Make+Take: Iron Gall Ink Making and Quill Carving
February 20 @ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$45.00Let’s Make+Take!
Thursday, February 20, 7-9pm
View our current in-studio Health and Safety and Cancellation Policies >>
About this Workshop:
Ready to get a bit inky? Join us as we explore the history and chemistry behind iron gall ink, the standard in writing ink from the Middle Ages through the early 20th century. This ink was traditionally made using inexpensive and readily available materials, including iron salts and tannic acids from vegetable sources such as oak and other tree galls. Students will learn how to make iron gall ink using a historic recipe, and then carve their very own goose feather quill. Additionally, we will make a simple pamphlet binding to practice writing letters using the freshly carved quill and ink.
Level: Beginner—no experience necessary
Registration closes February 12, 2025 and all materials are provided.
Sample image by Brittany Murray
CLASS MATERIALS LIST:
Registration includes all materials—just come ready to have fun! In addition, you may want to bring the following items for class:
- (optional) Personal apron (we’ll have extras) and/or wear clothes that can get messy
- (optional) Notebook and pen for taking notes
YOUR INSTRUCTOR:
Brittany Murray is a burgeoning library and archive conservator living in Washington, DC. She is currently in her final year at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and will be interning at the Library of Congress. Brittany enjoys making historic book structures, researching the use of lead in historic bookmaking processes, and learning about different archival materials. When she is not at Pyramid Atlantic, Brittany can be found wandering the galleries of a museum, watching horror movies, and spending time with her cat Goose.