Alcohol Ink – How To
In our Alcohol Ink workshop we introduce you to the basics of alcohol ink and how to use them to make fun and colorful artwork!
So what are Alcohol inks and what are they used for?! Alcohol inks are fast-drying, highly pigmented, alcohol-based inks. They are great to use on any hard, non-porous surface including glass, metal, plastic, ceramic, stone, leather and polymer clay. Alcohol ink is also waterproof which makes it great for dish ware (as long as
you don’t put it where you are putting anything you will be consuming!). These dye-based inks are normally transparent and extremely vibrant.
Materials:
● Alcohol Ink (any color)
● Watercolor or Yupo paper
● Newspaper (to cover work surface)
● Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty
Optional:
● A Straw
● Rubbing Alcohol
● Shaving cream
● A stirring device (back of a utensil, chopstick, etc.)
● Paper Towel
There are two processes we outline below, one that just dots the ink on and you spread it however you like, and one that creates a swirled print.
Dropping Ink On to Create the Art
- Drip the ink on the paper
- Use the straw to spread it around
- Use the rubbing alcohol to create rings and help spread the color
Swirled Prints
- Lay out one connected layer of paper towel as big as your paper
2. Spread a medium even layer of shaving cream the size of your paper
3. Spread it out with a stick or back of a paint brush or utensil
4. Drop ink on the shaving cream
5. Take your stirring device and swirl the colors
6. Place your paper on top of the swirl and rub your hand lightly across it.
7. Carefully peel your paper off
8. Wipe the shaving cream off using paper towel
9. Leave your finished paper to dry
