Julie Olson is one of the forerunners of bringing alcohol ink art to the mainstream. We are thrilled to highlight her work and hear from her in this interview:
1) What kind of alcohol ink artist are you? How did you get started? Tell us a little about you.
I started my art journey as a kid, then I took a slight detour into graphic design and got a BFA from ASU. After college, I moved to Washington DC. I eventually became art director at USDA in Washington DC, working mostly on nutrition programs and SNAP (food stamps) campaigns. I switched gears and got a masters degree in landscape design and sustainable landscaping. My life took at turn when my elderly mom became very ill and after 22 years in DC, I moved back home to the family farm in northeastern ND. After she died, I cleaned out my dad’s old workshop for my art studio and began working on and learning abstract art. I picked up inks one day, and I was hooked.
It’s been 7 years and I have sold abstract ink art all over the world and recently won awards locally, now having a painting in the permanent art collections of UND. This March, I’ll be one of four artists showing at The Capital Gallery in Bismarck, ND.
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
My art imparts an innate sense of joy and beauty. It’s strange how “joy” has become part of my art as so many years I’ve suffered from depression. I think what I’ve been through in my 59 years (eek!) imparts a depth that others feel when they see my art.
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
I teach locally now, in Grand Forks, ND. I’ve wanted to teach online, but a strong enough connection in my studio is impossible. I’m working on trying to bring broadband to my studio, but that will take time. Stay tuned. Anyone can always ask questions. I’m glad to help.
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
If you love it, don’t stop doing it. If you work a full-time job, take some time when you can, at least 30 minutes a day, and do more art. Practice constantly. The more you do, the more you learn and improve your skills. It’s all about doing the work. Take a break when you need it. If you get bored, pick up a new medium. That’s how I discovered inks after oil paints and watercolors. I was ready to try something new.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
OMG I love T-Rex Inks! They have become my favorite. Your starter pack led me to do “rainbow” paintings—the colors are perfect for that. The Warm and Cool Earthtones are the best I’ve seen. When your Starlight Blender came with the glitter, I knew I was in heaven. That blender can be used on any inks, it works so well.
You can find Julie on Instagram here.
1) What kind of alcohol ink artist are you? How did you get started? Tell us a little about you.
I discovered alcohol inks back in 2017, four years after graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Art degree, and fell completely in love with creating with them! I had never heard about alcohol ink in college, so I purchased all the supplies needed and just kept playing and experimenting! I create mainly abstract work, and sometimes incorporate acrylic inks, and resin topcoats into my work as well.
Tide Pools - 20"x26"
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
My specialty is incorporating a lot of nature-inspired texture, brushwork, and movement into my dynamic compositions. I typically choose cooler colors that are a bit more soft and natural, or moody, and that have a soothing, calm feel. I also love creating alcohol ink animal pieces that combine abstract colors and texture with the recognizable forms of animals.
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
I currently share tutorials with my Instagram subscriber community, but am planning on creating online video courses in the future, and possibly in person classes locally!
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
Don't get discouraged if you're not getting the results you want with alcohol inks! Keep making work regularly, even if you don't know what to make, as the more you work with alcohol ink you will discover and hone your own specific style and technique. Because of the fluid, chaotic nature of alcohol ink, there will always be surprises that you weren't expecting. Be inspired by and have an open mind when these surprises happen and learn to be flexible and adjust your plans according to how the inks are moving.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
I love the broad range of unique colors T-Rex Inks offers, and the saturation levels of the inks. Monsoon is definitely my favorite! The pure white ink is also amazing! The texture it creates when mixing with your colored inks is incredible.
My Website: www.SarahRobisonArt.com
My Instagram handle: @sarahrobisonart
]]>We are so excited to showcase a wonderful artist who has made a name by just being typically awesome and supportive in the alcohol ink community, Tina Irvine.
Let's hear from her:
What kind of alcohol ink artist are you? How did you get started? Tell us a little about you.
Instagram was my source of inspiration for beginning my journey with alcohol ink. I had already hopped on the fluid art train with acrylic pouring, and I was having a lot of fun with it. Once I saw the vibrant colours and beautiful gold metallic accents on Instagram, though, I needed to try it! I’ve been creating alcohol ink art since early 2018.
What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
Everyone has their own style when it comes to alcohol ink. People have described my art as “ethereal” which I think makes sense. I usually create abstract pieces with wispy, soft, fading edges and contrasting, bold lines and movement. This is the technique that I’m drawn towards, and comes most naturally to me.
I try to have fun and experiment with other techniques as well, though. Something that might be a little different about me, as an artist, is that I also have a graphic design background. Anything related to design, print, or web, are all things that I can offer help with.
Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
I absolutely love supporting other artists. I began my Alcohol Ink Art Facebook group to do just that. My process is posted on my YouTube videos, and in short video clips on my other social media accounts. I’ve taught a workshop in the past as well, and I’d be happy to teach another in the future.
Aside from that, I have a website (tinairvine.com) where I’ve recently begun a blog, and there’s a “supplies” page which includes links to all of my favourite alcohol ink essentials - this is a great place for beginners to start!
What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
If I was to give advice to new alcohol ink artists, I would say that if you’re interested in it, just go for it. Don’t feel pressured to create a masterpiece right away, and there’s no need to have previous art experience. Just enjoy the process and have fun with the colours and fluidity. If you’re unhappy with a piece, you can always go back and rework it later.
Two tips I have are: “less (ink) is more” and be sure to follow any safety measures listed on the product's packaging / SDS (safety data sheets) - such as good ventilation and a respirator when working indoors. There are tons of videos online, and everyone is welcome in our Alcohol Ink Art Facebook group to share and ask questions.
What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
The gorgeous colours are what first attracted me to T-Rex Inks. When I saw them in a nearby art supplies store, I couldn’t resist purchasing all three packs that were available! There’s a great variety of colours that are fantastic to work with, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced alcohol ink artist. The inks are vibrant and have the perfect amount of pigmentation. The names on the tops of the bottle lids is helpful too, especially when it’s time to clean up and match the lids back with their bottles.
One of my favourite alcohol ink art pieces that I’ve made uses all T-Rex Ink colours (aside from the metallic). Check out the video here, and let me know what you think!
We are very excited to start the Artist & Ambassador of the Month club back up. And this month's star you may know from her leading role in the alcohol ink art community. Laurie Williams! Let's get right to it:
I started my journey with alcohol ink back in 2012. Initially captivated by the vibrancy of the color and the fluid nature, I quickly found myself aspiring to push the boundaries of what could be achieved with this unique medium. I soon began experimenting with techniques to control and manipulate the ink, which lead me to create more realistic art. Therefore, I consider myself both an abstract and realistic alcohol ink artist. When I first began, alcohol ink was predominantly used for stamping and card-making. It was a relatively unexplored medium in the art world, with only a small number of artists adopting it for more traditional artwork. However, this landscape has rapidly evolved. Recognizing the potential for a larger community of like-minded artists, I founded the Alcohol Ink Art Community in 2017. The group has since grown exponentially, boasting over 54,000 members on our Facebook group. I am proud to lead a creative team comprising some of the most talented alcohol ink artists and instructors globally. Together, we organize online conferences and events aimed at both educating and fueling a passion for alcohol ink art. Earlier this year, I had the privilege of co-authoring a book, "Creating Art with Alcohol Ink," in collaboration with artist Sheryl Williams and twelve other esteemed contributors. We are united in our mission to share the joy and possibilities that alcohol ink brings to the art world with anyone who wants to learn.
I tend to create more realistic work, focusing mostly on landscapes and structures. However, what truly distinguishes me is my commitment to share my knowledge and expertise with others. I love that alcohol inks are a great starting medium that pretty much anyone can pick up and start creating with just a little direction. For those who wish to go further, the medium offers an array of advanced techniques and possibilities.
Absolutely. I love teaching others how to explore the incredible world of alcohol ink art. You can find a wealth of instructional videos on both the Alcohol Ink Art Community's channel (@alcoholinkartcommunity) and my personal YouTube channel (@laurietrumpet). Additionally, I offer alcohol ink painting courses through the Alcohol Ink Art Society and Create SmART Academy.
My first piece of advice would be to exercise patience as you familiarize yourself with the unique behavior of alcohol inks. Alcohol ink has a mind of its own, but once you learn how it behaves, you can achieve truly magical results. Don't hesitate to experiment freely and don't let initial frustrations deter you. The key is to approach each piece without preconceived expectations; let yourself be surprised by what you can create and "go with the flow." Additionally, I highly recommend that newbies learn some basic color theory and understanding which surfaces work best with alcohol inks. To assist beginners on their journey, I've compiled a comprehensive guide that can be downloaded at Beginner's Guide to Alcohol Ink ( https://mailchi.mp/alcoholink/beginnerguide) . This guide serves as a valuable resource for anyone just starting out with alcohol ink.
My website is https://trumpetart.com
Green, the color of nature and tranquility, holds a special place in our hearts. It represents growth, harmony, and a sense of balance. T-Rex Inks understands the importance of these tones in artistic creations and offers a stunning collection of green alcohol inks. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to all eight of T-Rex Inks' captivating green alcohol inks: Irish Moss, Jurassic Green, Lemongrass, Olive Grove, Kelp Forest, Seaglass, Firefly, and Laser Green. Each of these inks possesses its own unique characteristics, inviting artists to explore the vast possibilities of the color green. It may not always be the first color you reach for, but when you do you will be wowed by the sense of wonder it can convey.
Starting off our journey is Irish Moss, a shade that exudes a day hiking in the highlands. This shade of green is reminiscent of brilliant moss on the backside of a rock on rolling green hills. With just a slight touch of vegetal mossy yellow, its the right color to reach for landscape scenes.
Artist color matching tip: If you like the bright notes of Tim Holtz’s Limeade, you may like our Irish Moss for similar vibrance, but more ink for your dollar. Or if you are trying to match Pinata Lime Green Alcohol Ink, Irish Moss is a close cousin, and again a much better bargain.
Inspired by the lush jungles of the past, Jurassic Green roars with life and depth. This deeply saturated green tone adds a sense of vibrancy and richness to your artwork. Just like the reign of the dinosaurs, Jurassic Green dominates any painting it touches. Keep it thick for an ultra dark green, or thin it (with our clear blender) for a lighter true green shade.
Artist color matching tip: If you are making the switch to T-Rex Inks colors from Brea Reese, their Cobalt Green is a pretty good color match for Jurassic Green. Whereas Ranger Ink’s Botanical is right up the Jurassic Green toned alley.
Bringing a burst of freshness, Lemongrass is a vegetal yellow-green that embodies the vibrance of spring. This earthy hue carries undertones of yellow-green flora, offering a versatile palette for your artistic endeavors. Thin it out to explore its intricate subtleties. You will love the wild contrast when paired with a bright pink.
Artist color matching tip: This is a rare color. The only one on the market that seems to come close to it is Brea Reese’s Olive Alcohol Ink with Ranger’s Lettuce in the ballpark, albeit ia touch more blue-green undertone in it. Copic’s YG97 Spanish Olive Alcohol Ink is similar in color family to Lemongrass too.
If you're seeking to paint a woodland scene, Kelp Forest is all you need. This ink transitions from a dark hunter-green to a mesmerizing display of kelp-like greens grassy jades as it thins out. Let your imagination wander through the depths of nature with Kelp Forest.
Artist color matching tip: A true true green, this one stands on its own in the industry. Somewhere between Brea Reese’s Cobalt Green and Kelly Alcohol Ink colors.
Olive Grove captures the essence of a cool sage tone, reminiscent of an olive leaf or the dusky shades of a weeping willow. This earthy hue casts a peaceful and understated green, allowing you to infuse your artwork with a sense of tranquility.
Artist color matching tip: Copic’s G99 Olive is quite similar. Tim Holt’s Ranger Lettuce color has similar dusky tones but different undertones. Olive Grove thins true to its color while Lettuce peeks blue.
Imagine holding a piece of sea glass to the sun and witnessing its transformation into a vibrant emerald green. That's the essence of Seaglass. With subtle earthy blue undertones, this ink captures the beauty of nature's hidden treasures. Let Seaglass illuminate your artistic creations in a similar way.
Artist color matching tip: Copic’s G29 Pine Tree Green, Pinata’s Rainforest Alcohol Ink, Ranger’s Bottle and Meadow Ink colors are less economical yet similar tone matches.
Inspired by the enchantment of fireflies illuminating a dark forest, Firefly is almost a neon yellow green, much like its namesake, yet muted and beautiful in its own way. This unique green ink shines with a mesmerizing glow, creating a magical ambiance in your compositions that rivals the dazzling glow of fireflies in the forest on a summer night.
Artist color matching tip: This one is totally unique on the market. Best described as a fluorescent yellow-green.
With a touch of blue in its palette, Laser Green stands out as a cooler-toned green alcohol ink that also sparkles. The sci-fi-like shimmer ignites the imagination, inviting you to explore the realms of fantasy in your artwork. Let Laser Green take your creativity to new frontiers.
Artist color matching tip: The shimmer is unique but you can kind a close color cousin in Ranger Ink’s Pistachio and a bit more of a reach, Clover. Their color names don’t quite ring true to their names, so don’t be confused by matching them to ours. Copic’s G02 Spectrum Green & YG45 Cobalt Green are also very similar.
T-Rex Inks' collection of green alcohol inks presents artists with a world of possibilities. From vibrant and captivating shades like Irish Moss and Jurassic Green to earthy and tranquil hues like Olive Grove and Lemongrass, each green ink tone carries its own unique character. Whether you're seeking to recreate the wonders of nature or dive into the realm of fantasy, these eight green alcohol inks from T-Rex Inks will undoubtedly inspire your artistic journey. Explore the depths of green and unleash your creativity with these remarkable inks. You can buy them as part of our sets, or as individuals.
]]>When it comes to alcohol inks, there is no shortage of vibrant colors to choose from. One particular color family that has gained immense popularity is pink. It’s our best seller, hands down. From bold and bright shades to soft and delicate hues, pink alcohol inks offer a wide range of possibilities for artists and crafters alike. In this blog post, we'll introduce you to all four of T-Rex Inks' stunning pink alcohol inks: Dragonfruit Pink, Snapdragon Pink, Coral Blush, and Prism Pink.
Artist: @ambachthaus
Each of these inks possesses its own unique characteristics, making them a must-have addition to any artist's ink collection. You can buy all of these as part of an economical set or individually. We have also included artist tips that have alcohol ink color comparisons across brands to help you match the color you are looking for at T-Rex.
Artist: @abstractsbydani
Let's start with Dragonfruit Pink, from our STARTER SET, a shade that commands attention with its intense and vibrant nature. This ink resembles a scorching hot pink, capable of infusing your artwork with a powerful burst of energy. It's perfect for those who want to make a bold statement or add a pop of color to their creations or need just a little bit of ink to go a long way in resin.
Artist: @emileeranaart
Artist: @erica_helder
Snapdragon Pink, from our WARM EARTHtones Set, offers a subtle twist to the traditional pink palette. With its hidden blue undertones, this ink brings a touch of coolness to your artwork, creating a unique and captivating visual effect. Snapdragon Pink is an excellent choice for artists who seek a balance between warmth and coolness in their compositions while drawn to a floral pink. Artist @erica_helder on Instagram uses Snapdragon Pink along with Meteorite in a beautifully subtle way proving pink doesn't always have to be flashy. It can also be soft and elegant.
Artist tip to color match Snapdragon Pink to other brands: If you like Tim Holtz’ Ranger Ink’s Flamingo, Snapdragon Pink is a close comparison, but with more ink for your buck. Copic Ink’s RV19 Red Violet is a very close match for Snapdragon Pink with similar cool undertones, but in a bigger bottle.
Artist: @artsy_livey
Artist: @emileeranaart
For those who prefer a warmer-toned pink, Coral Blush is an excellent option. This shade of pink ink exudes a sense of coziness and radiates a gentle warmth. It’s your favorite shade of blush, or the soft spring lipstick you love. It’s inviting and soothing nature makes it ideal for creating landscapes, floral designs, or any artwork that requires a touch of tranquility and a feminine accent.
Last but not least, we have Prism Pink, an ink that combines shimmering effects with a delightful surprise. This light and airy pink shade not only adds a subtle shimmer to your artwork but also reveals unexpected undertones as you thin it out. This magical quality of Prism Pink makes it an excellent choice for ethereal and dreamlike creations. It is a bright light pink that shouts imaginative fantasy and feminine energy.
Artist tip to color match Prism Pink to other brands: If you like Tim Holtz’ Ranger Ink’s Light Pink Sherbert, then Prism Pink is a twin sister but with her own personality. In the arena of Copic Ink, you will find a kindred tone for Prism Pink in Copic Ink’s RV02 Sugared Almond Pink but without the shimmer. And don’t we all need a little sparkle in our life?
Artist: @ambachthaus
Artist: @olivia_manufaktur
Artist: @holtoncwrc
T-Rex Inks' collection of pink alcohol inks offers a spectrum of shades to suit every artistic style and preference. And we are always expanding! Whether you're looking for a bold and vibrant statement or a soft and delicate touch, these four inks—Dragonfruit Pink, Snapdragon Pink, Coral Blush, and Prism Pink—offer bountiful creative opportunities. Experiment with their individual characteristics and incorporate them into your artwork to bring your vision to life and make a work of art that is above all things: YOU. Most of all let your creativity flow with these mesmerizing pink alcohol inks from T-Rex Inks. Art chooses you.
To do this tutorial you will need:
Inks:
Other:
The beauty of our alcohol inks is that in working with just one color, you can unleash a spectrum of undertones, bringing out hues you never knew were there. Our teals are like that: INFINITY TEAL, ISLAND TEAL, TIDAL TEAL all offer tones that dip beneath the surface of the readily apparent and offer a mystical allure of shades for the artist's arsenal. We think this is what makes them the top selling colors.
We like to start all alcohol ink paintings with a wet page, either by using isopropyl alcohol or our clear blender. Curious what the difference is? We have an article for that here. Either way, the ink is ready to flow at its finest in this state. If you are going for airy and billowy, this is the way to start.
Less is more here. Just a couple drops will do for a light thinned out color scheme where you really see the undertones. More ink makes for a darker effect and less undertones. The blow dryer or low setting heat gun gets that flow moving and setting in place. From here, just play! Add more drops of clear blender if you want it lighter. Clean up the edges, or add splashes. It is an intuitive art from, not an exacting one, and that is what makes it so fun.
Make sure and tag us @trexinks when you create so we can see it and cheer you on to our community.
]]>We are very excited to bring attention to a new artist & educator every month. Each Artist we highlight also teaches their craft in some way so we can all benefit from it. This month we interview Olivia Joy. You may have seen her vibrant exciting work on Instagram. Here we delve into what drives this artist and how we can learn from her.
1) What kind of alcohol ink artist are you? How did you get started? Tell us a little about you.
I started working with alcohol ink about 5 years ago after seeing it used by other artists on Instagram. I graduated from college/art school and wanted to paint full time, back then I was working primarily with oil paint. I turned to alcohol ink while I was waiting for layers of oil paint to dry and after a few months I packed my oils away and shifted entirely to alcohol ink. My work is abstract and I love mixing other kinds of ink, paint, pigment, glitter and other media in when I can.
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
I love working on a very large pieces, the bigger the better! And I’m pretty good at choosing colors, mixing them and blending to achieve balance and harmony in my work.
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
I have a few online classes available on Vimeo. They are dated (I think four years old!) and so much has changed in the AI community. I hope to film more segments this summer and make them available soon! Link here.
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
With alcohol ink less is more! It’s so hard to stop sometimes, setting a time limit is a good way to prevent yourself from overworking a piece. Try not to compare your creations to other artists who may have years of experience ahead of you, compare your work now to your previous work to see how far you’ve come! And most importantly, likes/follows do not equal success!
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
I love all of the vibrant T-Rex colors, especially the new Starlight Shimmer pack! I love the pops of shimmer and enjoy not being able to control where the shimmer shows up. I also LOVE the pure white and highly recommend it to anyone looking for white alcohol ink. It is by far the smoothest and easiest to work.
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We are very excited to bring attention to a new artist & educator every month. Each Artist we highlight also teaches their craft in some way so we can all benefit from it. This month we interview the venerable Mandy Marie who not only makes some of the most stunning alcohol ink art around, but also teaches you how to do it!
1) Mandy, what kind of alcohol ink artist are you? How did you get started? Tell us a little about yourself.
I am an abstract alcohol ink artist that primarily paints on yupo paper, mineral paper, ceramic ornaments, and more recently canvas (again).
I am an artist, educator, and avid daydreamer who is hell-bent on teaching others how to find what set’s their soul on fire. I am a born-an-raised Minnesotan (hold the o) and my life has been a creative journey filled with many art explorations and crafting adventures. I dabbled in everything I could get my hands on but never found my niche. No lie, I searched high and low for damn near 30 years. Somehow, I stumbled into the best adventure of my life (alcohol inks) and I have been able to build my art business to share my art and serve clients from all over the world.
Deep down, I have always known I was born to create, educate, and bring joy to others through art. Creating full-time has been a dream I have always wanted to chase. I’m at a point in my life where I’m ready to pursue my dream and use my professional experience to educate and spark joy in others.
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
When I create paintings there are three signature parts that I include or consider when I create each painting; negative space, texture (layers), and color combinations. I like to use negative space as a way to lead the viewers eye around the page. It's a dance and I like to be the lead. I use textured layers to create high contrast paintings that are emotive and whimsical. The color combinations that I use typically have both dark and light colors to help create additional contrast in each painting.
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
Yes, I have several teaching options available at all price points on my website. I have some videos on YouTube (more coming in the future), a Patreon account with three membership levels, self-paced courses that you can purchase and watch at your leisure, and virtual one-on-one art lessons.
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
Have fun! It’s not worth doing it if you’re not having fun. Life is too short to spend your time angry, frustrated and upset. If something isn’t working keep trying! I did not become the artist I am today overnight. Give yourself some grace and room for growth.
Practice every day. Again, I did not become the artist I am today without a bit of practice 😉 My early work was not as good as my work is today, that is the case with almost everything in life. Most of us are not great at something right out of the gate.
Find your own personal style. It’s great to look to other artists for inspiration, but try to find your signature style. My style focuses on heavy texture, contrast, composition, color theory, and WHOLE lot of metallic.
Also, for anyone who is planning to paint with inks, purchase a color wheel and look into the basics of color theory (I teach this in my course that launches September 7th). The more you understand color theory the easier it will be when you first start out. Why? because alcohol inks have more to them than just the color you see in the bottle. They have many layers and colors, unlike other art mediums, the base ink colors will sometimes bleed when you're using them, especially when you're creating abstract artworks and painting with them.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
I'm a huge fan of the warm tone and cool tone packs. Monsoon and Mojave dust are my favorite and I can't wait for the larger bottles to launch in those colors! I have blog posts on all of the packs where you can read more about my love for T-Rex. I also want to give a shout out to the blending solution. I absolutely love the clear blending solution; I keep bottles on hand at all times (although I'm currently almost out and waiting for the next shipment 🙂).
Mandy Marie's Reviews:
We are very excited to bring attention to a new artist every month. Each Artist we highlight also teaches their craft in some way so we can all benefit from it. This month we interviewed some of the most accomplished alcohol ink tumbler and cup artists we have ever seen: Mr. & Mrs. King. Let's dive in!
1) Tell us al about yourselves and how you got your start?
We started our journey after Monica had purchased a couple of tumblers from a neighborhood cup maker. We admired the cup and thought it would be a fun thing to try out. After a couple of cups we were hooked! We began broadcasting our work live on Twitch and making them for gamers and friends we met along the way. Fast forward to 2021 and we have since become full time Twitch Streamers and Owners of Kings Creations, A wholesale tumbler supply company!
2) What do you use alcohol inks for, and why do you love the medium?
We use T-Rex inks exclusively on our Tumblers and various resin works. We work with T-Rex Inks due to the size of the bottles, Vibrant Colors, Quick Dry Time and Long lasting properties. We love this medium because it's a natural flowing work of art and anyone can do it.
3) What expert advice can you offer others who want to make alcohol ink tumblers?
There IS NO WRONG. Let the ink be fluid and let nature run its course. Start with a small amount of each color and add to it until you reach your desired effect. Let nature do the work! As we often say “whatever you think it will look like, scratch that out of your mind, it will be different, and that is OK!”
4) What are some of the challenges of running your own husband & wife art business?
Getting known! We are about 1 year old in the supply business. We are very proud of our pricing and products we carry but it's often difficult to get in the eyes of creators who need what we carry without “self promoting”. We believe in honesty and integrity and with due process we will be in front of more people who need our services that we can earn business with.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks?
We love the vibrancy, the color selection, dry time, and how long the large bottles last vs other companies offer.
6) Is there a way to watch you two as you create? Where do you sell your creations and supplies?
There is! We actively stream on Twitch every Thursday - Saturday at 8PM EST
You can also find us on instagram @KingsCreations.Shop
We also have a facebook group for people to keep up with our supplies and share their work!
And our website for supplies and custom work is King's Creations!
Awesome! Thanks so much you two. Your artworks are amazing, you are truly the Kings of tumblers, and everybody interested in Alcohol Ink Tumblers should 100% watch your streams for amazing tips and techniques. Keep up the great work and thanks for taking the time to chat with us!
]]>We are very excited to bring attention to a new artist every month. Each Artist we highlight also teaches their craft in some way so we can all benefit from it. This month we interviewed Kimberly Deene. Let's dive in!
1) What kind of alcohol ink artist are you?
I started painting with alcohol ink in 2016, just before leaving a 30-year career in the insurance industry. From the very first moment I was completely entranced by this medium, which is like no other in its flow and organic nature. The inks are very fluid and I love to embrace that quality and move them with gravity and air, as opposed to using a brush.
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
Back in 2017, as I was experimenting with alcohol ink and developing my own style, I became intrigued with painting flowers and specifically blowing petals with air. I began experimenting and developing techniques for creating dimension in the center of my blooms. I can still remember how excited I felt when I figured this out, without realizing at the time that this specific look would become a signature style for my art.
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
I have online, self-paced classes that teach my style of blown flowers with dimensional centers (two levels). I also teach special event Zoom classes, and private lessons. And I just recently launched a monthly membership group called Floral Synergy that is all about alcohol ink flowers with monthly tutorials, paint parties, guest artists, and more. I also taught small classes in my backyard “she-shed” studio in Raleigh, North Carolina prior to Covid. I hope to get back to doing this again very soon because I do miss the enjoyment of the in-person interactions.
Click here to see all of Kimberly's classes!
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
Be patient with yourself and with the inks. Let the inks flow and shape organically at first so you can appreciate the unique idiosyncrasies of this medium. Allow yourself to play, experiment, and enjoy the process of creating.
Practice, practice, practice when trying a new technique. Continue to reactivate the inks with alcohol to transform your paintings. Don’t be afraid to make changes if you’re not completely satisfied. You may not always get the result you’re going for, but alcohol ink can sometimes surprise you with magical results.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks?
I absolutely love the gorgeous colors and the vibrancy of T-Rex inks! I use these inks very often when I’m demonstrating techniques and teaching online because the inks show up so beautifully not only in person, but also on camera.
Thanks so much Kimberly! 😊 Be sure to check out Kimberly's classes & shop, and follower her on Instagram @KimberlyDeeneDesigns to see her beautiful artworks and techniques in action!
]]>Image credit: Stephanie Guy Fine Art
We all love alcohol ink for its beautiful and vibrant colors, but what about acrylic inks? They look almost the same in some cases... but are they the same as alcohol ink? For that matter... What is Acrylic Ink? How does it compare to Alcohol Ink? Can you use Acrylic Ink together with Alcohol Ink? Find out this and more below!
Acrylic Inks are essentially an extremely fluid version of acrylic paint. A Brightly colored, highly expressive, lightfast, and very flowy. Acrylic pigments combine with a liquid acrylic resin emulsion to suspend the pigments and make them flow more fluidly. These pigments bond to the surface of the paper permanently when dried and cannot be reworked, so you have to work fast. Generally, the Acrylic Ink is more resistant to fading because of the pigments contained within.
Acrylic Ink is pigment-based, while Alcohol Ink is dye-based. When Acrylic Ink dries, the pigments bond to the substrate permanently and cannot be reworked. When the alcohol in Alcohol Ink evaporates, it leaves a thin film on top of the substrate that is resoluble and reworkable if more alcohol is added (like with a clear blender).
In short, no. JustPaint.org has done extensive testing in this regard (see image above). Generally, you cannot mix acrylic ink and alcohol ink together or even on the same art piece. The pigmented acrylic suspension fluid does not play nicely with the alcohol-based dyes. When wet one can smear and muddy the other. Layering alcohol ink over acrylic ink can lead to problems and cracking. In general, it is best to keep these two mediums separate. Some artists have found success starting with alcohol ink, letting it thoroughly dry, and layering acrylic ink lines over the top as a final layer (see image below). However, be sure to test this before attempting on a final art piece as it depends on the inks used, the substrate, etc...
Yes, but... it behaves differently. Test first, as always. Whereas the alcohol in Alcohol Ink evaporates and leaves behind the color in more defined areas, Acrylic Ink is very watery and tends to disperse more in resin. It is hard to get the defined "petri dish" effect with Acrylic Ink and it works best as a resin tinter in our experience. A little does go a long way though, so be sure to keep at least a 10:1 ratio, any lower than that can actually throw off the epoxy resin ratios and cause problems during curing. Be sure to test extensively before attempting on a final piece.
We are (of course) very partial to Alcohol Ink in our art. However, Acrylic Ink is good for many things and can be used to create some similar effects to Alcohol Ink in some cases. Additionally, Alcohol ink can fade with time if left in direct sunlight. Acrylic Ink, on the other hand, uses pigments that do not fade. Therefore, it is lightfast and resistant to fading from UV rays.
So, if you are creating art or decorating pieces that will be used outside or have a lot of direct sunlight, you should consider using Acrylic Ink for the project instead of Alcohol Ink.
However, if you are working with resin and want to create controlled effects with your colors, or you want to be able to take your time and work on a piece over multiple sessions, blending and reworking colors and sections, and want to create that gorgeous glossy film look, you are better off using Alcohol Inks.
These two liquid art mediums can create beautifully vibrant works of art. However, they are not the same. The main takeaway here is that Acrylic Ink is extremely fluid paint. It is pigment based, lightfast, and permanent once dry (it cannot be reactivated like Alcohol Ink). Acrylic Ink does not mix with Alcohol Ink, nor do we recommend using them together on a mixed media piece without plenty of testing first.
Have you used Acrylic Inks? How do you use them in your art? Let us know in the comments!
]]>We are very excited to bring attention to a new artist every month. Each Artist we highlight also teaches their craft in some way so we can all benefit from it. This month we interviewed Heather Mader. Let's dive in!
1) What kind of alcohol ink artist are you?
I would say I'm an "experimental" artist in general. I don't stick to one style, but I DO seem to put my own spin on everything I do. Most people who are familiar with my work can recognize my style no matter what medium its in. My alcohol inks tend to include flowers of some kind, even if the background is abstract. I love white gel pens for line work, and I add depth and textures in my paintings using various techniques.
2) What would you say are your specialties as an alcohol ink artist? What sets you apart?
What sets me apart? I'd like to humbly say that there is nothing new under the sun first of all. :) But I do have a specific look that I achieve by creating depth and almost a striped look in the inks using strokes with an airbrush. I also like to outline my blossoms in white gel pen to achieve a stained-glass effect. I haven't really seen any paintings on social media that look exactly like mine - so I guess that would be my little "contribution" in the alcohol ink world!
3) Do you teach how to do this at all? How can we learn from you?
Oh yes - I am a natural-born teacher! It brings me so much joy to inspire others and it is the most deeply satisfying part of my artistic life. Fear of failure holds many people back from pursuing their art dreams, so if I can empower and inspire just one person to find their creative voice and express it, it brings me so much joy. I have hundreds of free painting tutorials on YouTube, lots of little snippets of my process on Instagram and Facebook, but also offer a class on my "specialty" look through Thinkific platform. I have Zoom classes and Zoom teaching collaborations coming up - as well as teaching one on one and in person.
4) What advice for new alcohol ink artists would you offer?
GO WITH THE FLOW! :) I think this is true with ANY fluid art medium, but especially alcohol inks! We all have specific ideas of what we want the outcome of our painting to be so we cling to these expectations. Instead, just allow yourself to just play, explore, and create without an outcome attached. I know its hard!! :) lol . Some of my most beautiful creations came from stepping back from what I thought the painting was SUPPOSED to be and just let it be WHAT IT WAS. There is magic in that space between expectation and reality. And just like any other artform, once you understand your medium better, the control over it will come later. So never worry about that part. Try to feel and express joy in the simple act of creation and the rest will naturally occur.
5) What have you enjoyed most about using T-Rex Inks? Do you have any in-depth review videos / posts about our inks we can link to?
Oh my gosh, I didn't expect to love the inks, because they aren't well-known as the BIG NAME brands. But what I found is that these inks are incredibly underrated! The colors are rich and vibrant, and when used with the clear blender, I find I can achieve totally smooth and delicate effects. When used alone or with alcohol, I love the textures that can be created and some of the secondary colors endlessly intrigue me. I tell everyone taking my classes - buy the T-Rex Earthtone Warm and Cool packs. There really isn't any color there you won't be excited by. They are all gorgeous and rich. Thank you for offering REAL sizes in the blender and the inks too. That's a huge bonus.
6) Where can we find your videos?
Here is my Instagram. And here are just a FEW of my videos using T-Rex inks: Enjoy!
]]>We all love making art with alcohol ink for its vibrancy, beauty, and ease of use. However, the question often comes up about how to protect your finished alcohol ink art to prevent them from scratches, damage, and from fading with time.
Whether you are sealing alcohol ink on paper, sealing alcohol ink on tumblers, sealing it on metal, glass, ceramic, and most other substrates, the process looks the same:
The ink must be FULLY DRY for 24-48 hours before beginning this process. Then the ink should be initially coated correctly to prevent it from interacting with the other varnishes (Step 1). The ink also needs to be protected from UV rays or else it will fade with time (Step 2). And lastly, the art needs to be protected from scratching and damage (Step 3).
Please remember: you CANNOT skip or re-order steps. If you skip Step 1 then Step 2 and Step 3 may blur, mar, or alter the ink. If you skip Step 2 then your ink will fade faster. If you skip Step 3 then your art may be easily damaged or not have the finish you desire. There are no shortcuts here, trust us... we've tried.
So without further ado, here is how we seal our alcohol ink artworks:
Step 1: Krylon Kamar Varnish (3-5 layers). This is essential to provide a layer of protection between your alcohol inks and whatever coatings you put on afterward. Apply this first as directed on the bottle in thin even coats by holding the bottle 12-18 inches away from the piece, allowing it to dry fully between coats. Do not skip this step.
Step 2: Krylon Gallery Series UV Archival Varnish Matte or Glossy (3 thin layers). All alcohol ink will fade with time, it will fade faster with exposure to UV rays from sunlight. To slow this process down enormously your art must have UV protection. Krylon makes an archival varnish in both Matte and Glossy finish that will help make your art last longer.
Step 3: Krylon Acrylic Crystal Spray (3-5 thin layers). This is a non-yellowing clear coat that will protect your art from scratches and physical damage. As with the other coats remember: multiple thin layers and allow it to dry fully according to the instructions between each coat. After this, your alcohol ink is fully sealed and ready for display!
Steps 1 and 2 are required no matter what. Step 3 has a few different options. You could use the Krylon Acrylic Crystal Spray, or for a more deep glossy look that has depth and dimension to it you can use Krylon Triple Thick Clear Coat (we recommend around 5 thin layers) instead of the Crystal Spray.
Rustoleum Engine Enamel has been reported to provide a very nice protective finish that is safe up to 500 degrees of heat... if your artwork requires such protection.
Dishwasher Safe Mod-Podge is another favorite final sealant to use for Step 3. However please note... this is NOT rated as food-safe, so it is not to be used on anything that will touch food.
Again, Steps 1 and 2 are absolutely required no matter what. For an even deeper glossy look you can seal your alcohol ink with resin for Step 3. This is by far and away the best choice for lasting protection. We like and regularly use Pro Marine Supplies Pro Art Epoxy Resin which offers additional UV protection as well for preserving your artworks even longer, it is also food-safe once fully cured! It is very likely the best resin on the market for sealing alcohol inks. However, this deserves its own article since working with resin has a learning curve all its own.
Note: A food-safe resin is the only way to make your artwork safe to be used on implements that will touch food like a wine glass, mugs, dishes, etc.
Do Not Skip Steps. Regardless of which Step 3 you choose, you MUST start with Krylon Kamar Varnish, and cover that with the UV protective spray.
Patience Is A Virtue! Ensure your ink is fully dry by allowing 24-48 hours to pass before beginning this process. And then ensure every thin layer of coating you apply dries completely according to the directions before starting the next coat. Remember, you are making artwork to last years, don't ruin it by rushing the process.
Many Thin Coats. Multiple thin coats allowed to dry correctly are better than 1 or 2 thick coats that can chip off or muddy your inks.
Protect Your Lungs. Ensure you are in a well-ventilated area and appropriate breathing protection is taken for all of this as many of these sprays are quite potent and dangerous to inhale.
Test Test Test. All of these resins and varnishes and protective coats may react differently to your inks depending on a number of factors from the kind of ink you use to your substrate to the humidity and temperature at the time it was applied, etc... So be sure to test everything first! Your results may vary.
Making alcohol ink art is a wonderful experience. Protecting it correctly is an important and essential step if you want your art to last. It's not too complicated, just be sure you follow the 3-step process! How do you seal your inks? What lessons have you learned? Let us know in the comments!
]]>Image Credit: Candy Creates
We have come to metal in our alcohol ink substrate series! Painting alcohol ink on metal is simple to do. Whether you are painting alcohol ink on metal washers, foil, tumblers, filigrees, metal sheets, or something else it is easy to achieve incredibly gorgeous effects that look fantastic both as artworks and as jewelry.
Step 1: Clean The Metal. You want to make sure the metal is completely clean of oils and residue. Dish soap and plenty of water can work to remove grime, as does wiping the surface down with Isopropyl alcohol. After cleaning the metal, be careful you don't touch it too much with your skin and end up leaving more oils on the previously clean surface!
Step 2: Apply The Ink. As with other non-porous surfaces, alcohol ink will sit on top of the metal nicely. A few drops go a long way, especially when blended and extended out with a clear blender solution. Depending on what you are painting, you may also only need 1 or 2 colors to achieve a gorgeous effect. There are many ways to apply the ink, depending on the effect you want and the size of the piece you are working on. See below for some ideas and technique tips.
Step 3: Seal It. Since the ink sits on top of the metal, it can scratch off. This is an issue if you are making jewelry or other pieces that might be handled. You will want to seal alcohol ink on the metal before this happens. There are many ways to seal alcohol ink on metal, and our best advice is to Test, Test, Test! Test a scrap piece of metal first to see what effect the sealer will have on your inks and on the metal. Many artists like to use Krylon or Rustoleum Acrylic sealers with glossy finishes and recommend applying 2-3 very light coats 15-20 minutes apart. Your results may vary depending on the sealer, the inks used, the metal surface it is applied to, etc... so be sure you test everything first before applying to a finished piece.
Image Credit: Cindy Dyer
Paper Towels For Tinting. Metal is great because it provides some texture and warm luster when painted on. Have paper towels on hand to lift some of the intense color and create a soft tinted metal look.
Q-Tips For Blending. Q-Tips are very helpful to manipulate the inks and blending solution together to create controlled blended effects on jewelry.
Felt Pads For Mottling. Disposable felt pads, when wetted with alcohol ink drops and stamped or dabbed multiple times onto the metal, creates very cool distressed mottling effects.
Dipping For Charms. When working with small charms and objects, you can always put a few drops of ink into a small plastic baggy and just drop the charm into the bag to color it. Please note: You will want some tweezers to pull it out if you don't want to stain your fingers!
Tinfoil Is Your Friend. The shiny side of tinfoil provides a mildly reflective surface to paint your inks on, which makes your paintings practically glow when the light hits it. Since the foil is soft, it is easy to crease, so be careful when handling before and after and be ready to embrace any "happy accidents." Some artists embrace this as well to create cool creases and embossed effects on the surface. Some like to wrap the tinfoil around other surfaces to create a metal plated sculpture that they then paint (see the sculpture from Tracy Evans below). Some like to adhere the foil to a solid backing before painting. Others like to protect the finished piece by sandwiching the foil between glass panes in a floating picture frame afterward.
Dimensional Glue Glazes. If you are working on smaller flat pieces like metal pendants or washers, dimensional glue glaze can be a gorgeous option to create a resined effect without any of the hassles. Mod Podge's Dimensional Magic tends to play well with alcohol ink and it has a thick consistency which is helpful for controlling its application. Judikin's Diamond Glaze has a thinner consistency and flows well on pendants and other pieces where just a shiny coating is wanted. There is a learning curve here though, so again... test test test everything! With these dimensional glazes bubbles are your enemy, so never shake the bottle and try to be swift and deliberate when applying it to the piece. Have a toothpick on hand to pop bubbles. A little goes a long way, and you want to try and avoid the glue running off the edge of the pieces, so a toothpick again comes in handy for moving the glaze towards the edges.
Image Credit: Tracy Evans
There are so many project ideas and techniques out there for painting alcohol ink on metal from flat surfaces to sculptures to jewelry and beyond. This article only lays out a few. What have you tried? What worked well? What didn't? Let us know in the comments!
Photo Credit: @JennicoCalligraphy
So far in our alcohol ink substrate series, we have covered painting alcohol ink on glass, and what kind of paper to use with alcohol ink. Both of these substrates work fantastically with the medium.
Glass is a blast to paint on, but you are often limited in size to what you can reasonably get out of a picture frame. Yupo paper is by far the nicest surface to paint alcohol ink on. However, it is thin and needs to be mounted to something stiff for display purposes, or attached in a picture frame with a matte board, etc...
If you are running into these issues, you may appreciate painting your alcohol inks on a canvas! Not only can you get canvases in many different sizes, but you can also get them in different depths too! Additionally, they are easily hung on walls for displaying your beautiful works of art.
Painting alcohol ink on canvas has many advantages, but a little more prep is needed than other surfaces. Read on for some tips, techniques, and advice for creating alcohol ink art on canvas.
Step 1: Apply Killz2 Latex Primer. Before you can begin your masterpiece you need to prime the canvas to make it non-porous or else the ink will just bleed through which most of us don't like. The internet is a big fan of Kilz2 Latex Primer for canvas prepping. It is fast-drying, water-based, multi-purpose, readily found, relatively inexpensive, and it seals the surface of most canvases beautifully so that they will not absorb the ink or allow it to seep through.
Step 2: Wait. Apply a good single coat to the top and sides of the canvas, making sure you don't see any of the little holes or cotton weave texture any longer. Then allow around 45 minutes for it to fully dry before you begin applying inks. Usually, only one coat is needed, but do use your good judgment here. You want to ensure it is completely dry before applying any alcohol inks or you could end up bleeding through the canvas.
Step 3: Paint! Painting on canvas with alcohol inks is a different experience than painting on other surfaces. Canvas allows for more control and finer details in your artworks since the inks flow around a bit less, and you can create some absolutely beautiful artworks on this classic substrate!
Photo Credit: Elizabeth Karlson @elizabethkarlsonart
Foam Brushes > Paintbrushes: When applying the primer, your goal is to coat the top and sides with as smooth a layer as you can. To avoid the appearance of brush strokes many like to use a large foam brush instead of a paintbrush. These disposable foam brushes are readily available at most art supply and hardware stores as well as online in bulk and are surprisingly handy to have around!
Sand It: Sometimes even foam brushes leave ridges and brush strokes which may or may not be desirable as most of us prefer a perfectly smooth surface. For an even smoother surface you can always lightly sand the primer with a very fine grit sand paper. However, be sure you clean off all the dust or it will muddy your inks, and don't sand too hard or you will take the primer right off the canvas and be back to square one!
Black & White: Killz2 Primer comes in white AND clear. Clear primer is perfect for priming black canvases which are a lot of fun to work on and make your ink art REALLY pop!
Keep It Elevated: Placing the canvas on risers while priming and painting is very helpful. It allows any excess alcohol ink to drip off the canvas rather than pooling underneath and staining the backside, potentially bleeding back up into your painting.
Level The Surface: Leveling your canvas is also very beneficial for maintaining control of the inks, or else they will just flow to one side and drip off. You can always use a few paper towels or other thin material to prop up the side that is low.
Double Up: Even though Killz2 and other primers seal the surface of the canvas, it still absorbs more ink than say glass or Yupo paper. So plan on working quickly and doubling up the amount of ink and fluids you plan on using. You will appreciate having them readily on hand rather than having to hunt them down when the crunch is on.
What If I Don't Have Killz2... : If you don't have Kill2 latex primer available where you live, there are other options. Many have had good success with other latex-based house paint primers. Gel mediums or gesso may also work as they too coat the surface to make it non-porous. But be sure to test test test before beginning a serious piece as every brand is different and some might react or lift when you apply the ink.
Do you have any other tips for painting alcohol ink on canvas? What do you use to seal your canvases? Let us know in the comments!
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Photo credit: Roslynka on Etsy
Turn those empty picture frames, glass vases, wine glasses, glass ornaments, and more into display-worthy works of stained glass art in minutes by painting the glass with alcohol ink!
Ever wondered how to paint alcohol ink on glass to make beautiful stained glass artworks?
Alcohol ink looks stunning on almost any non-porous surface, and it looks especially gorgeous on glass! You are essentially creating stained glass with this technique, which even further enhances the vibrance and luster of the inks.
The fantastic news is: this technique could not be more simple! You just need a glass surface like a picture frame with a glass pane, or a vase, and a nice set of alcohol inks! (You may also want some canned air and/or a straw to blow on the inks and move them around a bit as they can dry very fast!)
Step 1: Thoroughly clean the glass surface with a mild detergent to remove any grime, smudges, and oils. Then allow it to completely dry.
Step 2 (optional): This step is optional, but we like to lightly coat the entire glass surface in a layer of clear blending solution to help the inks to blend together and flow beautifully.
Step 3: Squeeze a few drops of alcohol ink onto the prepared glass surface and manipulate it as you like by tipping the glass, blowing on it with a straw, or giving it some targeted blasts of canned air.
Step 4: Allow to dry, and you are done! (You may also want to consider protecting your new work of art with a sealer, but that's for a different article...)
Multiple Panes: If you are painting on glass panes, consider using multiple panes to create a stunning 3D layered effect. As the light shines through the multiple panes and the colors layer over each other, the effects can be truly dramatic!
Live, Laugh, Love: Consider flipping over one pane (to protect the art) and applying a vinyl saying to the glass to add even more spice to your project.
White Backing: Alcohol inks on glass really pop when they have a white backing, so if you are working on a picture frame, consider putting a bright white surface behind it.
Let There Be Light: You are essentially creating stained glass with these techniques, and nothing looks more beautiful than sunshine light shining through a stained glass window. So make sure you place these works of art in areas that get plenty of bright light to truly enjoy their luster. To create a truly magical effect, fill a glass vase with fairy lights! (Please note: sunlight can make any pigmented ink fade, so it is best to keep your artworks out of direct sunlight)
Fired Glass: Some artists like to light their artworks on fire, literally. After laying down their inks, while still wet, they will use a lighter to burn off the excess alcohol and create fired glass effects. However, if you do this... please be sure all the proper fire-safety precautions are taken and nothing flammable is anywhere near where you will be working. We do not recommend this technique if you are not experienced at using it.
Mask It: Masking fluid can be your friend when painting on glass and it works fantastically. Use the masking fluid to create negative space shapes and effects where the ink will not stick. When finished layering on your beautiful colors, remove the dried masking fluid to see the full effect!
A Little Goes A Long Way: T-Rex alcohol inks look amazing on glass. Their heavily pigmented vibrance makes for gorgeous works of art, and just a few drops goes a long way!
If At First You Don't Succeed: No worries! Just use some isopropyl alcohol, alcohol wipes, or clear blending solution to clean off the glass and start over! The ink won't absorb in since it is non-porous, and it will be as good as new in no time.
Painting alcohol ink on glass is a blast and a fantastic project for all levels of artists. The whole process could not be more simple. Try this technique on floating picture frames, ornaments, glass beads and pendants, glass vases, the outside of glasses, and more! Have other tips? Let us know in the comments!
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(Image Credit: Sarah Murphy, @PaintedLane)
"What kind of paper should I use for alcohol ink art?"
Alcohol ink features absolutely beautiful vibrant colors that pop off the paper thanks to the liquid and high amount of pigmentation. It dries fast, flows freely, and can be manipulated to produce many different effects. To get these beautiful effects though, you need to use the right kind of paper for alcohol ink!
The best alcohol ink papers are made from a material called polypropylene which is a kind of thin, flexible, nonporous plastic. This material comes in various thicknesses, colors, and levels of translucency. The beauty of using polypropylene paper for alcohol ink art is that it keeps the inks on the surface, bright and fiercely vibrant. Also, since it does not absorb any of the pigment, you can continually work and rework the piece to your heart's content. You can technically even wipe the paper clean and reuse it from scratch!
One of the most popular and highest quality brands of alcohol ink paper on the market is Yupo Paper. It is nonporous, waterproof, and tear-free. It comes in a variety of sizes, weights, and styles. Be sure to watch out for the weight of the paper and color as well as you might be ordering translucent paper when you actually want white! (Although both work great) You can even purchase it in rolls for larger art pieces. It has just the right texture and finish to it to make working with the alcohol ink a real joy.
Yupo isn't the only name in the game though! Pixiss, Nara, TerraSlate also make great quality alcohol ink papers that are made from the same polypropylene material and come in a variety of options. The textures, weight, and finishes are a bit different. So try them out and see which you like the most!
Photo Paper might be the cheapest option for alcohol ink paper. Artists have reported that using the non-glossy side of the page works best as it absorbs less of the ink than the shiny side. Be sure to test test test first though, because results may vary depending on the brand and type of photo paper used.
(Image Credit: Elizabeth Karlson, @ElizabethKarlsonArt)
Glossy ceramic tiles are another inexpensive and extremely popular substrate to use for alcohol ink art. The glossy side will take the ink beautifully, but do be warned that they must be sealed afterward or the ink will scratch off the surface. Hot tip: Ceramic pots, sculptures, and vases also make amazing surfaces to paint on with your inks.
We often get asked if you can use canvas for alcohol ink painting. And the answer is yes! However, most artists prefer to prime the canvas first with a waterproof primer to make it... you guessed it... non-porous. This way the ink stays on the surface, and all the pigment pops.
In reality, anything non-porous can be used for alcohol ink painting! Tumblers, sheet metal, glass panes, mineral paper, Aluminum foil, melamine board, acetate, wax paper (on the wax side), Shrinky Dinks, clay board, dominoes... the list goes on! Don't be afraid to try new things and test them out.
What do you like to use? Have any great tips for painting with alcohol ink? Be sure to share your tips in the comments!
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Ever wonder what you need to paint with alcohol inks? Read on to find out!
The beauty of painting with alcohol inks is that it requires very minimal supplies to start. You really only need:
1) a set of alcohol inks like our Alcohol Ink Starter Set
2) something to paint on and...
3) your hands! That's more than enough to get started on your journey in the wonderful world of alcohol ink art.
(Image Credit: Dawn Neumeister, @2911studioart)
However, if you want to expand your palette of techniques and abilities, there are a few additional recommended accessories you might also consider:
1. High Quality Set Of Alcohol Inks
We, of course, are partial to T-Rex Inks. But you will want to build your collection of inks and colors over time to expand the range and tones you can paint with. As of the time of writing this, we offer 36 colors, divided into 3 different sets: Alcohol Ink Starter Colors, Warm Tones, and Cool Tones which are more than enough to get any artist creating beautiful vibrant paintings of all sorts.
2. Clear Blending Solution
If your alcohol ink set came with a blending solution, like in our Starter Set, you are good to go already! We've also got you covered if you want a bigger bottle of blending solution (and you eventually will) because this is where the magic happens. With a blending solution you can dilute the fiercely vibrant colors, create textures by applying various methods, as well as get the inks to mix, flow, and play with their neighbors. It's also great for clean-up and removal!
3. Canned Air
Canned air or some other way to blow your inks around in a controlled way is another highly recommended item to have on hand. It creates very interesting, and often unexpected, effects and can be a ton of fun to play with. Having canned air on hand is a much easier method than blowing through a straw onto the paper and passing out from hyperventilation! (Though straws work just fine in a pinch)
4. Waterproof Paper / Non-Porous Substrate
This is your alcohol ink canvas. The non-porous surface of yupo paper is perfect for creating your next masterpiece. Many also enjoy painting on sealed ceramic tiles, tumblers, sheets of metal, glass, and the list goes on. Make sure it is non-porous so that it won't just absorb all the ink and leave you high and dry.
With the items above, you are totally good to go. But if you just can't resist adding new textures, techniques, and really diving into this art form, here is a list of even more items you might want to try out!
5. Pens, Markers, and More!
Sometimes adding some form and shape to your art is nice. To do so, Sharpie pens, Copic markers, artist pens / micron pens of various thicknesses come in very handy. And if you really want to make your linework pop, you will love adding a white gel pen to your quiver as well. Adding white defining lines to an abstract piece can have amazing effects.
6. Disposable Plastic Pipettes
To get more control over where the ink goes down, you might consider buying a bunch of disposable plastic pipettes. These handy tools let you mix your own colors and offer precision control for where the ink gets dropped onto the page.
7. Alcohol Ink Brush Pens With Reservoir
For even more control, a set of alcohol ink brushes that have a reservoir is a great solution. This way you can mix your own colors right in the pen as well as control where the ink goes with much more precision just by brushing it down.
8. Masking Fluid
If you want to control where your ink sticks to the page, and where it does not, an alcohol ink masking fluid can come in very handy. And a remover comes in even more handy for helping to remove it when you are done! Masking fluid is a great way to create negative space shapes in your alcohol ink art.
9. Paintbrushes
Cheap paintbrushes can help a lot with applying ink in beautiful ways. Keep in mind that you have to clean the brushes with alcohol or a blending solution to get the inks out. You don't need to go super fancy on these, a basic set of low cost brushes will do just fine.
10. Plastic Palette
Pretty soon, you are going to want to start mixing your own colors and blends. A little plastic palette with small cups for mixing can help with this a ton. We have seen many use cheap ice cube trays as well, which is very clever! Then use your paintbrushes and plastic droppers to apply the new ink colors as your heart desires.
11. Q-Tips, Sponges, Toothpicks, & Latex Gloves
Basic household supplies that work great for creating texture, getting grit out of a piece, moving the ink around the canvas, blending, and keeping it off your hands!
12. Texturizing Materials
If you want to start getting all fancypants and creating marbleized effects, leather looks, distressed textures, etc... then you can experiment with using different materials to apply ink and blending solution like wax paper, plastic wrap, aluminum foil, old credit cards, toothbrushes (these are fun to dip in ink and then rub the bristles so they splatter tiny drops onto the canvas), tissue paper, paper towels, and more.
13. Alcohol Swabs
And finally, this item is super handy to have nearby at all times for cleanup, blending, and ink removal from booboos.
So there you go. With these supplies and accessories, you should have plenty to work with to get you started. The world of alcohol inks encourages you to experiment and try new things. Artists are creating new techniques all the time, so this list is by no means exhaustive! Try out other tools. Who knows, you might invent your own one-of-a-kind signature technique!
Did we forget something on this list? What do you use to do your painting? Let us know in the comments!
So you are ready to take the dive into alcohol inks and explore this new artistic medium, but where do you even start? What is needed to get going? You just need a few basics: a place to work, a substrate to apply alcohol inks to, and some inks. Where is it best to buy alcohol ink? In-store or online? Here are some thoughts from an artist...
It used to be really hard to find alcohol ink in hobby stores. They used to be confined to the stamping sections of the stores if they were even there to begin with. But now, almost all major hobby and art stores carry at least one brand of them. Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and many local stores carry them and even Curry’s Art Store in Canada. But it is usually sold at quite the premium in store so many turn to online stores to find a good price and get them shipped right to their door.
With the rising popularity of alcohol inks in painting and DIY projects, many cheap inks are appearing on the market, and these get the job done for basic projects, but if you want to start a collection of varied nuanced colors, T-Rex Inks is a fabulous brand to start with. These colors are hand picked by a worldwide sold artist, Tiffani Buteau, who started the company because she wanted to make affordable beautiful colors that she would use in her art, colors that didn’t exist on the market. These come in packs that make sense to an artist, a Starter Pack of the 12 basics color tones, and two more more nuanced packs called Warm Earthtones, and Cool Earthtones (links below).
Each bottle is about ⅓ bigger than most the more expensive half ounce bottles on the market, making them affordable too. This is crucial to starting out because you need freedom to spill and play with the ink without the pressure of every drop being too expensive to make a mistake. Mistakes are part of learning and essential! And the beauty of buying packs is that you have some colors that you are naturally drawn to and then others that will move you to experiment and play with, thus growing as an artist.
As a professional resin artist, I am always looking for new ways to get color and hue and one of my favorite ways is by using alcohol inks in resin. There are oodles of resin pigments out there but understanding how to use alcohol inks in resin opens a whole new world of custom colors for your resin projects, be it resin painting, or other projects like resin jewelry making. Here are some basic I wish I would have learned at the outset, but can now confidently share with you.
Alcohol Inks are an ideal candidate for coloring resin because they are alcohol-based. The alcohol quickly evaporates and leaves pigment without disrupting the curing of the epoxy resin. With regards to inks, ONLY alcohol-based ones can be used in resin, NOT water-based ones such as acrylic inks or the like. Water disrupts epoxy resin curing chemical processes catastrophically. Here’s what is great about alcohol inks in resin:
TRANSPARENCY CONTROL. You can control the transparency of the color easily. Just a few drops of one of our inks in a resin cup will result in a very light but vibrant transparent coloring. Add more and it will get increasingly saturated in vibrancy. This is very customizable. You can mix and match colors, tweaking it until it is just right for your project. To get an opaque (meaning not see-through) color, you will need to use a physical barrier for the ink to bounce off of and retain color. I like to use a touch of a non-metallic white pigment powder for this. It lets the light pass through the resin and the colored ink and hold some body to it. Here is a video of me doing that:
AWESOME EFFECTS. Dropping inks on top of and across most poured resins results in a killer effect that is cellular, or nebulous. The inks disperse across the resin creating webs and this effect is enhanced with a heat gun or a blow torch (always follow safety precautions when using any of these). As the alcohol evaporates the ink sets into the resin.
Alcohol Inks work great for Petri Dish effects and make gorgeous coasters. Petri Dish art is often used to make coasters and vibrant inks are key to their aesthetic. There will be an article soon to come on that style.
Alcohol Inks for resin jewelry making is a natural fit. A lot of things marketed as resin pigments out there are super chunky or 100% opaque and that’s not necessarily the look everyone is after while making jewelry with resin, such as pendants and earrings. Often a translucent effect is preferable and alcohol inks offer that in spades.
Start Slow! Add small drops and mix the resin a little bit at a time remembering that the resin in the cup will look much darker than resin when laid down thinly into a mold or a painting. I like to mix and then pull up a glob of resin on a plastic knife and hold it up to the light to get a feel for what it will look like thinned out. Adjust by adding more drops.
If you want opaqueness (meaning a solid color that is not see-through) add in a tiny amount of base white mica powder that is not metallic (unless you do want a shimmer to it).
Once you have applied it to a mold or panel, blow torch bubbles out of the resin to help it set smooth or follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Most resins take 72 hours to fully cure. You can also pour resin, let it cure, and then use that layer as a canvas to paint with alcohol inks on. Our inks work in and on top of resin.
You will come across mostly two categories (although there are others too) of ways to color your resin. First, there are liquid-based colors: Indian Inks (see this article to learn how India Ink is different), Alcohol Inks, and Resin Tints (which are basically alcohol inks). And secondly, Pigment Powders. Alcohol Inks offer transparency and many custom colors. Pigment powders offer opaqueness and body. One huge pro tip to note here, I have noticed that pigment powders in resin result in a distinct cellular unique look when the resin sets. It may not be what you want for all projects, but it is quite beautiful for the right thing. Alcohol Ink resin is great to use as top layers as you can make them transparent and build depth by allowing the underlayer to show through. It is also awesome to use over alcohol ink on yupo paper artworks. This magnifies the artwork and lets it bathe in light.
Not only are alcohol inks a perfect match for resin tinting but oftentimes alcohol inks are far more affordable than specially marketed resin tints that come in teeny tiny amounts. For example, our 12 bottle starter pack is $29.99, whereas most resin tint packs are about 1/5 the product amount and about the same price. It is a DIY hack to use alcohol inks instead of resin tints, but one that is tried and true by yours truly. Pair it with pigment powders when you need opaqueness, and you will have a full customizable resin colorant system!
]]>That answer boils down to one simple thing… Do you have to shake it first? India Inks are a lot like that hot cocoa you just had, there is a lot of sediment at the bottom. Whereas alcohol inks are more like Gatorade, bright and not in need of shaking.
If you look at the bottle of one of our alcohol inks you will see it says “dye-based.” Properly labeled alcohol inks are made using chemical reactions between colorful dyes and an alcohol solution. This creates a perfectly suspended ink where no part of the bottle is more pigmented than the other. Think of when you mix sugar in with your coffee, once you stir it, it interacts with the water in the coffee and becomes one.
India Ink uses pigments, not dyes, to get color. Pigments are tiny tiny little grains of material with color. In the past, that used to mean using things like charcoal or zinc to get these colors, but now it is made much more professionally with precision control of colors. This is mixed with an alcohol solution as well but you must shake it before using it. Think of it like making a hot chocolate, you can’t just put cocoa powder in and have a good drink, you must thoroughly mix it and drink it while it is well mixed otherwise it settles to the bottom
Calligraphy! It is the ideal candidate for calligraphy. The body it has due to the pigments make the India Ink almost hover above the paper a smidge and it sets with body. As a resin artist, I also like to use India Inks to color my epoxy resins for painting. India Inks in resin work to intensely pigment the epoxy because of how much thicker they are than alcohol inks. So just a drop will compete with what alcohol ink could offer. However, for getting easy to control resin colors with a translucent finish, be it in a painting or in casting jewelry or sculpture, alcohol ink is the way to go. You don’t run the risk of sediment with alcohol ink like you do with India ink in resin. This is good to know because resin is both expensive and unforgiving.
For almost all of the alcohol ink art you see on synthetic waterproof paper (like Yupo, Nara, Terraslate, etc) use alcohol inks. It will blend and not run the risk of ending up with sediment blemishing the piece. Alcohol inks are also great for anything you want a measure of control or translucence for, like alcohol ink on glass (for a stained glass look), fabric dying, stamping, leather, polymer clay painting, wood staining, and a gazillion more. It is an everything tool.
]]>When working with alcohol inks, a clear blender is an absolute must-have tool. Its mysterious ability to blend colors and dilute them is unmatched and unrivaled. Let’s take a look at what makes it special and how an alcohol ink blending solution (also called a clear blender) is different from isopropyl alcohol.
Also called a clear blender, alcohol ink blending solution typically has alcohol as its base as well as a proprietary blend of other chemicals that thicken it and create a fluid transport system that is perfectly matched to alcohol inks’ intense pigmentation. Just a drop will go a long way. For a thoroughly dilute effect, put just a drop of two of colored alcohol inks in an ounce of blending solution. This lets you create your own custom blended colors. But that is not what a clear blender is primarily used for. Its main use is to help you move around your inks on the page or medium you are using, getting them where you want, as diluted as you want before the inks dry. Alcohol ink blending solutions can be used to rewet old ink on waterproof paper. Don’t like a part of the painting from yesterday? Guide a little clear blender into the area and watch it open up and become malleable.
Well, it certainly is cheaper! A huge bottle of the shelf at the grocery store is only a couple of dollars. Isopropyl definitely does have advantages. Here are some pros and cons to consider.
PROS: It is cheap! Isopropyl alcohol evaporates very very quickly. This can be a pro or a con because sometimes it evaporates way too fast and other times, it’s just perfect.
CONS: Isopropyl Alcohol is not as smooth as a clear Alcohol Blending Solution. The additives in the clear blender give it a silky body that is less harsh as it moves around than isopropyl alcohol is. With the blender, almost effortlessly you can get soft transition lines, whereas with isopropyl alcohol you will have to race the clock against harder lines of evaporation. However it is considerably more expensive than isopropyl alcohol. Isopropyl is also extremely fumey compared to the clear blender.
For projects that need quick evaporation or dilution, like fabric dying. For example, getting a spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol, putting a few drops of ink in it, and spraying a throw pillowcase from one end will get you a quick evaporating ombre effect to the fabric. (Always use in a well ventilated safe space with appropriate breathing apparatus). Nice crisp open circles/lines in a painting. Flick a few drops onto a painting of alcohol inks and the spots where the drops land will clear out and leave nice crisp circles. Once the alcohol evaporates this will still work. You can even try it on a dried alcohol ink painting as a finishing effect or with a small paintbrush dipped in the clear alcohol.
There have been some brave souls who have gotten technical with making their own solutions. The glycerin approach (add a few drops glycerin to alcohol) has been acceptable for some while others feel it has proven to result in a globby texture, but it is passable for some depending on what you are doing. Others have gotten more technical and scientific about it even mixing in industrial chemicals. We like to keep things safe and unintimidating so we recommend against that unless you are qualified and have appropriate health and safety working areas and equipment. In the meantime, hopefully, this article will help you make judicious use of the clear blender vs isopropyl alcohol. We have included one in our starter pack and have plans for larger bottles soon.
“Hi, I’m Tiffani from T-Rex Inks. I’m the T in the T-Rex and I’m here today to talk about what the difference is between a clear blender and isopropyl alcohol. This you can get at a drugstore for, like, a dollar and get it and varying percentages. What am I to show today is how it works with our inks versus the clear blender.
One of these comes in every starter pack. So you might want to know, you know, since you only get one of those, how best to use it. We’re going to be trying here soon to come out with a large pack of it and white, that’ll be nice for everybody. But in the meantime, we’re going to kind of show in real life and actuality what happens when you use those two things.
So I made a little painting here. I’m going to tilt the camera down so you can see the painting so you can get a feel for how they work. So again, we are looking at here a difference between isopropyl alcohol and clear blending solution. That comes in every T-Rex pack. One of the things that the alcohol ink is good for that. I like to use it for, I’m going to put a little bit up here to show you.
I like to just clean out my brushes with it. So I was using pink last on this. I get some in there and I can.. it evaporates real fast and I can kind of clean it out and then brush it out on a paper towel and then just very quickly. I have a clean brush.
So we’ll go ahead and do clear blender on this one. And we’ll do a isopropyl alcohol on this one so we can kind of get a feel for what happens here. So you’re going to be using droppers typically, so we’ll start with droppers instead of paintbrushes and you can kind of see on this one some open spaces here. So I’m going to going to drip it here so you can see what happens. There…so just wait a minute and see how it develops. You can see it’s very distinct with the clear blender. Very strong really opens it up. the alcohol provides a little bit more of a softer blending affect also the colors right there by blending very nicely with that. So this dried real fast. Somebody’s my paintbrush real quick to manipulate it so you can see what happens and kind of get rid of some of those lines there from the circles, but see how right there. You can’t really get rid of that line. It is stuck. Cuz the alcohol is so harsh, but that can work to your advantage. You can really open up things. You can draw things. Like for example, we can kind of go ahead and make a
setting sun right here. If we wanted, make it real big, give that little bit of time to open up but now let’s go ahead and over here and see what happens with the paintbrush with this. So that stays wet a little bit longer.and…you can see…We still have those lines there. So that’s the effect of it. now if you work very quickly with it you will get a whole another look.
Let’s try and get some clouds in here. You work around it makes that kind of opened effect work for you. There you go…Got kind of a dappled look there…And that works for us. Now see over here…That’s what the alcohol did it spread it out got real soft lines.
So let’s see with a huge drop what happens? With this stuff, the clear blender, same thing…It’s spreading out. You can kind of see these lines forming as it spreads out. We can make the alcohol work to our advantage by brushing it a little bit. The only problem is these lines get real stuck with the alcohol.
I’m using Terraslate paper, by the way, an equivalent to Yupo.Nara is also a very similar waterproof paper.Okay.Here we go…So that’s kind of what we got there, and you can kind of see through the remnants there. They’re still holding on to that paper.
So you have to use a little bit more to kind of get rid of that and hope it doesn’t eat it too much. It’s really saying that the initial lay down spot is really staying on the paper. See with the clear blender. If that spot staying. Yep, here we go. definitely more lifted.
So once you play around and get a feel for these things you can kind of make a lot of this work to your advantage and what you’re trying to do in the painting. You’ll see a lot of the pros, they just know how to work this. So it’s worth playing with.
So the clear blender, it has a rewetting effect and it makes the stuff you’re working with pliable again. So the alcohol inks also have a re-wetting effect, but they dry the alcohol evaporates so quickly that you have less of a window, but you’ll get a very soft diffuse look there so you can get that with the clear blender as well. See open that up a little bit more watch it spread out. So it has a lot less ink to work with here. So the spreading out effect is going to be more dramatic.another drop here. This one’s already so strong that it spread out really well. I’ll go ahead and work in the waters a little bit now that this is all dry.
I’ll go ahead and show you what it is like when you just drip it on horizontally. These are painted about 2 minutes before the video. So, I could show you and another video what it looks like on a very old painting. It still works! Impressively! So as you can see here have I’ve been layering alcohol ink, this is what the isopropyl alcohol has done here a soft diffuse look for getting nice lines there. And now this one, the clear blender, You can kind of see this beautiful gradient on the edges. Very very nice that’s because of that. It has a little bit softer just a touch more gel-like of an effect to it. To the consistency. So it’s also just very very soft and kind of see right there. Merging the three colors and then it rippled out here. Really neat effect!
They’re both beautiful. So as you get to play with them, you’ll kind of get a feel for what
works for what project you’re doing. You’ll be able to make good choices on that. I definitely recommend keeping both handy.o this is needs to dry a little bit. And as it dries. We’re going to turn it sideways. I think this one’s already dry already ready to work with. That’s the beauty of it, that it’s real fast, and then you can put more on and rewet it. I really like that about it. So, we are going to turn it sideways now. We’re going to do a little bit of a drip test here. Tilt it down to see what kind of an effect you can expect with just raw drips on an older painting. Watch it kind of open up. Work its way down. That’s raw drips we’re getting there. turn it this way to get some drips from what was collected Let that dry.
Let’s try the isopropyl alcohol in the same manner So as you can see, We’re getting a lot less opening up once the ink is really set. It does open it up a little bit.I’m going to turn it this way. But it’s much less diffuse. They all have their place.
what works, what kind of effect you’re looking for. Okay. I’ll put the first one back Okay, these are the differences. This is the isopropyl and this is the clear blender, very similar effects.
I’d recommend using this isopropyl to clean your brushes to clean stuff off your hands, to clean edges, be very careful with it because it really does open up the paintings like very very much. So for example, you’re going to see like this… you go that really opened it up in it. A little more down and you get lines lots and lots of lines so it can work in your favor. But you gotta know what you’re dealing with.
Now this one you get more of the classic alcohol ink look if you can kind of see. right there you get those lines where it pushes the gradient into the next line and get those beautiful artistic impressionist Styles is very nice. Whereas this gives you more of a Watercolor look, I’d say, which is great for some projects. Like I keep saying you just got to know what you want. And this will take a little while to dry. So you can also try and get the remaining lines in it. It’s a softer more watercolor look. Then again with the clear blender if there’s something I don’t like or want to add like I’d like to make a little more orange right here. I can add that and then I can add my orange. And it’s white again. It’s malleable again, becomes part of the painting. It’s not going to sit on top of it. It’s going to use its elbows to push its way in. Can get some blending going on there if you wanted. See how we’re getting a little opening up there going to add some right here too. Let that really open up. Here we go and can squeeze an orange in there. Watch it disperse, mixed with the colors dispersed. That’s a pretty good demonstration of clear blender versus isopropyl alcohol. I wrote an article about the specifics of that but I thought a in real life demonstration might be nicer too. So there you have it! So hopefully that video kind of helps with understanding. The effects of a lot of that are going to be you using it and figuring out what works for you but in recap isopropyl alcohol good for
cleaning your brushes clean stuff off your hands. The clear blender is good to use for the art alone because it is more valuable.
I like to keep the alcohol and hand to clean up mess ups or sort of wipe down a painting if I want to start over again on the waterproof paper, but the end result is pretty clear.
I think you can get a good feel for. You’re the kind of more waterproof lines here. you have more of that beautiful impressionist alcohol ink that we that look that we all love.
There you have it. I hope that helps.”
We are a two-person team (Stephen & Tiffani), both of whom are artists. As we were looking for the inks for our projects, we thought about what we would want ideally and decided to bring it to the market ourselves with T-Rex Inks. We sifted through many many color palettes trying to nail down exactly the right colors and densities of pigments before settling on this collection after extensive testing. We are thrilled with the result and excited to announce the release of the T-Rex Inks Starter Pack. Here is a little bit of the back story about what went into each ink.
DRAGONFRUIT PINK, the first color in the T-Rex Alcohol Ink Starter Pack! As an artist myself, Pink is always a tricky one to pin down. It can go so many directions, too red, too yellow, or it can be overly pigmented or even worse, so weakly pigmented that you can barely see it on the paper. So we tried out many variations and settled on this one. One look at it and we knew only one name would fit: Dragonfruit Pink. It is nearly exactly the color of the otherworldly sassy dinosaur looking fruit. This was probably the easiest one to name in the bunch.
SHIRAZ RED… Naming this one was a heated debate amongst friends and family about which kind of wine best suits this color. We learned that people have oddly strong opinions about wine. 🍷😆 and Shiraz won out. In my experience as an artist, often reds can be deceiving. They can look neutral, being neither too pink or too brown, but once it is on the page…Surprise! So we tested a few blends of red that looked almost identical to each other, but we their true colors came out once we saw them in action. Shiraz Red is neither too pinky, nor too purple. It is a solid, direct, and bold red you can count on.
BELLINI ORANGE… Bellini Orange is an exquisite bright orange that is neither pinky nor browny, rather it is a vibrant and juicy orange. As it thins, it stays true to color, getting softer and more delicate but not color shifting. As for the name, who doesn’t love a refreshing Bellini? Being that we are ALCOHOL inks, we decided to have a little fun with Shiraz Red and Bellini Orange in naming it after drinks, but that’s it, we controlled ourselves past these two names. I remember the first time I had a Bellini at 21 in the Venetian in Vegas. It was such a fun soft color and the taste was just as juicy and bright.
SUNSHINE YELLOW. This couldn’t be more aptly named because the shade of yellow that comes out on the page is like warm sunlight on a fall day coming through the trees. Yellow can be a very tricky color to do right in art supply. Many yellows skew wayyyy to green, which is not what most artists want when they reach for a warm color. That being said, we also don’t want an overly brown yellow or like some I have used, one that is basically a light orange. This is a true warm yellow. I love how it thins with the clear blender too. It is soft yet vibrant.
IRISH MOSS. This green is my personal favorite of the bunch. It is so unique and captivating. As the color palette transitions from warm to cool colors, Irish Moss sits in the middle of the bunch, being a touch of both. It is green, but a warm green with a touch of yellow at its heart. Think of moss on a rock in Ireland, that super vibrant color that cameras never quite capture. Having a slightly warm green in your arsenal is an absolute must.
JURASSIC GREEN is a deeply saturated cool-toned green that roars to life. As an ode to our moniker T-Rex we named it after the lush Jurassic age where green ruled supreme. A common problem with alcohol ink greens is that they get overly pigmented and end up looking clunky and nearly black on the page. Getting it just right was by far the hardest color of the batch but the pay off was so worth it. It is a true darker green.
GLACIER BLUE is such a pure and crisp blue that you can almost feel a chill looking at it. We were inspired by looking at glaciers on a trip to Alaska. We wanted to capture that beautiful blue on the edge of the glacier where the sunlight illuminates the ice. Glacier blue is a notch above sky blue in that it is more pigmented. As you use the clear blender to thin it, it can become a light sky blue too. Blues are so important to get right and we think we nailed this one quite well.
TIDAL TEAL speaks of picturesque tidal pools, undulating waves, and tropical shores. We wanted this to be a deep and profound teal at its core, but when thinned, a soft and “tropical waters” green-blue. Many blends we tried didn’t make the cut but this one was just perfect. So much of art with alcohol inks lends itself to oceanic tones so we knew we had to get this one just perfect. Nothing less would meet our standards. When we settled on this color we knew Tidal Teal was the right name because it made us smile and feel relaxed just thinking about being by the ocean.
DEEP SEA BLUE is a resonant hue of blue that is probably our most saturated color. A little goes a long way with this blue. It is intense and intoxicating to work with. We formulated it to be a vivid blue that is neither navy nor so dark it looks black on the page, and also not purple or green in its base. That’s a tall order to weed all that out, but the result is a sonorous blue that looks like the ocean deep. So naturally, Deep Sea Blue was a perfect fit.
AMETHYST PURPLE is a wonderfully jewel-toned purple hue that is remarkably vibrant. It leans towards the warmer sides of purples being royal in shade and striking in appearance. We tossed around a lot of names for this one but nothing hit the hue of the color like Amethyst did. We liked how the name Amethyst conveyed the richness of a gemstone and conjures up the memory of looking into its sparkling tones. Up until purple, in the starter pack, there have been 4 warm colors and 5 cool colors, so this warm leaning purple balances out the color palette with 5 warm-toned colors and 5 cool-toned colors for a well-balanced collection.
SPACE BLACK was the most fun to name. We are major nerds here at T-Rex and we love all things outer space. If “Outer Space Black” wasn’t so wordy, we would have done that. As an artist, I often make nebula style paintings and having a solid black is extremely important to my work. I noticed with other brands that the base of their black was showing up green and brown and I did not like that. So we worked on getting the black as saturated and pure as possible. We wanted pure Vanta-black levels of darkness and we got it. Next up is the essential but massively underrated Clear Blender.
CLEAR BLENDER. This is your tool to getting that wispy airy effect to your work, and thinning out colors for softer shades and looks. A drop of this will immediately thin and disperse your inks. Add in a little air movement from a bike pump or hairdryer and you will see some pretty neat things happen. To see how to get that airy flowy effect, check our art blog for a full instructional article. Alcohol inks can be rewetted even after they have been applied with this clear blender. That makes a painting with these inks a little less intimidating knowing you have some wiggle room to reapply.
]]>Perhaps the most iconic form of the burgeoning alcohol ink world is that of the silky flowing lines that seem to blend into the air as it sprawls across the white page. We have everything you need to get started on this look yourself. With these tips, soon you will be creating your own beautiful works of alcohol ink wisps almost effortlessly.
The key to this style is first and foremost working on a light, ideally white background. White waterproof paper is a great choice for this style. Then, you will want to select a color palette to use of just 1-3 colors. The colors are meant to merge and interplay so choose colors that will merge well. For some ideas, from the T. Rex Starter Pack we recommend a few different color combos to try: Dragonfruit Pink / Glacier Blue, Amethyst Purple / Deep Sea Blue, Shiraz Red / Space Black, or Sunshine Yellow / Jurassic Green.
Next, you will want to get a container to dilute your inks in. Little cups work great, but we are partial to good ol ice cube trays. Easy and cheap. Next, you can then get either 91% isopropyl alcohol or you can use our included clear blending solution as the diluter. The 91% isopropyl alcohol is cheaper but the clear blender is far more smooth in effect but more expensive. For the purpose of keeping it affordable, we will instruct using isopropyl alcohol. You will also need droppers to apply the diluted solution. We like to buy big packs of pipettes for that. And finally, to move the air around, you will want a blowdryer or a bike pump handy.
Now that you have all the supplies squared away, here is how to use them to this effect. The basic principle here is that you want a puddle of diluted ink applied to the paper to start with. As it moves around with the blowdryer or bike pump, the alcohol evaporates, leaving wispy airy colors. With all that alcohol evaporating you will want a well-ventilated area or other safety measures in place before you get started. Here is more details on how to accomplish this:
Alcohol inks are extremely pigmented. So that’s why you can’t just apply it directly to the page to get this look. It needs to be diluted as a means of spreading that pigment around in varied gradients of pigment density. The alcohol is merely a carrier. It’s a lot like watercolors, the more diluted you make them, the more transparent they get and the more creative license you have to control it.
We recommend you fill up one ice cube tray compartment about 75% of the way with alcohol and then drop in about 5-8 drops of the color of ink you want to work with, depending on how pigmented you want it. If you are using a lighter color, like yellow or orange, do closer to 10 drops. Repeat this for as many colors as you are planning on using on the piece. Also, pour one compartment of just alcohol. Set aside one plastic pipette for each compartment.
This can get kind of messy. So protect your work surface with a plastic tablecloth. Be ready to have some splashes hit your clothes possibly, so maybe wear an art apron or clothes you don’t mind risking. Since using a blow dryer or bike pump is part of this technique, the paper will want to blow away on you. That’s why it is recommended to tape the corners down to secure the piece. Of course, that can be a bit of a downer since the tape may interfere with the art. So try to plan to secure it down in a way that is out of the way from where you plan to paint. For example, if you want a diagonal line of wisps, tape on opposite corners. You can also go the intentional method and tape all the sides of it so that when they are peeled off, they create crisp intentional lines and leave an edge.
Use the pipettes to suck up a full pipette of your blended color, and slowly squeeze out a puddle into the basic shape you want. Want a flowly line across the page? Draw one with the pipette. It will get blown about so remember to start small. Want a beautiful burgeoning circle in the middle, put a blot down. The initial lay down will look very pigmented, but as you blow it around and use alcohol to dilute it, it will dissipate so don’t worry.
Keep in mind that the natural state of alcohol is to evaporate, so you do need to work reasonably quickly. Use the bike pump or the blowdryer to move the liquid around in the direction you want the effect to go. As you do it you will see the drying effect start to happen. The best way to learn this technique is to practice it hands-on. You will get a feel for what it wants to do and how it happens. As it starts to dry and take its final form, you may want to make little tweaks to it. That’s where our clear blender comes in. You can use it to clean up the sides or put little drops in into the main body to create a thinner effect or an opening for the white background to shine through. Sometimes you get little run away squiggles of ink on the paper, and you can use the blender along with a silicone stylus or paintbrush to soften and reintegrate those spots.
Now that you have learned how to get a couple of colors out on the page and you are seeing what it looks like as it dries, you may be wanting to add a little extra pizazz to it. Here are a few ideas for that…
Using auxiliary alcohol ink markers. Use only alcohol-based markers like Copic (if you want to be super fancy) or the more affordable and adorable Colorona set. Take out one of those markers and apply small accent lines of color where you think it is suited. Just draw on a few rough lines, it doesn’t matter what shape it is. Then, use a drop or two of the clear blending solution to get it to “puddle” up and then you can move it around where you want it. This lets you get in a tiny bit of accent color without blending a whole new solution in an ice cube compartment as described above. It also gives you more variety and control over the exact color you want. You can also do this for an extra amazing effect with a metallic alcohol ink marker. Metallics are a whole other article and we will get to that soon. In fact, we hope to carry it ourselves soon here at T Rex Inks.
Getting dot embellishments with a silicone brush or stylus. Think of this as a next day kind of a project. Leave out your ice cube tray so it evaporates a lot and leaves a highly pigmented residue. Get a variety pack of silicone tools that are often used for clay sculpting but work great for this. Then, dip your blunt ended stylus into those colors and softly touch them to the paper and make circles with it. Using a swirling motion you can even create overlapping dots on it. It is a tedious but relaxing technique.
The T. Rex toothbrush flick. T. Rexes have short arms so painting is not easy for them, thus the toothbrush flick method. This one is very messy to use though, so be prepared. Dip a toothbrush into 91% isopropyl alcohol or into one of the accent colors in your ice cube tray palette. Gently tap out most of the moisture back into the compartment. Then, aim the brush bristle down at the part of the painting you want and using your forefinger (glove it if you want to avoid stain) flick the bristles gently onto the paper. The result will be a very organic looking effect of bubbles that spray in the direction you aim the brush at. if you use too much liquid in the brush, the bubbles will be very big and drastically alter your painting, but if you use very minimal ones, it will have a small lovely effect.
Welcome to flowy alcohol ink art! We are happy you are here and we can’t wait to see what you create! Tag us on Instagram so we can see what you made and maybe even repost it in one of our lineups @TRexinks.
]]>You may have seen this fascinating art form pop up in your peripherals on Instagram lately. It is attention-grabbing with its wildly beautiful splotches of color against stark white backgrounds. It may look like the exclusive magic of a talented artist but we assure you that it is fully attainable by anyone who puts their mind to learning the basics of alcohol ink art. Let’s start with what exactly alcohol ink is.
Almost any artistic means of creating color involves pigments. You get the different kinds of mediums by how you suspend that pigment. Oil paint, for example, suspends pigments in an oil medium and acrylic paint in a water-based medium. Alcohol ink is made by suspending richly colored pigments into an alcohol solution. The neat thing about alcohol inks is that they are waterproof once they hit the page and dry. This is how permanent markers are made.
Alcohol evaporates quickly leaving just the pigment on the page, or item you use it on. It can be rewetted using a clear blending solution (included with our starter pack). While they are in a fluid state you can move them around to create a uniquely flowy interplay between colors. Because it is made with alcohol, it can get a bit fumey, so take caution to keep the area well ventilated and wear the appropriate equipment to guard against breathing in too many fumes. There is a reason your elementary teacher always told you not to sniff the markers.
Ideally, any non-porous surface. Waterproof paper, like Yupo, is definitely a favorite medium people like to use. A more affordable option we like to use is by TerraSlate. Their alcohol ink paper is significantly cheaper than Yupo and just as good. The cool thing about this kind of medium is that it has a gentle gloss finish to it so the overall piece when finished has a luxuriant shine to it. Sticking with traditional art forms, another way to get a “canvas” for painting with alcohol inks is clayboard panels. It absorbs the inks well and is already mounted to a panel making it ready to hang.
For alternatives to the traditional paper/panel substrates, you can use alcohol inks on all kinds of 3D objects like tile, leather, metal, stone, ceramic, polymer clay, and glass. It is truly versatile to work with. Many people like to get ceramic mugs or tumblers to artistically personalize their items with. The alcohol ink applies beautifully to it although it can be a bit hard to control because it is not flat. Here is a good tutorial on working with a rounded surface like a mug.
Stay tuned to the blog for our next article on alcohol ink techniques. In this article we will point you in the direction of some of the best alcohol ink artists and their methods.
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