I am a huge nerd for colour theory.  This section holds my experiments with the colour black as I work my way through the spectrum.

Humans have tried to express themselves through colour since the beginning of our existence.    Although the earliest known use of colour by a human was Red ochre circa 75,000 BC, I am beginning with black.

Learning about the history of human's use of the colour black led me to the Booke of Secrets -  was the oldest written references to humans making pigment with Charcoal in 4500BC and Oak Galls in 1597AD a mere 5000 years later - isn't human progress astounding?

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Attempting to recreate these leads to a lot of references to ratios and not a lot of exact science.

Ancient recipes can be vague, difficult to follow and easy to muck up.  Good thing oak galls grow on trees! 

I forage for galls around my neighborhood - hard tiny growths on local oak caused by eggs laid by Hymenopterans Cynipidae.  Oaks are not plentiful here so present a bit of a challenge to collect without going on private property.

But boy are they fun to smash!

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Status: Fermenting smashed galls in water and vinegar

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2024 Goal: Write a sentence with this ink and see what secrets it holds...