Exploration

I have finally been able to squeeze in time to explore with alcohol inks. My first attempts were very abstract. I experimented with diluting colors as well as using them straight out of the bottle. What did I discover?

That these inks are hard to control and it takes a lot of practice! Youtube videos have been very helpful. There are so many techniques for this medium. I was really happy to learn that the back side photo paper is a good surface for the ink. I somehow accumulated a lot of it over the years. I rarely print photo so I am happy to put it to good use. The paper of choice for alcohol inks is Yupo, but it's very expensive. I don't want to waste what little I have purchased on practice work. The only downside of the photo paper is that all of mine has a light water mark scattered across the page. Some colors hide it, on light colors it does show through if you look carefully.

I am starting to gain a little control over the process. I actually made a small painting that looks like flowers!

Last night I tried my hand at a landscape. I didn't think it was too bad for a first attempt.  I used a microperm black marker to enhance the trees. The water on the left side is a little too dark. I might be able to lighten it but I am a little scared to ruin the whole thing by trying. I think I will leave this one alone and declare it done.

Right now I am working with limited color selection. Once I recover from the purchase of these, I will order a few more. If anyone has worked with alcohol inks and has some tips for me, please comment. I would love to hear from you.

Putting thoughts and ideas on paper

In anticipation of a slower work schedule I ordered some art supplies so that I can try some new mediums to work in. It looks like there won't be much down time this winter (a good thing) but I can do some exploring in the evenings. The alcohol inks are something I have been thinking about for more than a year. Over the holidays I spent some time watching youtube instructional videos and they inspired me to take the plunge. Another site that I find inspiring is Cloth Paper Scissors. Lots of mixed media ideas there. I bought the gesso to re-purpose an art auction catalog into an art journal.

I am experimenting with coating the pages with a couple coats of gesso, covering them entirely, or applying it thin to others, letting some images show through, or leaving them un-coated. The pages are quite wrinkly when wet, but sort of smooth out as they dry. The gesso will give me a good surface to use a variety of mediums. 

It takes quite awhile for gesso to dry. I can only coat two pages a day... it might be 2020 before I am done!