Oak Gall Ink Workshop - The Whitaker Museum & Art Gallery

In conjuncture with her exhibition, Artist Stefanie Trow is delivering a hands-on workshop exploring the ancient craft of making oak gall ink from natural materials gathered from the landscape. The workshop accompanies her drawing installation in the gallery's vestibule, created using handmade oak gall ink, offering participants an opportunity to discover the material behind the work and learn how to make it themselves.

Participants will explore the fascinating history of oak gall ink, a drawing and writing material used for centuries in manuscripts, maps and artworks. The workshop will cover how to identify oak galls, when and where to collect them, and the process of transforming them into ink through crushing, brewing and combining them with iron. Working together, participants will make their own batch of oak gall ink while learning about the relationship between art, ecology and traditional making practices. There will also be an opportunity to experiment with mark-making using a range of natural and unconventional tools, including brushes, feathers and stones, exploring the unique qualities of the ink and the expressive possibilities of drawing with found materials.

Each participant will leave with a 30ml bottle of handmade oak gall ink, along with the knowledge and confidence to continue making and experimenting with natural inks at home.
Suitable for adults and young people aged 14+. No previous experience is required.

You can view Stefanie Trow's exhibition in our Old Entrance space.