Make Ink: A Forager's Guide to Natural Inkmaking

“Once you start making ink, the world never quite looks the same.” ―Martha Stewart
“Named a Best Book of 2018.” ―The Guardian
“Demystifies the process, encouraging experimentation.” ―NPR

The Toronto Ink Company was founded in 2014 by designer and artist Jason Logan as a citizen science experiment to make eco-friendly, urban ink from street-harvested pigments. In Make Ink, Logan delves into the history of inkmaking and the science of distilling pigment from the natural world.

Readers will learn how to forage for materials such as soot, rust, cigarette butts, peach pits, and black walnut, then how to mix, test, and transform these ingredients into rich, vibrant inks that are sensitive to both place and environment. Chapters include:

• A Forager’s Checklist
• What Is Ink and How Is It Make
• Natural Ink: A Basic Recipe
• Colors and Recipes
• The Ground Rules of Natural Inkmaking
• Testing Ink on Paper
• And more!

Logan writes in his introduction, “In my experience, inkmaking is easiest when you are patient and remain open to everything. Some of the most interesting effects of handmade inkmaking happen when the unexpected happens. Wherever it takes you, the ink you make yourself can only be your own color. Follow your instincts. There is no wrong path.”

Organized by color, with a glossary of terms and a guide to resources, and featuring lovely minimalist photography throughout, Make Ink combines science, art, and craft to instill the basics of ink making and demonstrate the beauty and necessity of engaging with one of humankind’s oldest tools of communication.