Drawing Inks

English Oak Gall Ink Learn More

A rich, soft green, this ink is made from organic Hawthorn berries, collected in Cambridgeshire, following a medieval English formula. The ink is not fully lightfast, due to the presence of organic ingredients.

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Made from organic hawthorn berries collected from Cambridgeshire, this bright, warm yellow ink can be layered in order to produce deeper shades. It is not fully lightfast or waterproof due to the presence of organic materials.

Not suitable for fountain pens. Learn More

This turquoise ink is a beautiful, transparent, deep blue-green. It can be layered for deeper shades; when used at full opacity it is a deep viridian green, and when diluted with water it reveals a marked blue undertone. Made from a blend of botanical dyes, this ink is not fully lightfast.

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Our oldest recipe, this high-quality Oak Gall Ink was used by monasteries and the Crown in medieval Britain. Initially a medium blue-grey, it darkens to a rich, matte black, slightly warmer in tone than our other Oak Gall Inks. When diluted, beautiful warm red undertones are revealed due to the presence of wine within the mixture.

Not suitable for fountain pens.

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A luscious sunshine yellow that can be layered to produce deeper shades. As a blend of organic dyes derived from saffron and turmeric, this ink is not fully lightfast. Unlike other inks in this range, it has a granulating texture that displays the individual colour particles. 

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The highest quality ink ever found on illuminated manuscripts from medieval Britain. The muted peachy red of this ink is achieved by simmering brazilwood chunks in vinegar. Add a tiny drop of Oak Gall Ink to produce wonderfully bright violets. 

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Prepared exclusively for Cornelissen following a Medieval English recipe, This handmade ink is produced in Cambridgeshire, from soot harvested from a working 19th-century forge, powered by charcoal and wood. Small batches of ink are blended to give the required consistency and strength. Forge Lamp Black is a thick, smooth non-waterproof ink that has good permanence. It can be watered down, and should always be shaken well before use. As with all handmade products derived from natural ingredients, there may be slight variations in the colour and consistency. Ingredients: Soot, gum Arabic, and clove oil.

Not suitable for fountain pens. Learn More

This ink is inspired by the distinctive purple ink used by Virginia Woolf for her work and correspondence. Handmade by a master inkmaker, especially for Cornelissen, using a historic recipe based on blackthorn berries. Suitable for fountain pens and work on paper and parchment. Indelible and waterproof over time.

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Ink made from pure copper metal leaf that has reacted with distilled vinegar. Learn More

Three historical oak gall inks handmade to traditional recipes. Jane Austen Ink. Sir Isaac Newton Ink. Doomsday Ink. Learn More

Formulated from the same dye that was used to colour blue and white china, this ink is a deep, rich blue. Used at full opacity, it is a blue-black, and dilutes down to wonderful cold blue washes. As it is dye-based, it is not fully lightfast. Learn More

Three historical coloured inks, handmade to traditional recipes. 3 x 30 ml high quality glass bottle with black plastic lid. Green Hawthorn Ink. Brazilwood Ink. Yellow Hawthorn Ink. Learn More

Verdigris Ink Purple Madder and Lac Ink Purple Lac Ink Learn More

Purple and Brown Madder Ink Orange Madder Ink Oak Gall Ink Learn More

Madder and Lac Ink Learn More

Formulated to the exact recipe used by Isaac Newton, this ink is completely permanant, as his surving writings attest. Although composed of very similar ingredients to our Jane Austen Ink, we consider Newton's recipe to be superior, as Austen's has browned slightly over time. Initially a medium blue-grey, it darkens to a rich, matte back, which is slightly warmer in tone than our regular Oak Gall Ink. It is made in small batches and blended to give the required consistency and strength, and is fully waterproof in 5-7 days. Permanent and lightfast, it has been steeped for several weeks and left to ‘mature’ for several more in the bottle. When used on animal skins such as vellum, the acids in the Oak Gall Ink react with collagen, effectively ‘etching’ itself into the surface, hence its permanence. 

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This ink is made to the recipe that Jane Austen used to draft her novels. Austen's maid took this formula from Martha Lloyd's book, ‘The House Keeper’. She used good-quality English oak galls, but poorer quality beer than Isaac Newton, and added a little sugar. Her recipe is less stable and turns ‘antique brown’ over a long period of time, while Sir Isaac Newton's remains black. Initially a medium blue-grey, it darkens to a rich matte back, slightly warmer in tone than our regular Oak Gall Ink. It is made in small batches and blended to give the required consistency and strength, and is fully waterproof in 5-7 days. Permanent and lightfast, it has been steeped for several weeks and left to ‘mature’ for several more in the bottle. When used on animal skins such as vellum, the acids in the Oak Gall Ink react with collagen, effectively ‘etching’ itself into the surface, hence its permanence. 

 

Not suitable for fountain pens. Learn More

Made from organic walnut husks collected in Cambridgeshire, this deep brown walnut ink is made to an 18th-century formula. Small batches of the ink are blended to give the required consistency and strength. It has good permanence, but will eventually fade if left in direct sunlight for sustained periods of time, and is not wholly waterproof, but has some staying power, especially on sized watercolour papers. As with all handmade products derived from natural ingredients, there may be slight variations in the colour and consistency as a result of seasonal changes.

Not Suitable for fountain pens. Learn More

Professional drawing ink. For use with brush or technical drawing pen. Waterproof. Use on paper, Bristol board or film. 490 ml Learn More

Liquid Watercolour (series 27). 18 shades of highly concentrated organic pigment in a light acrylic base. Low dosage of the binder allows dried colour to be dissolved up to 24 hours after application. Colours retain their strength when diluted with water, Drying Retarder or Gloss Intensifier mediums. Undiluted applications may bronze when dry. Learn More

Rohrer & Klingner Liquid Watercolour Gloss Intensifier 50ml Learn More

Rohrer & Klingner Liquid Watercolour Drying Retarder 50ml Learn More

The Rohrer & Klingner Traditional Ink range provides 18 colours of high luminance and brilliance, suitable for use with dip pens, brushes, fountain pens, and even airbrush devices. They can be used to produce crisp edges or more painterly washes. They have an acrylic resin base, with a high pigment content, and are completely intermixable. They can also be used in conjunction with Rohrer & Klingner's Drawing and Calligraphy range, to create an even more extensive range of tones. Learn More

Rohrer & Klingner Antique Ink Cleaner for writing instruments 250ml Learn More

Drawing Ink (series 29 500). A fine, free flowing pigmented ink. Available in gold, silver, black, sepia and bistre lightfast traditional tones in shellac binder. Learn More

Drawing Ink (series 29 500). A fine, free flowing pigmented ink. Available in gold, silver, bistre, sepia and black lightfast traditional tones in shellac binder. Learn More

Drawing Ink (series 29 500). A fine, free flowing pigmented ink. Available in gold, silver, sepia, black and bistre lightfast traditional tones in shellac binder. Learn More

Drawing Ink (series 29 500). A fine, free flowing pigmented ink. Available in gold and three lightfast traditional tones in shellac binder. Learn More