Secret Brook Earth Pigments - Nick Neddo
One of my favorite things to do is to wander along a natural waterway looking for stones to make into paint. Each section or each stream, brook or river has its own unique offering of color, the palette specific to the geologic story of that place.
Artist Charcoal from Willow - Nick Neddo
A metamorphosis of willow rods into artist charcoal. Charcoal is an elemental drawing material. Ancient homo Sapiens artists were manufacturing and using artist charcoal sticks 38,000 years ago and most likely earlier. I enjoy the process and I like using it in my creative process.
Wild-crafted Pens
I make dip pens from feathers, reeds, sticks, bamboo, antler, and random found twigs.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Wild-crafted Paintbrushes
I make paintbrushes from the landscape. The handles are from found twigs of many species; the bristles are from a wide variety of plant and animal fibers. No animals are harmed in this process, just so you know.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Wild-crafted Paper
I make paper from plant fibers that I gather and process from the landscape.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Charcoal Holders
I make charcoal holders from hollow or pithy twigs and sticks.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Cattail Leaves for Making Paper
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Black Walnut Hulls for Making Ink
Black Walnut ink is a pleasure to make and work with.
photo credit: Nick Neddo, property of Quarry Books
Paint from Stones
I make paint from pigments I coax out of stones.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Acorns for Making Ink
I make an iron/tannin ink from acorns.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Charcoal Sticks in Can Kilns
I make charcoal drawing sticks from a wide variety of sticks and twigs to end up with charcoals of varying densities.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Raw Stones for Making Paint
A collection of rocks gathered for their pigments.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Wild-crafted PIgments
An assortment of pigments stored in small jars, ready to be made into paint or another medium.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Charcoal Can Kilns Firing.
Backyard charcoal drawing sticks being made as the enclosed sticks transform in the fire.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Collecting Pine Soot for Making Ink
I devised a way to collect soot as a pigment and gather it into jars for making lightfast, black ink.
photo credit: Sarah Shapiro property of Quarry Books
Firing Pottery
The final touches on a backyard pottery firing.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Handmade Sketchbooks and Journals
These sketchbooks are all bound with the coptic stitch, which allows them to open flat, which, as you may know, is quite nice for sketching.
I still use modern drawing tools on occasion. When I do, I tend to reach for these.
The Living Landscape
Wild-crafted Crayons
I make crayons from local beeswax and stones that I grind into pigments.
photo credit: Susan Teare, property of Quarry Books
Earth paint in mussel shell paint pots, The Organic Artist for Kids, Nick Neddo
Your stoneage ancestors were using paint like this. Making paint and creating art is a primal part of our natural history as Homo sapiens.
Pithy Sticks
I use sticks a lot in my life. When it comes to creative pursuits, a wide variety of art tools can be made from pithy sticks. These ones were made into dip pens, paintbrush handles, and charcoal holders.
Hand Drill Friction Fire Kit
I use fire almost every day in my life. Without a doubt, the ancient technologies of making fire with friction have been profoundly formative to my relationship with my ancient ancestors. When I use fire as a crafting tool, I like to infuse the creative process through this kind of lens.
Jars of Earth Pigments
Sometimes I have to arrange various jars of pigments just so I can look at them as they visually resonate together.
Tools & Materials
In recent years, the tools that I use to make art come from the living landscape more so than from the local art supply store. I like to be involved with the manufacturing process of the mediums that I use. This gallery shows you the art material as art itself. Charcoal drawing sticks, crayons, inks, pens, paints, paintbrushes, printmaking tools, handmade paper, sketchbooks, ceramic inkwells and paint dishes, all made by hand from foraged materials, wild-crafted from the landscape.