Sticks & Stones: Ink

Each installment of our Sticks & Stones series presents the history, evolution, and unusual uses of a single material. You can find our article about ink at my.meural.com/editorial/3.

Pared down to its simplest formula, ink is extremely easy to create. A basic version can be concocted from powdered carbonized materials mixed with water; wood charcoal and charred animal bones are two common examples. Although modern ink has many more ingredients, the old simple recipe is surprisingly effective as well as resilient, and is the cornerstone of many of the oldest surviving artworks.