Ink Stick Smorgasbord with Susannah Hebert and Unusual Tools to Make your Mark

Ink sticks are a type of soot-based Chinese or Japanese ink that are ground with water on an
inkstone before use.   When writing the St. John’s Bible, Donald Jackson used ink sticks he
purchased from an elderly colourman in the 70’s and 80’s that had been shipped from China
with chests of tea when the man’s father owned the shop.  The hundred-year-old sticks turned
out to be an expensive collector’s item – a challenge when the Bible project ran low on the
supply.
Susannah Hebert has worked with ink sticks when she studied with Reggie Ezell and will be
teaching us how to use and care for ink sticks.  If you have been having troubles with an ink
stick, this is your opportunity to get advice from guild members with experience.
We will also have a quick show-and-tell style presentation featuring the many creative ways to
make your mark!  Bring your favorite lettering tool to show the class or bring a tool you have
but don’t know how to use.
But wait there is more . . .
January is the time for our annual supply exchange.  Bring any supplies, books, tools you are
tired of, don’t use, overbought, or need a better home and repurposed it into someone else’s
collection.

Bring:

• A pen with your favorite nib with which you would like to see how the stick ink works.
• If you have an ink grinding stone already or have an ink stick you either really like or are
  struggling with, please bring it.  If you remember your ink stick name (example: Boku
  Undo Akanegimo Ink Stick 30210), please bring that too, so people can buy it for
  themselves if they like it.  Do NOT go out and buy an inkstick and stone just for this class
  – plenty will be available to test.
• Your favorite or unusual tool to show the guild
• Any supplies, books, tools you don’t want and need to re-home