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Making Your Own Botanical Inks: Oak, Walnut, and Other Natural Pigments

Intro: Rediscovering the Beauty of Natural Ink

Living surrounded by oak and walnut trees, I’m never short of inspiration or natural resources. Their fallen galls, husks, and bark offer endless opportunities to experiment with handmade inks.


Making botanical inks feels like reviving an ancient craft — one that connects the slow rhythms of the seasons with the simple joy of creating by hand. Each batch has its own personality: the deep, enduring black of oak galls, the warm sepia of walnut husks, or the fleeting blush of crushed berries.


A side view of a small collection of glass bottles filled with different shades of natural ink deep black oak gall ink, warm brown walnut ink, and soft berry-toned pigment. The bottles are simple and unlabelled, arranged neatly on a light marble or stone surface. Oak galls, crushed walnut husks, and a small brush or dip pen rest casually beside them.
Making Your Own Botanical Inks: Oak, Walnut, and Other Natural Pigments

What Exactly Is Botanical Ink?

Botanical ink is any ink made using natural pigments extracted from plants, fruits, minerals, or other organic materials. Unlike synthetic inks, which rely on chemical dyes, botanical inks are grounded in nature’s chemistry, from tannins and acids to natural binders.


Artists and calligraphers once relied on these recipes for centuries. Today, many modern makers are rediscovering them for their character, depth, and connection to sustainable art. Each drop feels alive, subtly changing tone depending on paper type, sunlight, and time.



Oak Gall Ink — The Classic Black of Nature

Oak galls form when tiny wasps lay eggs on oak leaves, creating round growths rich in tannic acid. When crushed and mixed with iron sulfate and vinegar, they produce a striking, archival black — the same ink once used by monks and mapmakers.


Oak Gall Apple in a small concrete bowl
Oak Gall Apple

I love oak gall ink for its permanence and versatility. It dries with a natural matte finish, making it ideal for sketching, calligraphy, or writing labels for herbs. You can easily vary the tone by adjusting the iron content: less for grey, more for black.


(Try it with: DIY Paper Mâché Gift Tags with Natural Dyes and Seeds for a cohesive, handmade look.)


Walnut Ink — Warm, Earthy Browns

Walnut ink, made from the husks that surround walnut shells, produces beautiful shades of brown: from pale caramel to deep chestnut. It’s wonderfully forgiving, blending smoothly across handmade paper or recycled card.


To make it, simmer crushed husks in water for an hour, strain, and add a small amount of natural preservative (such as clove oil). The result is a soft, flowing ink that pairs beautifully with neutral paper or sketchbook work. It’s a favourite for botanical illustration because it mimics the warmth of vintage ink drawings.


Berry and Plant-Based Inks — Soft, Seasonal Shades

For softer colour palettes, berries and flowers make wonderful short-lived inks. Blackberries, elderberries, beetroot, and hibiscus all yield gentle tones — more watercolour than archival ink, but full of life.


I like to think of these as “seasonal inks”: ephemeral, imperfect, and best enjoyed while fresh. They’re perfect for journalling, decorative labelling, or adding delicate washes to handmade cards. Add a splash of lemon juice for a cooler hue or baking soda for warmth — natural chemistry at its most creative.


Soot and Charcoal Inks — Minimalist Depth

Soot ink, also known as lampblack, has a rich history in Chinese and Japanese art. It’s made by collecting fine soot particles and mixing them with gum arabic or honey. The result is a silky, deep black that glides across paper.


If you’ve ever burned a candle and noticed the black residue, that’s the base of soot ink — minimal waste, completely natural, and surprisingly elegant. It works beautifully for monochrome sketches or minimalist journalling.


How to Use Botanical Inks in Everyday Creative Projects

Natural inks lend themselves beautifully to small creative rituals — the kind that bring a sense of calm to the day.

A flat lay composition on a white marble background featuring handmade illustrated herb labels painted with oak gall ink. Each tag is cut from textured recycled paper, with delicate black botanical drawings of herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary. A glass ink pot and dip pen lie nearby, with a natural linen ribbon and oak gall resting beside them.
How to Use Botanical Inks in Everyday Creative Projects

You can use them to:

  • Illustrate herb or spice labels

  • Handwrite gift tags for homemade candles or potpourri

  • Add botanical line drawings to wrapping or cards

  • Create eco-friendly journaling pages


All you need is a simple dip pen, soft brush, or bamboo stick, and a pot of ink.


Tutorial: Creating Illustrated Herb Labels with Oak Gall Ink

This is one of my favourite seasonal projects: simple, meditative, and practical.


A flat lay composition on a white marble background featuring handmade illustrated herb labels painted with oak gall ink. Each tag is cut from textured recycled paper, with delicate black botanical drawings of herbs such as sage, thyme, and rosemary. A small glass ink pot and dip pen lie nearby, with a natural linen ribbon and oak gall resting beside them.
Creating Illustrated Herb Labels with Oak Gall Ink

You’ll need:

  • Oak gall ink (homemade or store-bought)

  • Recycled or handmade paper

  • Fine paintbrush or calligraphy nib

  • Pencil and eraser

  • String or linen ribbon


Steps:

  1. Cut small rectangular tags or round labels.

  2. Lightly sketch your chosen herbs — sage, thyme, rosemary, or lavender work beautifully.

  3. Outline and detail with oak gall ink using a fine brush or nib.

  4. Allow to dry completely before erasing pencil lines.

  5. Punch a small hole and tie with a natural string or linen.


For extra durability, apply a thin layer of wax or eco sealer once the coating is dry. These labels look beautiful tied to herb jars, simmer pot kits, or handmade gifts.



Caring for Your Handmade Inks

  • Store in small amber glass bottles or recycled jars.

  • Keep them in a cool, dark space to prevent mould.

  • Add a drop of clove or wintergreen oil as a natural preservative.

  • Label each jar with the date and ingredients — ink evolves over time, and that’s part of its charm.


Why Botanical Inks Belong in a Modern Studio

In a world of digital design, there’s something grounding about working with handmade materials and making your own botanical inks and pigments. Botanical inks are imperfect, alive, and endlessly variable; each mark reflects both the natural world and the maker’s hand.


They pair beautifully with other natural crafts, whether displayed alongside a concrete tray, a ceramic pot, or a linen-wrapped gift. More than a medium, they’re a reminder that creativity doesn’t need to come from a shop shelf — sometimes, it’s growing just outside your door.



Making Your Own Botanical Inks and Pigments FAQs

1. Are botanical inks waterproof?

Most are water-soluble, but oak gall ink is highly resistant to fading and water once dry.

2. Can I use botanical inks in fountain pens?

It’s best to avoid that — natural pigments can clog fine nibs. Dip pens or brushes work best.

3. How long do handmade inks last?

Stored correctly, oak gall and walnut inks can last for years. Berry inks are best used within a few weeks of purchase.

4. Can I mix botanical inks together?

Yes — blending creates lovely natural shades, but always test small amounts first as reactions can occur.

5. What paper works best with natural inks?

Absorbent, uncoated papers such as handmade or watercolour paper show texture and tone beautifully.




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