I’ve loved making this yesterday and today. ‘Monk Climbs’ is my homemade inks on recycled cotton handmade Indian paper. I used Oak Gall, Sequoia, Pomegranate, Gorse, Dandelion, and Cochineal. It’s now in my studio. A4 #worksonpaper #handmadepaper #naturalinks #irishart #interiordesignart

Today in my studio I’ve been playing with black ink, handmade paper, and a wallpaper scraper. I love the possibilities that emerge from the most limited of choices. #contemporaryink #workonpaper #abstractinkart #minimalart

A journey through the making of one of my Ink Studies - Homemade Oak Gall Ink on Handmade, Recycled Cotton-Rag Paper from India. It’s a gentle and meditative conversation between me, ink and paper. The outcome emerges without planning. #inkart #workonpaper #handmadeink #meditation #contemplative

Yesterday and today I’ve been making a very gentle walnut ink tinted with madder root. I’m very much looking forward to making some work on paper with it! #abstractcollectors #naturalink #interiordesign #handmade #artonpaper

I made a short video of painting the background of one of the Monk pictures on Canvas Board. I wanted you to see how homemade inks respond to the surface and to each other. youtu.be/RyZI5-XoW10 #art #ink #painting #contemporaryart #abstractcollector #contemplative #meditative #meditation

Me in my studio where I make ink paintings, abstract art, contemplative works, often on specialist handmade paper, often with homemade ink, often minimalist, always unique. This is what I do. #AbstractArt #HandmadePaperArt #InkPainting #ContemporaryArtCollector #ArtOnPaper

I’ve been experimenting with some new Monk pictures. Created using my home made inks - Oak Gall, Pomegranate, Cochineal, Red Cabbage, Gorse, Sequoia. Working on raw cotton canvas -adding a top layer using a dip pen. #ink #art #irishartist #painting #abstractcollector #contemplative #meditative

I’m really enjoying experimenting with ink (especially homemade ink) on handmade papers. Here’s some ink studies I’ve made in recent weeks. www.fanadart.com/ink-studies #abstractcollector #inkabstract #naturalink #interiordesignart #worksonpaper

Today I’ve been making cochineal ink - two variants. With citric acid it turns towards orange, with soda ash, more towards deep purple. Both are beautiful. #ink #art #naturalink #interiordesignart #handmade

I’ve just put up ‘From Deepest Earth, A Flower’ on my website. I also made a small video about it, which I’ll post a link to in the comments. It’s a lovely piece - homemade ink on handmade recycled Indian paper. 36cm x 57cm #art #ink #homemade #naturalink #recycled #interiordesign #worksonpaper

This is the result of yesterday’s work. My homemade inks on raw canvas. I love the depth and softness of what they made - a very organic feeling, inviting you to pause for a while in front of it and sink into its flow. Ink on Canvas. 21 x 30cm #ink #inkabstract #naturalink #interiordesign #irish

A joy seeing ‘Monk Seeks Quiet’ framed and on the wall outside my space in The Courthouse, Bushmills. It seems bright, but somehow is unsettling, as if there’s something just out of frame Monk has not yet noticed. It’s 84 x 60cm -acrylic ink on paper #interiordesignart #worksonpaper #art #irish

Ink Study #5 Black Rain Ink: Oak Gall (Homemade) Paper: Recycled cotton-rag handmade in India A4 #ink #abstractcollector #inkabstract #naturalink #interiordesignart #worksonpaper

Ink Study #3 Summer With Storm Clouds Inks: Homemade (Fanad Inks) - Gorse, Sequoia, Oak Gall, Dandelion, Red Cabbage Paper: Handmade, recycled cotton-rag, from India A4 (21cm x 30cm) #art #interiordesign #abstractcollector #irishartist #homemadeink

As I continue to explore inks - especially the ones I make myself - I’m offering some ink studies for sale on my website. Unframed and unmounted, usually on handmade papers. Each is unique - a synthesis of ink, paper and the moment of its creation. www.fanadart.com/ink-studies #ink #art #irish

Warm sun and cold wind. A blackbird sings its soft song. I’m deafened by thoughts. #sunday #nature #mindful #pause #contemplation

I’ve not yet found a title for this. It’s made with my home-created inks: Oak Gall, Pomegranate, Red Cabbage, Gorse, Brazilwood, Sequoia, Avocado. Recycled cotton-rag paper handmade in India. 21 30cm (A4) Created late at night as the wind whistled outside. #art #ink #abstract #handmade #irish

This morning it was flowers. This afternoon it is ink. Soon it will be a picture. #art #ink #handmade #artonpaper #irishartist

My cat kills a mouse. I weep for the mouse yet love my cat. A buzzard swoops. I love the buzzard, but weep for the shrew torn from life into oblivion. A heron takes a frog from the pond. Both heron and frog are beautiful. I am overwhelmed by tenderness #artist #nature #ecology #vulnerability

‘Monk Seeks Quiet' It’s a large ink work on paper (60cm x 84cm - A1) The music on the video is by me, but while painting I listened to Alice Sara Ott playing the works of Jóhann Jóhannsson. youtu.be/JMToqPfxQZY #art #contemplative #contemporaryartcollector #interiordesign #irishartist

I’ve spent the last days creating a new large Monk piece. Each one is different, each is very special to me ‘Monk Seeks Quiet’ Acrylic ink on 230gsm watercolour paper. 84 x 60cm - A1 Music while creating: Jóhann Jóhannsson: Piano Works. Alice Sara Ott #art #contemporary #meditative #artonpaper

The tree I touch, touches me. The bird I watch, watches me. The thoughts I think, think me. I exist only as an exchange. How then can I say I am only I?

An accident in my sketchbook tonight. #art #accident #ink #abstract #serendipity

Two handmade paper sketchbook experiments with my homemade inks….. #art #ink #homemade #specialitypaper #abstract

I wake to the song of a blackbird. It gives its music freely, asking nothing but to be left alone to live its life. Often, we refuse even that generous exchange. #nature #sustainability #ecology #selfhood #birdsong

From Deepest Earth, A Flower This is a piece on handmade, recycled cotton-waste paper made in from Southern India The inks include, Red Cabbage, Beetroot, Pomegranate, Oak Gall, Brazilwood, Dandelion, Sequoia 35 x 57cm #art #interiordesign #contemporaryartcollector #specialistpaper #abstractart

A little learning is a dangerous thing they say. Yesterday was a day of screw-ups…. substack.com/@johnbritton... #art #ink #interiordesign #botanicink #handmade

I put together a framed display of 8 of the inks I’ve been making. They are so gorgeous…… #inkartist #specialitypaper #handmade #interiordesign #art

The core of human dysfunction is that we believe in the idea of separation: substack.com/@johnbritton... #nature #ecology #connection #self #ideas

A moment of calm and contemplation this afternoon. Paper: Elephant dung with recycled fibres. Ink: Handmade/home-made Ink Gall and Avocado inks. Music while making: Riley Lee & Peter Grayling: ‘Train to Okinawa’. #specialistpaper #interiordesign #artcollector #inkart #irishartist

I’ve been rearranging my studio in Bushmills again. Let me show you around. #art #interiordesign #handmadepaperart #inkartcollector #abstractinkart

Yesterday I saw a buzzard dive into the wildest part of my garden. Today I made this. Inks: Handmade from Oak Gall, Brazilwood, Cochineal & Red Cabbage Paper: Handmade in India from 100% recycled cotton waste. Size: 49cm x 34cm #art #ink #nature #interiordesign #handmade

Fanad. The place I now call home. #fanad #donegal #ireland #nature

Today’s ink - Sequoia, (slightly deepened with Cream of Tartar.) It’s a gorgeous brown-red, like old polished wood, well-used leather, or dried blood. 😂 #ink #art #homemade #irishartist #localism

The corridors of corporate power are not my usual habitat, yet, when I did so last month, I felt no fear….. substack.com/@johnbritton...

Just as, in the heat of the day, we seek the shadow of a tree or rock, so, at night, we enter the shadow of the planet itself. We wrap its darkness around us and it shields us from seeing too much, too much of the time.

Playing today in my sketchbooks with the inks I made recently - seeing what they do and how they react to one another…... #art #ink #handmade #abstract #creativity

After making a brilliant plum red yesterday, today I spent the day creating this ultramarine ink. It’s like the deepest sea and the bluest sky. It makes my heart sing. #art #ink #blue #irishartist #homemade

Today I will remember that I’m surrounded by landscapes, plants and creatures that speak. I will try to hear what they are saying.

Today I’ve been making an ancient ink - Brazilwood & Cochineal. It was much loved in medieval times. It’s actually Eastern Brazilwood (aka Sappanwood) and has Alum added to help it become more lightfast. The colour is stunning! #art #ink #handmade #artisan #naturalart

‘To return to our senses is to renew our bond with this wider life, to feel the soil beneath the pavement, to sense - even when indoors - the moon’s gaze upon the roof.' David Abram - ‘The Spell of the Sensual’ #ecology #sensuality #nature #sustainability #life

If you’re near Belfast, call in. I’m in Banana Block, Newtonards Road until 4pm today. #art #belfast #bananablock #ink #abstract

I get a bit overexcited by paper and ink, but…… This is my own ink (Oak Gall, Avocado) on paper I’ve not used before - made from Elephant Dung. It’s fantastic! Bought from The Little Green Paper Shop in the UK. #recycled #art #ecologicalart #irishartist #contemplative

‘Lost Soul’ Created entirely with my home-made Fanad Inks: red cabbage, avocado, oak gall, dandelion, coffee, beetroot. Paper: handmade in India from recycled cotton. 640gsm 21cm x 30cm #art #botanicart #ink #interiordesign #donegal

I’m experimenting with the inks I’ve been making. I made a startling discovery - the very mild and gentle dandelion ink utterly destroys the robust and bright avocado ink. You can see why I get obsessed with this stuff…. #ink #handmade #irishartist #botanicart #art

Remembering Amal Khalil

East Block Bazaar on Newtonards Road, Belfast is always a great market. I’m delighted I’m going to be there this weekend. Drop in if you’re around - so much great art, craft, clothing, food, music and loads else….. #belfast #art #abstract #irishartist #artmarket

On May 2nd I’m running another ‘Art of Calm: Painting With Inks’ workshop at The Courthouse in Bushmills, Northern Ireland. Please spread the word. You can book places here: www.thecourthousebushmills.com/whats-on/pai...

Today, as I near the end of my second reading of David Abram's ‘Spell of the Sensuous’, I will listen: to the wind to trees to the movement of clouds to the the food I eat and the body I eat it with. Today will be a day of conversations. #conversation #listening #sensuality #ecology #nature

Oak Gall is an ancient ingredient for ink - the earliest recorded recipes were by Pliny the Elder. For 1500 years it was the standard ink in Europe. This is my version - mixed with iron to make a gorgeous purple-black. #ink #art #artisan #donegal #botanicinks #homemade