Ink is a natural product made of a chemical compound that comes from several sources, including animal skin, trees or beaver urine. The most common inks are black or brown, but there are other colors used for writing and printing. Ink is used by artists to write words and pictures on paper, boards, canvas, and similar surfaces. It can also be poured onto fabric to create an art piece such as a painting or tattoo. Ink is sometimes added to a surface to create an image that you can see through, such as a piece of stained glass. The United States is the world’s largest producer of ink. It produces about 20% of the world’s entire ink supply.
The first person to use ink was believed by some to be Peter Paul Rubens in 1606. He used it to make notes on documents while he was traveling. In 1856, Alphonse Mucha created his famous painting “The Kiss” using yellow tinted watercolor ink. Another early use of ink was by Leonardo da Vinci who used it in his drawings and paintings.
Ink has been used since ancient times as an important tool for writing and recording history. Ancient Egyptians wrote with ink sticks made of wood that were dipped into Nile River water (during the wet season). This water contained minerals that left an imprint on the wood, which could then be read later