Weather permitting, we’ll spend some time first foraging for some plant materials to make your ink with, including some early spring wildflowers. What you'll take away with you: A set of your own handmade inks – plus the chance to buy some pre-bottled inks from Land Marks Skills and insights into the art and science of ink making so you’ll be able to experiment and create them at home A renewed connection with nature This workshop is perfect for: Artists and calligraphers who want to add a personal touch to their creations Nature enthusiasts who want to connect with the world around them creatively Anyone who enjoys hands-on learning and exploring new skills The venue: When the weather permits the classes will be held in a semi-covered woodland clearing, at other times in a well equipped workshop, situated in 23 acres of ancient woodland in the Elham valley area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB). There are toilet and wash facilities onsite. The woodland is managed to continuously supply timber as a material and fuel, to enhance biodiversity and natural stability and for amenity value. The site is a 10-15min walk from the nearest bus stops (Mill lane/Derringstone Hill or the Old Chalk Pit Barham) or 15-20min walk from the Jackdaw in Denton.

What's included in the price?

Lunch and refreshments. All equipment and materials to make a variety of sample inks. Follow-up resources on making and buying natural ink and ink-making ingredients

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

Walderchain Wood

with Craft Courses since 2017

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