UNORTHODOX WASHES: WALNUT INK STUDIES

UNORTHODOX WASHES — Session IV: Walnut Ink Studies is the “quiet power” night of the series. Walnut ink is a natural, sepia-toned medium with a gorgeous range—from pale parchment haze to deep antique brown—that instantly gives work a vintage, archival atmosphere. It’s perfect for line-and-wash, studies, sketches, and anything you want to feel timeless.

This session balances control and character. You’ll learn how to build values smoothly, combine crisp linework with soft washes, and use walnut ink’s natural staining to create depth without overworking. The vibe is relaxed and social, but the takeaways are real: you’ll leave with techniques you can use in sketchbooks, illustration, and mixed media.

What you’ll do

• Create a finished walnut-ink piece (or a strong hero study) plus technique sheets
• Learn value-building: light-to-dark control without muddying
• Explore line + wash methods (brush, pen-style marks, and layered glazing)
• Practice edge control, lifting highlights, and atmospheric washes
• Leave with repeatable methods that translate to ink wash, drawing, and book-art style studies

What to expect

• A weeknight-friendly paint-n-sip style studio session with guided instruction
• Walk-around coaching and technique help throughout
• Time to experiment, but with enough structure to keep your piece moving forward
• Work that looks “found” in the best way—like an old field sketch, a map, or a page from an archive

What’s included

• All materials and supplies (paper, brushes, palettes, walnut ink media, and specialty tools)
• Guided instruction + hands-on help
• Wine, light hors d’oeuvres, and Romolo’s chocolates
• A finished piece (or close to it) plus technique notes you can keep using

Who it’s for
Beginners are welcome. This session is especially satisfying for artists, sketchers, illustrators, and anyone who loves sepia tones, antique vibes, or line-and-wash techniques.

Session length
A 2-hour guided session, plus an optional 30–45 minutes afterward if you’d like extra finishing time and one-on-one help.

Dates & times: Jun 25 at 6:30 PM (2 hours +)
Location: Erie Labor Temple
Hosted by No Such Animal Studios in partnership with PH’KAKi Creative Studios + Erie Labor Temple

UNORTHODOX WASHES is a five-session arc for people who want a creative weeknight that feels like a date night and a real studio experience. Each session spotlights a different natural medium with its own behavior and aesthetic—then the finale turns you loose to combine everything.

The arc

• Session I: Coffee Washes
• Session II: Squid Ink Noir
• Session III: Wine Stains & Oxidation
• Session IV: Walnut Ink Studies
• Session V: The Unorthodox Lab — Finale Mixed Media Open Studio (mix and match everything)

Attend one session as a standalone night out, or follow the full arc so you build skill and confidence medium by medium—then finish with the finale where you mix and match all four media with intention.

Want the full 5-part arc and save?
Grab the Series Pass here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unorthodox-washes-season-1-series-pass-all-5-sessions-tickets-1984724174433

Tickets

• Individual tickets per session
• Couples tickets (2 people)
• Series Pass options available (best value + best experience)

If you want something social, tactile, and a little unpredictable—where you leave with art you couldn’t have made any other way—this series is built for you.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Erie Labor Temple