Dahlia Botanical ink

Homemade Inks
Written By Muireann Brady

I asked a local flower grower if she had any dahlias and she invited me over to raid her poly tunnel. I am a terrible gardener and long ago gave up any notions of changing that aspect of myself, and as a result, I have huge admiration for everyone who can grow anything at all - but especially something as beautiful as dahlias!

Amazing reds, pinks and purples

Because Renee was so generous I had an abundance of flowers to play with so I decided to try 3 different methods to compare results.

Fresh Dahlia petals INK RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

  • Fresh flower petals (6 heads in total)

  • Water

  • White wine vinegar

  • Salt

  • Gum Arabic

  • Clove

METHOD

  1. Pick the petals from the flowers and place in pot with water

  2. Add 3 cups of water to the pot

  3. Add 2 teaspoons of white wine vinegar

  4. Add a pinch of salt

  5. Bring to a near boil and then simmer for 45 minutes

  6. Leave to soak and cool for an hour

  7. Strained mixture through a coffee filter

  8. Added a clove and 10 drops of gum arabic

Petals ready to boil

Swatch of the dahlia ink straight after boiling

Plucked dahlia petals left to dry over several days

Dried Dahlia leaves to soak #1

Dried Dahlia leaves to soak #2

Dried Dahlia leaves to soak #3

Dried Dahlia petals INK RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

  • Dried flower petals - I made up 3 different mixtures of dried petals from different flowers

  • Water

  • Gum Arabic

  • Clove

METHOD

  1. Pick the petals from the flowers

  2. Leave to dry over a few days (I left mine 7 days)

  3. Add boiling water

  4. Leave to steep over several days

  5. Strain mixture through a coffee filter

  6. Add a clove and 10 drops of gum arabic

Results from the 3 different inks left to soak - you can see that the ink splat is much more vivid than the brushed on colour beneath them

Boiled dried Dahlia petal ink recipe

INGREDIENTS

  • Dried flower petals

  • Water

  • Salt

  • Gum Arabic

  • Clove

METHOD

  1. Pick the petals from the flowers, leave to dry and place in pot with water

  2. Add 3 cups of water to the pot

  3. Bring to a near boil and then simmer for 45 minutes

  4. Leave to soak and cool for an hour

  5. Strain mixture through a coffee filter

  6. Add a clove and 10 drops of gum arabic

A mish mash of dried leaves for boiling

Dried petals for boiling

Dried and boiled dahlia petals results

Dried petals after boiling

Fresh boiled dahlia petals results a week after being made

Muireann Brady
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Japanese walnut ink