THE THINGS THAT SURVIVE THE BLACK

THE THINGS THAT SURVIVE THE BLACK

Edward Patrick Kranz (Ezju) | 2026

18 × 12 inches

Natural Squid Ink (Ikasumi) on 100% Cotton Paper

Original Ink Painting

I spent part of this morning experimenting with squid ink, alcohol, and cotton paper. I've been playing around with different concentrations and techniques, seeing just how far I can push this stuff.

This one is my favorite from the morning.

The little circular formations happened when drops of alcohol pushed the ink aside. Some look almost biological, like something growing under a microscope. Others remind me of old, weathered surfaces that have been sitting around for a hundred years.

I love that I couldn't have drawn those formations if I'd tried. I could control where the ink went, more or less, but after that, the materials had their own ideas.

There's something about the contrast between those heavy black strokes and the strange little worlds developing inside them that keeps pulling me back for another look.

I called it The Things That Survive the Black.

It's an original, one-of-a-kind piece, and it's available for purchase. As much as I like this one, I'd rather see it hanging somewhere than sitting in a drawer in my studio.