I’ve wanted to experiment with natural inks for ages and finally got around to it, making this magenta shade with the pokeberry that grows near the river. Oh my, what a color — it practically glows on the page before drying to a more subtle hue. While I suspect its archival qualities are poor to middling, that shade is really unlike anything I’ve painted with and I’m itching to see what else I can make inks with. Here’s a tutorial if you’re so inclined to try your hand at pokeberry ink. I also have a Pinterest board of natural dye and ink resources.

Et cetera:

Roadside Cake Fridges are a thing!
The Tundra Illustrator Gift Guide is out and I’m very glad to be included. There’s some amazing artwork available from the illustrators mentioned and well-worth a look. I snagged one of Ben Clanton’s Mermicorn shirts for my niece a few years back.
Owen Pallett covering Guided By Voices might be my very favorite internet discovery of 2021. Looping pedals! Violins! It’s musical catnip! What’s fascinating about that cover is how ultimately a melody can be made, broken and put back together and that while something remains, there’s a considerable amount that’s purged and purified. And that had me looking at old sketchbooks in a different light. Also, that bow technique, yasss….