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3**T
While a beautiful book, could be WAY more informative for 200pgs
The other reviews are right, this is a beautiful book full of colorful pictures. The problem is, a lot of these pictures are not informative to the ink making process and just feels like filler pages.There are only 12 recipes in this entire book. 1 recipe per color.No mention of options for colors either, so for example, if you want yellow ink, author only gives tumeric as an option. Want red? Only pokeberry is listed. Could have had a chart with other options for colors.No advanced methods like using mordants, just a short paragraph saying it's possible.I think I got just as much information in a chapter on inkmaking from The Organic Artist by Neddo as I did from this book.Pair The Organic Artist with Wild Color by Dean (a book on natural dyes) for a more informative experience.
M**A
Beautiful, inspiring!
This gorgeous hard-cover book is filled with lovely photography and useful insights. It is bound to spark new ideas and get you excited to explore this magical world - no matter if you've been making ink for years or have never given it a try. I'm SO excited someone finally wrote this book!
T**D
Highly recommended reference for ink making.
Very informative book. Glad to see someone pulled this old trade and breathed life into it again.Will be a great reference to build on. The book design and beautiful photographer makes for a great addition to my library, but I would have been okay to have the words in a textbook format at a lesser price. But, am so glad this fellow ink maker shared what he knows. Well done..and highly recommended.
B**C
Beautiful and well written book
This is a stunning book as well as a very interesting read. I love inks and the idea that you can make your own never occurred to me. I live in the Sonoran desert and I cannot wait to start foraging for plants and flowers to make inks with. This book is a keeper!
J**N
Beautiful Book But Not Very Helpful
If this was titled "How I Make Ink" that would be more accurate. It's a beautifully photographed journey of the author, and the colors are inspiring, but it is not at all detailed enough to teach a beginning reader how to create the same kinds of colors that are on the cover. More of a coffee table book or advanced ink maker's idea guide.
M**I
Fabulous resource
An amazing resource for collecting materials and making natural inks. Lot so of information about specific recipes and methods, which you can create with any materials ( not just the ones in the book.) I’d say this book is good for children and adults alike, and professionals... I’m an artist exploring new media and find this book inspirational and instructive. Fabulous source of information on ink making with historical references. So much more than a DIY book, and still so fun to follow and refer back to again and again.
T**Y
given as a gift and it was very well received!
I gave this as a gift to an illustrator and it was absolutely loved! I am considering getting my own copy because it was nicely laid out and had good recipes as well. It's not full of recipes cover to cover, but it covers the basics with good recipes, ideas, and I guess theory as well. It's a nice resource to have for anybody who paints, does calligraphy, or dyes things.
A**B
Great resource
A bit "fluff" in that many of the recipes are the same/similar but it is attractively laid out and theres heart in it, you can just feel the intent.
O**M
Beautifully produced and written
Bought this as I was interested in foraging for inks and natural colours for staining wood, cloth... interested in using ink for pen and painting. Everything about this book is just beautiful. People who see it are just drawn to it and spend ages looking through, I just love colour and this book is an absolute gem. Even when closed, the pages come together to create a beautiful pattern. As a newbie was a bit confused about using vinegar - definitely find the cleaning vinegar if you can, it doesn't smell like the clear (edible) stuff you generally see on sale and does a better job.
I**N
In touch with nature
Very inspiring book. Just loved reading it and it did inspire me to look at nature through a different lense. I also love the sense of curiosity that was evoked - anything can become an ink, once you know the basics and they are very simple. Waiting for the walnuts to start dropping and will be giving it a go!
A**R
Good, but you need to find stuff!
I used this to do projects at school with a STEM club, we made several inks and tried them out. Some ingredients we just can't source, though.
A**L
Nice book, good pictures, just not for me.
It's a good book, but not too much information really. Will be passing onto a friend who may enjoy it more.
C**E
Brilliant
Brilliant book. Brilliant explanations of how to make inks. Exactly what I was looking for.
