Thickening Calligraphy Inks with Gum Arabic || CROOKED CALLIGRAPHY

Runny, watery calligraphy inks SUCK (boo!)
Well, here's a quick, easy way to fix them (yay!)
STUFF I MENTION IN THIS VIDEO:
Nikko G Nib
Gum Arabic (powder or liquid form)
32lb premium laserjet paper
All these supplies can be found on my AMAZON STOREFRONT*:
www.amazon.com...
*I receive a small commission when you purchase through my Storefront.
CALLIGRAPHY TIPS AND RESOURCES:
crookedcalligra...
FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM:
/ crookedcalligraphy

[@lauraarmenis4203]

Noooo way. I'm stoked. I have so many inks that are too runny. Thought i waisted my money. THANK YOU 💞

[@bismuth2099]

thank you for this tutorial! i'd found elsewhere that mixing in gum arabic would be helpful to make fountain pen ink work for dip pens, but this is the only how to guide i could find

[@rob-in-the-marsh5311]

Very helpful video. I am a complete beginner to calligraphy, my first attempts at script were a disaster because I used fountain pen ink, which I have plenty of. What I do feel aggrieved about is that in all the instructional videos I watched, not one included any warning about using fountain pen ink. Thank you.

[@sidewinder666666]

YES, this was helpful! Now I know what I was doing wrong *and* how to fix it. I was trying to use Iroshizuku ink straight from the bottle. It's incredible fountain pen ink, and broad nibs in such a pen can do some nice calligraphic effects, but... they're way too thin for use with a dip pen. My first attempt with a dip pen using that ink left me baffled. Now I know why, lol. Off to buy some Gum Arabic powder and... experiment. Thanks for making this video.

[@lc1325]

Thank you for a very important lesson. And such a pleasant personality!

[@shlomofreeman]

This is a lifesaver. Thank you! I thought I was done for because I bought bunch of inks that were entirely too thin and runny. You are wonderful!

[@blueandgreenslacks]

Rad I’m gonna try the G.A. with my too drippy graff mop ink.

[@kungangela1657]

Thanks for sharing. This is so useful as I have bought 4 bottles of beautiful but don't know how to handle them❤

[@samanthanicholson9015]

If the ink even gets onto the pen, i could use this info! Thanks

[@juliee.campbell3271]

Thank you so much, Shinah, for this How-To video! I have some liquid Gum Arabic on its way along with some colored calligraphy inks that I’m praying 🙏 don’t arrive too thin. However, now I know exactly how to approach (+ I have plastic droppers, also in transit, to assist, if necessary. 🎉).

[@robincooper9323]

Thank you very much for this information. I had a feeling my Dr. Ph Martin's India ink was too thin. I just ordered some gum arabic, funnels and jars.

[@carolmelancon]

Very helpful. I knew of the concept, but it's great to see the test after each addition so I know the endpoint I'm working toward.

[@zebcode]

Could you also use corn flour? I mean it's a thickening agent so I'm wondering?

[@michaelholbrook4401]

I'm a hobby leathercrafter. I had the idea of using calligraphy pens with leather dyes of various colors to achieve a look somewhat different than carved lettering. I can tell you without even starting this idea, leather dye is going to very thin and that seems it will make my idea a failure. Do you have any idea if this gum arabic will blend into leather dye? Does it mix better with waterbased or oilbased?

[@juliakercsmar6587]

Thanks. I ran out of ink a while ago. But still have my two calligraphy pens. So i thought i would try again and do better. But i dont want to order expensive ink fron amazon or sg so i thought i would try some of the diys. If i can find gum arabic locally i can definetely make some. Dont really care if the natural pigments in stuff i would use will age weird. Just want to scribble😄

[@Skateborder1]

3rd times a charm. Brilliant video !

[@lorizac]

YES! thank you. I knew I would find what I needed on your channel! Thank you!! (& glad to see I'm doing it right!)

[@TheUpsetter]

Can you use egg white instead of gum?

[@rina4352]

THANK YOU

[@fbpliegorrivero8869]

Have you ever tried glycerin? I wonder if it would work.

[@LuvsSno]

Great video, but the clock ticking is really irritating

[@mellane5643]

What brand sumi ink do you use??

[@turboboy5770]

hi

[@yuhuaquan5681]

Very useful video.thank u

[@goetheklausamadeus]

Thank you.

[@ferreirasingerguitarrist]

thanks a lot

[@raifteri]

Thanks. Very informative.

[@angelnp7238]

Amazing... thanks

[@nathalieheath5693]

Question: I have w&n calligraphy ink (purple) and senellier sepia ink. Both pool on my first two downstrokes. I am using a Nikko g nib and rhodia paper. I’ve tried other paper and one other nib, but there is still a big blob of ink on top of my first two downstrokes. It doesn’t bleed like in your vid, but it just sits on top really thick. When there is less ink on the nib, after the first two downstrokes, there is no more pooling and it looks good. I’ve also tried wiping my nib on the ink pot on both sides, after dipping. This seems to help, as my downstroke does not have a big pool of ink on top of it. Unfortunately it only results in me being able to write one letter before I run out of ink and have to re-dip. I’ve already tried watering down my ink but then it gets too watery... I’m a newbie, so still experimenting. I have not tried sumi ink, but I fear I might have to. And also, on your last word I can see that the f, i and n are much darker in hue than the a and l. I also have that with my coloured ink. Is that ‘normal’ for coloured inks? Any help is greatly appreciated! Thank you so much in advance!

[@abdulbasit911]

Samething is happening with me.....i am a newbie also.....i have ordered Sumi ink but it havent arrived yet.....if you get any lead please let me know......

[@nathalieheath5693]

Abdul Basit I’ve figured it out. My ink was too thin. I didn’t have these issues with my sumi ink, so it was easy to compare the consistency of the purple ink with the sumi. I hope this helps!

[@abdulbasit911]

@@nathalieheath5693 ok.....so can we say that Sumi ink is better than W&N ?

[@nathalieheath5693]

Abdul Basit well, it’s not that simple. I think if you thicken the w&n ink it will be awesome. I’m almost 3 months into experimenting and practicing and I can confidently say that there is no right or wrong in calligraphy. I’ve even mixed gouache paints to write with and they also work perfectly, if and when you have the right consistency. Gum Arabic helps, try that!

[@abdulbasit911]

@@nathalieheath5693 thanks for your reply.....i will work on your advice..... I hope i will get more priceless advice from you in future....🙏