Reed Pen & Ink Making Workshop
Step into the shoes of scribes, scholars, and storytellers from centuries past in this immersive workshop where participants will craft their own reed pens and make natural ink using traditional methods. From ancient Egypt to medieval monasteries, the tools of writing were once gathered from the landscape itself—crafted with care, and used with intention.
In this workshop, participants will learn to cut and shape a functional reed pen, mix their own ink using natural pigments, and test their creations through writing and drawing exercises. It’s a perfect fusion of history, science, and art.
🧠 What We’ll Cover:
- How to harvest and shape reeds into functional writing tools
- Basic ink recipes using natural pigments (charcoal, berries, rust, etc.)
- Writing styles from different cultures and time periods
- How ink and writing tools influenced knowledge sharing and power
🎯 Ideal For:
- Ages: Adult
- Libraries, museums, homeschool co-ops, scout troops, art studios, and history clubs
- Indoor or outdoor settings with table space
- Programs exploring art, culture, sustainability, or communication
🧩 Educational Themes:
- History of writing and information transfer
- Chemistry and botany of natural inks
- Fine motor skills and early tool-making
- Sustainability and self-reliant creativity
📦 We Provide:
- Pre-harvested reeds, cutting tools, and ink-making ingredients
- Mortars, pestles, and mixing jars
- Paper for testing and artistic exploration
- Optional handouts on writing systems, pigments, and tool evolution
🕒 Workshop Length: 120 minutes
