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Iron Gall Ink: A Timeless Favorite
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If you want to write elegant pointed pen calligraphy with hairline upstrokes, iron gall ink is a must-try! This historical ink has been used for thousands of years by monks, Vikings, and royalty.
Iron gall ink first came on my radar in 2015, when I used it to address a batch of wedding envelopes. The ink gave my envelopes an elegant, vintage look, and I was pleased with how easy it was to use! Since then, I’ve been an iron gall enthusiast, regularly incorporating it into my calligraphy work. Its rich depth of color and timeless appeal continue to captivate me, making it a staple in my creative toolbox.
What Is Iron Gall Ink?
Iron gall ink has been around for nearly 2,000 years. Some big names, like Pliny the Elder and Leonardo DaVinci, used it — as did the Vikings and many monks. The ink owed its popularity in part to its easy recipe. The formula varies, but the base ingredients are oak galls, iron, acid (usually wine or vinegar), and a binder like gum arabic. Add water, and you’ve got a permanent, water-resistant ink.
This pitcher of ink is ready to be decanted into 1 oz. jars. I use a concentrate and filtered Rocky Mountain water to make Rousy iron gall ink. Iron gall’s unique black color comes from oxidization process. Basically, when you put pen to paper, the ink has a light gray appearance. As the acid in the ink evaporates out, the iron oxidizes, and you’re left with a rich matte black hue.
Iron gall ink starts off a light gray, then it turns jet black as a result of the oxidization process. Advantages of Using Iron Gall Ink
1. Watery Viscosity
Iron gall ink’s main advantage comes from its watery viscosity. The ink is very thin, so iron gall ink stays on the nib longer than comparatively thicker inks (like sumi or India). Its viscosity makes it capable of creating hairline upstrokes and thick, rich downstrokes. In the video below, you’ll get a sense of what it’s like to use this ink:
2. Water Resistance
Iron gall isn’t 100% waterproof, but it is water-resistant. I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on wedding envelopes or commissions due to its ease of use and the beautiful writing results.
This embellished banner mail art was created using iron gall ink. (You can learn how to draw a gorgeous motif like this one in The Ultimate Vintage Banner Illustration Tutorial!) 3. Color + Occasional Gradation
Iron gall ink colors will vary by who made them. The Rousy iron gall ink that I just started carrying has a gorgeous matte black color. Every so often, the ink dries just a little bit gray on a stroke or two, which emphasizes the handwritten nature of pointed pen calligraphy!
Notice how some of these strokes are just a bit gray? They’ll darken over time, but they never will be as dark as some of the other strokes. 4. Ease of Use
If you like bouncy modern calligraphy with an off-the-cuff look, you’ll appreciate that iron gall ink is conducive to quick writing. Since it’s so watery, it flows right off the nib and allows you to quickly create flowy, sweeping strokes as shown on the envelope below.
This modern-looking address was written using iron gall ink and Cocktail Casual calligraphy. Iron gall ink is also excellent for creating flourishes because it creates so little resistance on the upstrokes. For that reason, you can create swirls and loops with ease!
This marinera dancer was created using iron gall ink and a Brause EF66 nib in an oblique pen. (You can flourish her yourself using this free worksheet.) Disadvantages of Using Iron Gall Ink
1. Nib Damage
Many people worry that iron gall ink will aggressively “eat” their nibs. Iron gall is more acidic than other inks, which means that, yes, your nib may wear down a bit more quickly than usual. Will the wear be dramatic? No. It’s gradual. If you’re diligent about cleaning ink residue off after every practice session, your nibs will last longer. Remember that the everyday wear and tear that you put on your nibs by using them with any ink will invariably sand down a nib’s tip. It’s important to always have an extra nib or two on hand so you can switch them out when your current calligraphy nib goes kaput.
I accidentally dropped the Brause Rose nib on the left in a jar of iron gall. After three days of being submerged in the ink, this is what it looked like. 2. Toxicity
During both of my pregnancies, I was anemic and had to take iron pills. The pills had a prominent warning: “Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6.” Same thing here. If you have a curious little person around, remember to keep your ink out of reach and/or tightly closed. And, obviously, don’t drink the ink yourself. It’s fine if you get some on your hands/skin, so don’t worry about that.
Iron is a main ingredient in iron gall ink. While iron is a necessary part of the human diet, too much of it can hurt us. Don’t drink this stuff! General Information About This Ink
There are a few things to note about iron gall ink that are neither advantages nor disadvantages. Before you take on writing with this ink, bear the following in mind:
- You shouldn’t use iron gall in fountain pens; eventually, sediment from the ink will ruin the pen.
- In my opinion, iron gall ink isn’t a great choice for calligraphy beginners because of its watery viscosity. Those who understand calligraphy basics will find it refreshing to use, but a thicker (and more predictable) ink like sumi is best for beginners
- Iron gall is a fabulous ink to use with crowquill nibs. Its thin viscosity is ideal for the tiny nibs, which tend to get clogged if you use them with thicker inks.
I love using iron gall with crowquill nibs to write small, delicate characters. - Always keep your ink sealed when it’s not in use. Prolonged exposure to oxygen will cause the ink to oxidize in the jar. That’s why it’s important to keep the lid on.
- Shelf life of iron gall inks varies by brand. I’ve had some iron galls that developed mold after a year, for example, and could no longer be used. Rousy iron gall appears to have a shelf life of at least a handful of years, and it should not develop mold.
About Rousy Iron Gall Ink
You’ll find Rousy Iron Gall Ink in the TPK Supplies Shop. The ink was developed by Simon Rous of Scribblers in the UK, and I worked closely with him to give feedback on the formula. This particular ink was the result of quite a bit of collaboration, and we had to iron out several details (from shipping logistics to label design) to make it possible.
Here is one of the test sheets that I filled out while Simon was developing this formula. As it turns out, our hard work paid off! TPK customers have been enjoying iron gall ink for a couple of years now:
I love the consistency and color of this ink! It is smooth, easy to write with, and has a beautiful gradient to it. I don’t think I can ever go back to using another ink 🙂
– PaigeThis ink is a-MAZING! It flows so nicely, and the thins are SO thin! And the dark gray to black shades look really cool! Best ink purchase I’ve made 🥰
– AdrienneI love this iron gall ink. It is everything that Lindsey said it would be. I used it to create over 200 place cards for a wedding and they were beautiful. It has become my favorite ink to work with!
– Mary
I used iron gall ink on an Indian Cotton Paper Co. pink envelope to make this flourished “McKenzie” calligraphy. Simon has been making iron gall ink for over a decade. This new formula is wonderful in so many ways and benefits from all of his experience. After perfecting the formula, Simon developed a concentrate version of it, which he ships to me in the US. Once I receive the ink, I use his detailed instructions to brew batches that are equal to those that Simon sells in the UK. I then decant the ink into jars, add TPK-designed labels, and send the ink to delighted customers.
I hope that you learned something new from this article, and that it prompts you to try out an ink that perhaps wasn’t on your radar before. Happy writing!
Warmly,
