Ahh, ink—a material for the ages and one of the loveliest to use still. There is a reason it has lasted through the centuries.
The beauty of time and technology means that inks have developed in opacity, lightfastness and quality. This is great news for tangle enthusiasts (many have high-quality skills with ink because they have a calligraphy background), and the relationship between the two art forms is clear.
In these pieces, I’ve used a variety of inks. Look for high-quality, pigmented inks to use; the color will be more consistent and vibrant. Use a watercolor brush, high-quality pens (try using calligraphy nibs for drawing lines) or a waterbrush filled with ink. Be sure that when you’re using pens with your liquid inks, they have waterproof ink (like the Sakura Pigma Microns or Copic Multiliners), or things will get messy fast!
Another type of ink many crafters will know is the Tim Holtz Distress Ink line by Ranger Industries. Tim has a range of Distress Ink pads and now stains. You can use these in a variety of ways. I often use them as the bottom layer of color, and they give a beautiful background, foundation and dimension for gorgeous Zentangle art.
