Mixing Gum Arabic With Ink || Calligraphy Tips & Tricks

[@gemsoft2607]

Fun fact: gum arabic has been used as a binder for inks for centuries. It was commonly used in iron gaul ink(used in the 18th century on special documents like the declaration of independence and the constitution) so the tanic acid and iron sulfate didn't run from the paper.

[@HopeMartinartist]

Thanks for this tip! So wonderful to see a lefty doing beautiful calligraphy. Am a lefty too and grew up being told I would never be good at it because of that. Thanks again! ❤💛💙

[@Emaretta]

Ha!! I bought a different brand of gum Arabic. It was much cheaper than Winsor & Newton! When I came home and opened it to my surprise it turned out to be power! I mixed a quarter coffee spoon right into my 20g ink jar and it worked!! Yay. Great results. Finally I can practice :)

[@Emaretta]

Sorry I meant powder

[@jackywang9620]

yes,spray dried arabic gum powder,it is more pure without dust and fiber,itt is food grade ,use in coca cola,arrow chewing gum wwww.vigor-donor.com

[@jackywang9620]

you dissolve 35 grams gum powder into 65 grams water

[@coldpaint1537]

so you add water to de powder or just ink?

[@lorenrenee1]

Can I put it directly into my ink or will it spoil?

[@Omkarah]

There are so many videos where people use the word "bleeding" instead of the correct word "feathering". This creates confusion and spreads misinformation. What you are describing is "feathering". Gum Arabic is the binder used in watercolors and gouache. It is also the adhesive on an envelope, which you moisten to seal the envelope. You can make your own solution using Acacia (Gum Arabic) Powder. I find gouache to be a better choice for Calligraphy, which you can read about in many posts on the Internet. What Is Ink Feathering? Feathering occurs when paper has fibers that are highly absorbent, which means they more readily pull ink from your pen via capillary action. The result looks somewhat like the edge of a feather. What Is Ink Bleeding? Bleeding occurs when ink soaks through a piece of paper to the other side.

[@user-wickedflower]

UnderwaterSurfer thanks that is good info

[@russellmarra8520]

So adding gum arabic stops feathering. will it also prevent bleeding? Or tell me what kind of paper will hold up to india ink without bleeding through.

[@Clysnzchik]

@@russellmarra8520 nothing stops bleeding got her than thicker paper. You can paint your paper surface with gesso (white for white paper, clear for all others) if the paper is thick enough to handle water or if warping is not a concern.

[@francini5671]

UnderwaterSurfer Thais for the clarification. I did not know this either.

[@emilyharkins-widen1695]

Does gum arabic make the ink waterproof? In another words, if I address envelopes and the letters get wet from rain while in transit, does the gum Arabic prevent it from smearing when wet?

[@Dequa21]

Thank you so much! Lefty here! Just beginning calligraphy souly because the muses sent me here. It came out of no where. I saw a feather quill at my local earthbound company and needed to dive in. I've been writing for a very long time. Then I wanted to expand by trying something new! So thank you! Yeah, bleed is very annoying to me. Especially being a perfectionist. Namaste 🙏

[@MMGARC]

Thanks so much for this tutorial, Elisa, it will be so helpful. Going to order it from Amazon now.

[@RachAndAlly]

Thanks so much for posting this! :) It's been super helpful already!

[@onatorrent]

It might be a little easier for people to understand 1 part Gum Arabic to 3 parts Calligraphy Ink. Some people are not always sure about fractions unless you have measurement spoons witch most women sometimes do not take kindly having there nice measurement spoons use for mixing inks. I almost had my head bit off and was told to go buy a cheep plastic set if I need them and not to use the ones used for cooking. I also like the 2 or 3oz. plastic jars with lid liners for mixing my inks they only run a couple of dollars at most and perfect for mixing ink as you need it and cheep enough that you can buy several jars and have as many colors as you like handy. For gold ink many Calligraphers prefer Dr. Ph. Martin's Iridescent (11R) Copper Plate Gold and there like of other Iridescent inks are nice too for pointed dip pen work and there is an eye dropper in the bottle so you can apply it to the underside of the nib where the ink should be rather than having to wipe the top of the nib off on the jar to keep from runs. If you get the ink at Hobby Lobby they normally have a 40% coupon off one item and I suggest you use it on the Gum Arabic as it is likely the most costly thing your going to purchase. If it was not for the 40% off coupon they have online that you can use in store on online I would not shop there as I do not agree with there morals but heck with morals when I can get a 14.99 2.5oz bottle of Gum Arabic for 40% off. Just go to there web site and you can order online with coupon, or in store and present the coupon on your smartphone or print it out of the web. I think Michael's craft supply store charges more than 14.99 fop the same product and seldom has a coupon. I most always find a 40% off coupon for Hobby Lobby. Warning do not waste your time going there on Sundays because they are closed, religious stuff ya know.

[@onatorrent]

Oh, No problem. I am always happy to help or have some positive comment or suggestions.

[@FionaAWolfe01]

Kenneth Keeton Dollar Tree, Dude. It's where I shop for things like that.

[@FionaAWolfe01]

Does it have to be Gum Arabic? Could you use something like potatoe starch?

[@cimmoneschmahlschmahl8912]

Thank you for the extra information.

[@davidmajersky1969]

Hello I just found your channel and subscribed! Love your content I am a lefty trying to learn calligraphy I'm finding your channel very helpful thank you. :)

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

You poured that black ink over that white counter, and I was 😲

[@daniellealicebattiston8596]

You are incredible!!! thank you for your tips!!!

[@the4thj]

I was wondering how to mix it thanks!!

[@THEDARKSIDEUNDERGROUND]

Hey love, hav U ever tried using RIT permanent clothing dye as calligraphy dip pen ink??

[@igrewold]

You can use 2 syringes for measurement, I use them to refill empty inkjet cartridges. And once done clean up with water and take all syringe parts apart(the pusher, needle & tube) and dry'em for next use. This makes measurements easier and prevents liquid spills. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h53Sg4SNfcpofc0 Regards

[@igrewold]

Tip: You might wanna put transparent nail polish on the syringes external tube This protects the numbers(ml) from fading after constant washing.

[@olstar18]

Thanks. Bought a bottle of the same ink but found it was to thin to write properly. Wasn't sure of the ratio of ink to gum needed. Now I just need to wait for the order to come in so I can start mixing my ink.

[@samanthanicholson9015]

Would sodium alginate work like this as well?

[@lorijones9579]

What a great idea! Thanks for sharing.

[@Skateborder1]

Excellent video. Thanks.

[@marthaporter4868]

John Neal Books sells small quantities of gum Arabic around 1.50

[@creativesolutionsart-h3o]

I love the transparency of Calligraphy ink, but it is usually too thin for dip pen and drips everywhere. I like the thickness of acrylic ink, but I don’t like the opacity. This was a very good tip so I can Modify my transparent links.

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

You could add liquid acrylic medium to acrylic ink

[@latetodagame1892]

Can eternal be used in a technical pen?

[@mysticallydusted8846]

So gum arabic is a good binder to thicken ink..? Like no long term cons?

[@Mustheartdogs]

Does it help stop the ink from flowing to much, especially with pressure?

[@chesshooligan1282]

How about allowing the ink to lose some water? If you leave the bottle open for a while, surely the ink will thicken. You could even speed up the process with your microwave. If you allow if to lose too much water by error, you can always add a little distilled water later, no?

[@elisaanne]

sure, I guess! I'm not very patient though, especially when I have a job to complete!

[@juanjocali7950]

Gracias por compartir

[@MarieM-PinkArt]

How much in powder? I only have gum arabic in powder form

[@txn8v22]

Enjoyed your information. Glad to see some useful info for us lefties in your other videos. I subscribed so as not to miss anything! I wonder how long this mixture lasts. I would imagine you have to stir it up each time, but if you have leftover mixture, can it be stored?

[@msiheartbooks]

Thanks for following up on your promise! New subscriber here and I've barely begun calligraphy so I was searching YT for tips for lefties like me and your videos have been quite helpful so far :) can you do another video on basics catered to beginners like me? I really liked your first and would love to see more tutorials!! Thank you and keep up the good work :D

[@msiheartbooks]

+ElisaAnne Calligraphy thanks for replying super fast!! I've not really started that long and since your first video is about the nib and ink and how to deal with ink bleeds I think it'd be good if you have mini tutorials of how, say, you'd conduct a calligraphy class. I.e. Where do you even begin? As a beginner I'd also like to know paper-related issues like how do I begin writing, the angle and how not to smudge ink. For practice maybe you can give tips on where to find downloadable worksheets, what books/blogs/articles we can read and maybe a rundown on how you usually practice calligraphy? In the future I'd also love if you can give brush calligraphy tutorials since I'm interested in that too and would love to learn😊

[@natm6572]

does gum arabic reduce the water resistance of the ink?? I need my ink to be waterproof

[@stepstoliberation1994]

Thank you.

[@gigijohnson6384]

you used external but I have india Higgins ink can it be used the same. I have gum Arabic.

[@cazumbandoartmaddy1728]

have you tried this mixed ink in watercolour paper? and will it smudge if i apply water on the lines after it dries? i want to draw with this ink both on normal (for comics) and watercolor paper (for illustration)

[@elisaanne]

It will smudge!! Wouldn't recommended doing a water based ink then watercolor on top because it will smudge every time.

[@anuradhapurushothamrao8929]

Maddy Torta De Climão ojyi

[@nicolewright1308]

my advice buy it on ebay. you may find cheaper ones. with same results. I bought mine for 12 bucks no shipping fee the others were from 17 and up

[@lolarodgers2961]

You can also use the coupon offered at almost every craft store. This same bottle of GA would cost you $8.50 instead of $17. Or you can do one even better and purchase a cheaper option and still use the coupon. So then you are winning all around by having a GA that is super cheap but efficient. I will say Windsor and Newton offer high quality art supplies so this is worth it...but any smart person would use the coupon to purchase. Michaels and Hobby lobby always have a coupon you can use at all times. Never expires. You can use it every time you shop there on whatever single item you are purchasing as long as it is not on clearance or sale. But you can only use it on one item per transaction. Unless you take a friend with you and check out separate *like I do* and then you can use it TWICE!

[@sbgghl]

Good idea ! Thank u👏

[@sanjay-ov4fs]

can you tell me where to buy gum arabic

[@cjverina]

You can buy gum arabic powder at your local commercial stores that sell baking ingredients. Gum arabic is an ingredient for cake fondant. It's also called Acacia Gum. The general ratio for the gum arabic is 1:2, 1 part of powder and 2 parts of water. Sometimes people adds one or two drops of clove oil as conservative to avoid mold. ^_^

[@RadiantJasmin]

Thanks for this tip!

[@markem9415]

Is there something I can use like gum arabic to thicken my ink that *does not* result in a gloss/satin finish?

[@CoxJoxSox]

Good job

[@lorenrenee1]

I have lovely inks, but they all seem to feather/bleed in the paper.

[@chichichichay]

what will I do if my gum Arabic is powder??

[@ahmadsheikhsuliman7517]

mix it with water and boil it

[@JudiChristopher]

NO.... you don't need to boil it... I mix Pearl EX with powder gum arabic ... just mix it up 4 parts powder to 1 part G.A.

[@lolarodgers2961]

You add water to your powdered GA and then microwave it for the allotted amount of time. It will still work. But warming it up helps bind and mix better. So I don't agree with either of these comments, NO do not boil it but also YES you should warm it up.

[@songwriter368]

does it work with fountain pen ink

[@elisaanne]

I don't have experience with fountain pen ink so I don't know so sorry!

[@davinagibson1665]

Natalie Holch, it does work with fountain pen ink, my luv....although your query is a year old and you probably already know that now, I thought I'd still comment... I've recently been mixing fountain pen ink with it so the ink "sticks" to my dip pen better and doesn't run off the nib too quickly and soak the paper..

[@alixadriennewilliams4568]

Can you please caption your videos properly so your d/Deaf or HoH viewers can enjoy too?

[@elisaanne]

Hi Alix, I would love to do that eventually but I currently don't have the means (I'm a one woman show). Thank you for the suggestion, I will definitely be considering that in the future!

[@francesb7515]

@@elisaanne An easy way to provide a transcript is to play your video and set up a Google doc to use voice to type. My intention is to share an option I use.

[@GodAlwaysWins]

Why does my ink not stay in the reservoir

[@tainadelcaribe]

It usually means that either your nib is still not clean (you have to clean them when you buy them before using them since they are coated in oil from the manufacturer to prevent tarnishing and rust) or your ink is too runny. For the first one just clean the nib. For the second option add a little gum arabic to a little bit of the ink (put a little in a smaller pot/jar then add gum arabic to that little bit so you don't have to add it to the whole jar, just in case) and be sure you are not using fountain pen ink, which will be more runny, in which case just add gum arabic also.

[@GodAlwaysWins]

aygo thank you so much i will try it and let you know how it turns out

[@slaines14]

Stab a potato

[@Skateborder1]

Light the tip with a lighter for a half a second.

[@vladzorescu9426]

Idk what paper this is but if its just regular printer than you should consider trying rhodia paper or a thinner card stock that will not bleed or feather

[@salemamenelhady]

sorry i can't find gum arabic in egypt

[@igrewold]

Seems like you can make it yourself: Gum arabic resin + Water + Jar -> kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWKliYWums2rfrc Good luck اشتري من عند العطار، أيش تسموه في مصر لبان دكؤ؟ perubatanalmaher.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-post.html

[@Blissfulthings]

interesting...but I think I would use anything but computer paper I know you said it's much cheaper and it is! maybe this will also help get computer paper that is a heavier weight than the average cheap one ,this paper is sold at the same place that you get computer paper it can get up to 80 pounds so try some different weights that should stop the feathering you are experiencing, what weight is the paper your useing for this video? all packages have this printed on them 😊

[@lolarodgers2961]

At the craft store Windsor and Newton Gum Arabic is $15.99 before tax. After tax around $17. OR you could use the 50% off coupon (offered at every craft store online) and apply it to your purchase and then you will then have an $8 bottle of W&N Gum Arabic. OR you could purchase a much cheaper version of the gum arabic. Gum Arabic is good for more than this, you can use it to make your own watercolors from pigments / eyeshadows etc or you can use it to make your own calligraphy ink from pigment - It also works as a masking fluid as well when applied on paper. There are many uses to this so I would say it is worth the purchase in the long run. Maybe not if you just don't have any interest in other crafts or you do not have any clientele.... then I would say its not worth it.

[@1171linden]

Is this now waterproof?

[@elisaanne]

Unfortunately, no - gum arabic does not make the ink permanent as far as I know.

[@jackywang9620]

arabic gum is water solubility,it can make the ink more shine when it is dry ,because arabic can produce a coating ,it usually use as coating in chocolate and chewing gum

[@jackywang9620]

arabic gum is water solubility,it can make the ink more shine when it is dry ,because arabic can produce a coating ,it usually use as coating in chocolate and chewing gum

[@jackywang9620]

it is not waterproof ,arabic gum is water solubility,it can make the ink more shine when it is dry ,because arabic can produce a coating ,it usually use as coating in chocolate and chewing gum

[@jackywang9620]

not waterproof ,beacuse arabic gum is water dissovable

[@sufyanazhari5792]

اجمل جدا

[@BULLSHXTYT]

17 USD for 75ml is expensive, I will buy nice paper but not gum arabic I guess

[@winston2770]

It was nice of you to post this. It makes me so upset that people are writing modern calligraphy. I have spent over 20 years making my calligraphy correct. I am old now and I just want to say: "Please stop this horrible script."

[@Saucyakld]

Have you always sang the endings of your sentences? You sound like you are asking questions. Sorry, I am a foreigner and just asking xx

[@NetPro38]

Oh, that's too much for this little bit of gum Arabic. One kilogram of raw gum Arabic costs about 10 dollars. And with 1 kilogram you can make at least 5 Liters of liquid gum Arabic.

[@NetPro38]

+ElisaAnne Calligraphy You'er right. But did you know that tones of gum Arabic is imported in the US, and it is one of the soft drinks' ingredients? It is the natural and purest prebiotic, used for the health of digestive system. It is also used for curing people with kidney diseases,blood pressure and diabetes. And it is nothing but tree sap.

[@NetPro38]

+ElisaAnne Calligraphy www.google.com.kw/search?q=صمغ+عربي+سوداني&oq=صمغ+عربي+سوداني&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l3.6466j0j4&client=ms-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8#imgrc=gQc2pZl4t1KYiM%3A

[@jackywang9620]

we can supply arabic gum powder

[@myvideo147]

photocopy paper is very bad for calligraphy, try to use ordinary hand writing paper it is a way better than this.

[@deborahyoung9233]

Can't hear very well.