Colouring the Nation with Coloured INKS!

Following on from our ‘ThINK INK’ article, which introduced our huge collection of black inks, dip pens and ink fine liners for all your creative monotone needs, we didn’t want to stop there!

We also have a wide range of Watercolour ink sets, Calligraphy inks, Alcohol inks sets and Acrylic ink sets! Whatever your project, whatever your theme we can cover it! Metallics, Neon, Iridescent, Pearlescent and Shimmering jewel colours! Even Marbling Ink!

We even have pigment powder so you can create your own personal ink palettes and create new colour combinations!

What's the difference between Dye or Pigment?

All inks will have a solvent (water or alcohol usually), sometimes a binder (acrylic or shellac) and either contain a Dye colouring substance or a Pigment colouring substance, without them everything would be completely colourless. The difference is the Dyes are soluble and are solutions whilst Pigments are not and become suspensions. Dyes complete dissolve into their base solvent like how sugar will dissolve into warm water. Pigments will not dissolve and instead disperse into a suspension, this can be seen if you leave an ink for long enough the pigment will separate and you will see it collect on the bottom of its bottle.

Both kinds of ink provide vivid colours, however over a long period both will fade eventually under direct sunlight or strong indoor fluorescent lighting. Pigment Ink generally has more UV resistance than Dye based inks. It can be confusing when presented with the plethora of inks available, to help you choose the right ink for your project the list below will help to explain their individual characteristics.

There are lots of UV-Resistant clear coatings and varnishes on the market that will protect your artwork from pollutants and premature fading such as  Montana - Varnish GLOSS T1000, Montana - Varnish SEMI-GLOSS T1005, and  Montana - Varnish MATT T1010. It is always advisable to do a test print before applying any varnishes in case of any colour shifts. 

 

Acrylic Inks

Liquitex Acrylic Ink - Essentials

Liquitex Professional Acrylic Ink Essentials Set , is a set of 6 extremely fluid acrylics that use super fine pigments suspended in a state-of-the-art acrylic emulsion. They dry quickly, are permanent, water resistant and non-clogging, which makes them ideal for a variety of techniques from watercolour effects to stamping.

• Best Artist quality
• Highly pigmented for intense colours and powerful.
• Superfine pigments in a contemporary acrylic emulsion
• Dry quickly, permanent and waterproof
• All Liquitex paint colours are each other and all painting auxiliaries intermixable

Essential Colours - Naphthol Crimson, Yellow Medium Azo, Phthalocyanine Blue Green Shade, Carbon Black, Titanium White, Transparent Raw Umber

Liquitex Acrylic Ink - Iridescent

Liquitex Professional Acrylic Ink Metallic Set , is a set of 6 extremely fluid acrylics that use super fine pigments suspended in a state-of-the-art acrylic emulsion. They dry quickly, are permanent, water resistant and non-clogging, which makes them ideal for a variety of techniques from watercolour effects to stamping.

• Wide range of intense, permanent pigments
• Outstanding colour clarity and brilliance for superb colour mixing
• Each colour is uniquely formulated to bring out the maximum brilliance and clarity of each individual pigment
• Fully mixable with Liquitex acrylics and mediums
• Water soluble when wet, dries quickly to a water-resistant surface
• Excellent adhesion to most painting surfaces; wood, leather, canvas, silk, plastic, mural applications, metal, paper, etc.
• No toxic solvents or cleaners necessary
• Resistant to ultraviolet light, will not yellow or get brittle over time

Metallic Colours: Iridescent Bright Gold, Iridescent Rich Bronze, Iridescent Rich, Copper, Iridescent Bright Silver, Carbon Black, Titanium White.

Liquitex Acrylic Inks 30ml Dropper Bottles

Ultra-fluid acrylic with lightfast, artist-quality pigments. No dyes. No fade. Just pure, permanent colour. And like all acrylics, it dries quickly and permanently, with no smudging or bleeding when rewetted or layered.

You get pure liquid colour in a range of opacities.

• Intense bold lightfast colours
• Extremely fluid, no need to dilute for airbrushing or calligraphy
• Superior water resistance
• Non-clogging
• Fast drying
• Ideal pigment and viscosity for  pouring techniques
• Ideal for watercolour effects, colour blocking and underpainting
• Intermixable with all other  liquitex acrylics.
• A balanced colour line of opaque and transparent colours

This product is featured in our Blog "What Silver is Silver?"

Pearlescent Inks Set

Daler-Rowney FW Pearlescent Inks can be used to add shimmer and shine to decorative arts such as greeting cards, seasonal decorations, mounts and frames.

Perfect for mixed media techniques on a variety of surfaces such as  canvas boards,  artboards and  watercolour paper.

Please note iridescent pigment may settle and may require stirring, we suggest using the end of a paintbrush to loosen any clumped pigment and then shake well to ensure pigment and binder are mixed properly.

Colours:

• Waterfall Green 
• Black
• Platinum Pink
• White Pearl 
• Galactic Blue 
• Moon Violet

FW Ink Shimmering Colour Set 

A set of 6 x 29.5ml shimmering colours of FW ink which can be used with a brush, Airbrush, dip pen or technical pen.

Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Inks are acrylic based, pigmented, water-resistant artists' inks with a high degree of lightfastness and intermixability. FW Acrylic Ink can be used straight out of the dropper, or diluted to achieve the most subtle of tones.

Perfect for mixed media techniques on a variety of surfaces such as  canvas boards,  artboards and  watercolour paper.

Contains 1 each of:

• Shimmering Blue 711 
• Shimmering Red 713 
• Shimmering Green 714 
• Shimmering Gold 709 
• Velvet Violet 454 **
• Black (India) 028 **

**The colours Velvet Violet 454 and Black (Indian) 028 are standard, non-shimmering colours** 

FW Ink Primary Set (Vegan Friendly)

A set of 6 x 29.5ml primary colours of FW ink which can be used with a brush, Airbrush, dip pen or technical pen. Daler-Rowney FW Acrylic Inks are acrylic based, pigmented, water-resistant artists' inks with a high degree of lightfastness and intermixability. FW Acrylic Ink can be used straight out of the dropper, or diluted to achieve the most subtle of tones. Perfect for mixed media techniques on a variety of surfaces such as  canvas boards,  artboards and  watercolour paper. 

Contains 1 each: Lemon Yellow 651, Process Magenta 412, Process Cyan 120, Sepia 251, Emerald Green 335, Scarlet 567.

System 3 Acrylic Ink Intro Set (Vegan Friendly)

This new range of System 3 Acrylic Inks is a good way to add vibrant colour to your mixed media artwork. These pigment-based acrylic inks offer vibrant, opaque colour that can be used with a variety of media. Eg. Urban art, airbrushing, card making and most regular arts and crafts projects.

Colours:

• Titanium White
• Cadmium Yellow Hue
• Cadmium Red Hue
• Ultramarine Blue
• Silver Imitation
• Mars Black

System 3 Acrylic Inks are also available individually.

Mixable with pouring mediums to create highly pigmented fluid for acrylic pouring art.

System 3 Acrylic Ink Individual Colours - 29.5ml Bottles (Vegan Friendly)

This allows a fast drying, free-flowing colour that applies smoothly and evenly, and dries to a satin finish. System 3 Acrylic Ink can be applied with a brush, a pen or an airbrush. Colours can be mixed and diluted. Colours are lightfast, with the exception of fluorescent colours.

Suitable for a wide range of surfaces, including textiles (permanent when heat fixed with an iron). 

Mixable with pouring medium create highly pigmented fluid for acrylic pouring art.

• Pigment based acrylic inks
• High lightfastness (3*)
• Opaque
• Can be thinned with water
• High versatility: multi-surfaces, indoor and outdoor, ideal for mixed media... Usable with airbrush and technical pens.

Watercolour inks

Dr. Ph. Martins Watercolour Dye (Ink) - Set A  (Vegan Friendly)

Fantastic concentrated watercolor dye for airbrush, brush or pen. Ideal for; Manga, Cartooning, Illustration, Anime and graphic arts in general. Use on paper, illustration board or silk with additives. Not lightfast, not waterproof.

The colours will fade from sunlight or fluorescent light (ultra-violet). Will not fade in a portfolio, or under incandescent light. Protect from fading with ultra-violet absorbing glass, plexiglass or UVA acetate.

Contents Include: 14 x 15ml Dr. Ph. Martins Radiant Watercolour Dyes, 

1 x Lemon Yellow, 1 x Orange, 1 x Persimmon, 1 x Alpine Rose, 1 x Scarlet, 1 x Cherry, Red, 1 x Moss Rose, 1 x Turquoise Blue, 1 x True Blue, 1 x Violet, 1 x Grass Green, 1 x Juniper Green, 1 x Saddle Brown, 1 x Black.

Dr. Ph. Martins Watercolour Dye (Ink) - Set B  (Vegan Friendly)

Contents Include: 14 x 15ml Colours include; Daffodil Yellow, Amber Yellow, Tangerine, Crimson, Wild Rose, Cyclamen, Ultra Blue, Slate, Blue, April Green, Moss Green, Olive Green, Golden Brown, Mahogany, Sepia

Dr. Ph. Martins Watercolour Dye (Ink) - Set C  (Vegan Friendly)

Contents Include:  14 x 15ml Colours include; C29 - Tapestry, C30 - Pumpkin, C31 - Burnt Orange, C32 - Hyacinth Blue, C33 - Norway Blue, C34 - Chartreuse, C35 - Jungle Green, C36 - Tobacco Brown, C37 - Ice Pink, C38 - Tropic Gold, C39 - Tropic Pink, C40 - Ice Yellow, C41 - Calypso Green, C42 - Antelope Brown, Golden Brown, Mahogany, Sepia.

Drawing Inks

Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks - The William Set

These Drawing Inks are formulated from a series of soluble dyes in a superior shellac solution. These inks can be applied with brush, pen or airbrush and are widely used by illustrators, designers, calligraphers and artists.

Our intermixable, fast-drying Drawing Inks come in 26 jewel-like colours. Cherished by artists, illustrators and designers, they can be overlaid for new effects and shades and used with a brush, dip pen or airbrush.

Best used alongside a good quality watercolour paper such as  Bockingford or  Langton.

Contains 8 x 14ml bottles ink - Vermillion, Peat Brown, Deep Red, Black Indian Ink, Sunshine Yellow, Purple, Brilliant Green, Ultramarine

Winsor & Newton Drawing Inks - The Henry Set

These Drawing Inks are formulated from a series of soluble dyes in a superior shellac solution. These inks can be applied with brush, pen or airbrush and are widely used by illustrators, designers, calligraphers and artists.

Our intermixable, fast-drying Drawing Inks come in 26 jewel-like colours. Cherished by artists, illustrators and designers, they can be overlaid for new effects and shades and used with a brush, dip pen or airbrush.

Best used alongside a good quality watercolour paper such as Bockingford or Langton.

Contains 8 x 14ml bottles ink - Violet, Canary Yellow , Nut Brown, Blue, Emerald, Scarlet, Orange, Black Indian Ink.

 Alcohol Inks

Piñata Alcohol Ink - Set of 9 - 0.5oz (14ml) - OVERTONES Exciter Set of 9

Piñata Colors are highly saturated, fast-drying alcohol inks. Indelible and impervious to water, Piñata Colors clean up with alcohol and re-wet themselves, allowing for unique effects and techniques not easily achieved with water-based inks. As a dye-based, highly transparent ink Piñata Colors are unparalleled for vibrancy. Only the most lightfast dyes have been selected for the palette. Acid-free with excellent adhesive properties, Piñata Colors are the go-to inks for all non-porous surfaces.

APPLICATION;  Apply with  brush,  pen, airbrush, stamp,  sponge,  spray bottle.  TECHNIQUES; fine arts, scrapbooking, crafts, faux stained glass, card making, resin arts, faux finishing techniques and staining wood and leather

SURFACES;  glass, metal, plastic, vinyl, ceramic, stone, leather, epoxy resins,  foil, wood, encaustic, fiberglass, acrylic, polymer clay and more

Colours included:  Colours include: Golden Yellow, Pink, Coral, Blue Violet, Teal, Blanco Blanco, Copper, Brass, Pearl.

* #032, #033, #034, and #035 are stunningly reflective metallic colours made from real metal pigments. #036 Pearl is a metallic white made with super reflective mica pigments. It is terrific for mixing with the dye-based colours to create entirely new palettes of pearlescent inks. All the metallic colours are opaque and lightfast.

‡ #030 Blanco Blanco is also an opaque, pigmented colour and is great for mixing tints and pastels.

Piñata Alcohol Ink - 4 fl oz (118.29ml)

22 Individual vibrant and vivid colours to choose from.

Piñata Alcohol Ink - Set of 9 - 0.5oz (14ml) - Exciter Set of 9

Colours Included: Sunbright Yellow, Calabaza Orange, Senorita Magenta, Baja Blue, Rainforest Green, Passion Purple, Blanco Blanco, Mantilla Black, Rich Gold

Coloured Pigment powder to make Inks
Brusho 15g Starter Pack - Fixed Assortment 12 Colours 

BRUSHO is a form of transparent watercolour available in an extensive range of exciting colours, supplied in small drums containing dry, crystalline powder. They mix instantly with cold water to produce a painting medium that is renowned for its versatility and vibrancy.

We suggest anyone starting out with Brusho use it alongside a few watercolour staples such as a good quality  watercolour paper block so there's no need to stretch the paper. Some  watercolour brushes, to wet the paper and paint with the Brusho pigments and a misting bottle for creating dappling, running and bleeding effects.

Set Contents 15g pots x1 each: 

Lemon, Yellow, Orange, Scarlet, Brilliant Red, Purple, Ultramarine, Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Turquoise, Dark Brown, Black & techniques leaflet.

Brusho Starter Pack - Fixed Assortment 24 Colours

Set Contents 15g pots x1 each: 

Lemon, Yellow, Gamboge, Orange, Vermillion, Scarlet, Brilliant Red, Ost Red, Crimson, Cobalt Blue, Ost Blue, Ultramarine, Prussian Blue, Turquoise, Leaf Green, Emerald Green, Sea Green, Violet, Purple, Light Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Black, White & Techniques Leaflet.

Brusho Thickener 100g

Brusho colours can be thickened with Brusho thickener. It can then be applied in glazes of colour, used as a printing medium and added to other acrylic mediums. 

To use Brusho thickener, sprinkle 20gms into 600ml of water and stir to avoid lumps.  Leave for 24 hours to dissolve completely. It is then ready to use.

This package contains a 100g bag.

Powder Colour 500g

The Powder Colours are made from top quality pigments finely ground and evenly dispersed to produce brilliance and strength of colour.

The powder mixes readily to the required creamy consistency with water to make a tempera style paint. Mix with 50/50 water and white  PVA glue to make an acrylic style paint. 

Mixes handily with a variety of  mediums and  gels presenting new and interesting painting and colour opportunities.

The Powder Colours comes in a convenient 500 gram resealable plastic pot.

Hopefully you will find your ‘go to’ ink product just right for your creative projects, along with the paper and equipment just right for the job! Happy inking!