Ink, Land, and Ancestral Knowledge: A Natural Ink-Making Workshop with Kirti Bassendine

Join eco-artist and documentarian Kirti Bassendine for a hands-on workshop that explores the rich history and process of making natural inks from local materials. This workshop builds on Kirti’s highly successful Adult Indigenous Crafts & Introduction to Inks session at Luna Gallery last spring, offering a deeper dive into the cultural significance of natural inks and sustainable practices used across the world for art, writing, and documentation. 

Discover how ancient Indigenous practices of ink-making are connected to local ecology, and learn the history of materials like Oak Gall ink, still used in Britain today for official document signing. Kirti will demonstrate the ink making process, guiding participants in making their own Oak Gall ink and sampling other inks, and experimenting with locally sourced pens, brushes, and other tools. 

Kirti’s artistic practices are deeply influenced by her ancestral heritage in Gujarat, India, where traditional eco–art techniques like block printing and natural dyeing have been passed down for generations. Through discussion and demonstration, Kirti emphasizes the importance of acknowledging Indigenous stewardship and honoring the communities who have lived on and cared for this land. 

Learn the history and cultural significance of natural inks Observe demonstrations of Oak Gall ink-making 

Create their own ink to take home 

Experiment with drawing and mark-making using handmade inks, pens, and brushes created from local materials 

With over four years of experience teaching eco-art practices to rural schools in San Benito County, Kirti brings a thoughtful, inclusive, and story-driven approach to teaching. Her workshops create space for learning, reflection, and hands-on exploration, encouraging participants to deepen their awareness of local ecology and ancestral knowledge systems. 

REGISTER AT EVENTBRITE HTTPS://BIT.LY/4ASO2Z2 $130 by January 20 $150 January 20-23