Book of Kells Project: Inks that might have been

 While waiting for nature to produce enough Iris to make green ink out of, I turned my eye to other blue flowering bulbs in abundance, in this case Grape Hyacinth and Bluebells.  I thought it was possible they might have similar substances that could also make green ink. 

Grape Hyacinth, with all that rich dark purple pigment, looks like it should do something.   

 

And it sort of does...it produces a middling purple wash that isn't very exciting.   

 

Adding alum doesn't seem to shift the color much, so I decided to save it in case the orchil lichen didn't work out. 

Now Bluebells...they were a magical surprise.   The Bluebell has a history and association with the fairies.  Some worried children who played among bluebells could be stolen away....a concern that might have it's basis in the more pragmatic fact that bluebells, like many flower bulbs, are poisonous. I did feel, as I was picking flowers, I needed to respect tradition and leave some offerings.  Whether you think the fairies are real or not, it's always wise to act as if they are.

 

 

Processing bluebell flowers were more successful.  After straining they produced a beautiful blue liquid I call "Fairy Blue".   

 

This liquid did  color shift after alum and made a weak green ink.  But here was the magical part:  in warm light(usually indoors) it was purple; in cold or bright light(full sun) it was green.

 

 

Alas, I can't find the test sample images.  I'll add them if they come up. But I felt glad to not only have a possible substitute if Iris Green didn't work out and the fascination with a natural two tone ink.  

 [place holder for samples if found]

Neither Grape Hyacinth nor Bluebells has been used as ink historically as far as I know.