An ink jet recording apparatus includes an ink jet recording head provided with a discharge port for discharging ink, an ink flow path communicating with the discharge port, and at least two heat generating elements provided in the ink flow path along the direction thereof, wherein the ink is pigment-based ink and the recording head comprises drive signal supply means for varying the supply timing of drive signals to the plural heat generating elements for ink discharge in such a manner that the drive signal is at first given to the heat generating element at the side of the discharge port at room temperature and the supply timings to the plural heat generating members become simultaneous or closer thereto with an increase in the temperature of the recording head.