Dartmoor foraged oak gall ink - 15mL
Hand-gathered from the rugged oaks of Dartmoor, this ink captures the spirit of the wild moorlands, offering a deep, earthy colour that ranges from greys to dark brown. Each bottle of ink captures the essence of Dartmoor and the natural cycles that have shaped it for millennia.
Perfect for artists, calligraphers, and anyone with a love for traditional craftsmanship, this oak gall ink is both beautiful and sustainable. By buying Dartmoor-foraged oak gall ink, you not only bring a piece of nature into your creative work but also contribute to a more sustainable future—where every drop of ink is as kind to the earth as it is inspiring to use.
The next batch of ink will be released later this year. Please subscribe to our newsletter to be notified.
Details
-
Colour: greys through to warm black
- Size: one 15mL vial of oak gall ink
- Use with: Dip pens or small paint brushes
- Suitable for fountain pens? No.
-
Ingredients: Galls from English Oaks, Dartmoor rainwater, gum Arabic, Iron(II)sulphate, clove oil.
The Perfect Gift For
- Artists and calligraphers.
- Eco-conscious individuals.
- Nature Lovers and Foragers.
- Writers and Journal Keepers.
- Historians and Vintage Enthusiasts.
- Minimalists.
- Botanists and Gardeners.
Usage Tips
This is a natural product. Pigment settlement is normal. Shake well before use. We make our ink with a goodly amount of gum Arabic. If you find it's too thick, you can add a little water.
How it's made
Oak galls are the marvellous result of a wasp and an oak tree's relationship. The adult oak gall wasp lays its egg in the branch of an oak tree. The oak tree responds by growing a marble-shaped ball of oak flesh around the egg. The egg incubates in its safe home, before hatching and eating its way out of the gall. The gall is now waste, and the wasp moves on with the next part of its life.
Oak galls are fantastic for ink making because they are extremely tannin-rich. After harvesting the empty oak galls, we crush them, soak them in water to release the tannins. To this mixture, we add a little iron, and the tannin-rich water transforms from dark brown to midnight black.
We use only vacated galls. That means the wasp has already burrowed its way out of the gall through a little exit hole. Green galls stay on the tree, brown galls are inspected for exit holes before harvesting.
About the colour
The sample of ink on the outside of the bottle includes one thick brush stroke of colour from the bottle. The ink usually changes colour as it dries and is exposed to air. It may be darker, or it may lighten. Use the label as your guide for the colour, but be aware that the paper will also affect the colour of the dried ink.
Want to make your own?
In session two of the Galls to Nettles webinar series I go into huge detail on how iron gall ink is made (including rather a lot of chemistry details, for those who are inclined). The live sessions are over, but you can still buy the recordings (which come with comprehensive handouts, too). If you prefer print: Foraging for Colour includes an ink-making recipe for oak gall ink. We also have a free recipe.
Hand-gathered from the rugged oaks of Dartmoor, this ink captures the spirit of the wild moorlands, offering a deep, earthy colour that ranges from greys to dark brown. Each bottle of ink captures the essence of Dartmoor and the natural cycles that have shaped it for millennia.
Perfect for artists, calligraphers, and anyone with a love for traditional craftsmanship, this oak gall ink is both beautiful and sustainable. By buying Dartmoor-foraged oak gall ink, you not only bring a piece of nature into your creative work but also contribute to a more sustainable future—where every drop of ink is as kind to the earth as it is inspiring to use.
The next batch of ink will be released later this year. Please subscribe to our newsletter to be notified.
Details
-
Colour: greys through to warm black
- Size: one 15mL vial of oak gall ink
- Use with: Dip pens or small paint brushes
- Suitable for fountain pens? No.
-
Ingredients: Galls from English Oaks, Dartmoor rainwater, gum Arabic, Iron(II)sulphate, clove oil.
The Perfect Gift For
- Artists and calligraphers.
- Eco-conscious individuals.
- Nature Lovers and Foragers.
- Writers and Journal Keepers.
- Historians and Vintage Enthusiasts.
- Minimalists.
- Botanists and Gardeners.
Usage Tips
This is a natural product. Pigment settlement is normal. Shake well before use. We make our ink with a goodly amount of gum Arabic. If you find it's too thick, you can add a little water.
How it's made
Oak galls are the marvellous result of a wasp and an oak tree's relationship. The adult oak gall wasp lays its egg in the branch of an oak tree. The oak tree responds by growing a marble-shaped ball of oak flesh around the egg. The egg incubates in its safe home, before hatching and eating its way out of the gall. The gall is now waste, and the wasp moves on with the next part of its life.
Oak galls are fantastic for ink making because they are extremely tannin-rich. After harvesting the empty oak galls, we crush them, soak them in water to release the tannins. To this mixture, we add a little iron, and the tannin-rich water transforms from dark brown to midnight black.
We use only vacated galls. That means the wasp has already burrowed its way out of the gall through a little exit hole. Green galls stay on the tree, brown galls are inspected for exit holes before harvesting.
About the colour
The sample of ink on the outside of the bottle includes one thick brush stroke of colour from the bottle. The ink usually changes colour as it dries and is exposed to air. It may be darker, or it may lighten. Use the label as your guide for the colour, but be aware that the paper will also affect the colour of the dried ink.
Want to make your own?
In session two of the Galls to Nettles webinar series I go into huge detail on how iron gall ink is made (including rather a lot of chemistry details, for those who are inclined). The live sessions are over, but you can still buy the recordings (which come with comprehensive handouts, too). If you prefer print: Foraging for Colour includes an ink-making recipe for oak gall ink. We also have a free recipe.
Ink-terested?
We're fresh out of ink right now. Let us know you're interested, and we'll send you a free recipe to make your own ink at home!