This ink is especially resistant to water damagewhen dry and is nontoxic when compared to previously available permanent markers containing such hydrocarbons as toluene and xylene.Thus, in one form, the invention is an aqueous permanent coloring composition comprising from about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of a pigment; from about 0.1% to about 30% by weight of an alkali soluble acrylic resin; fro