FLO

FLo KANISHKA GANDHI

FLo INSTITUTE OF DESIGN NIRMA UNIVERSITY

INTRODUCTION Alcohol ink is a colorful, acid-free medium that’s a blast to paint with. The ink is capable of creating colorful abstract collages or more intricate paintings on various kinds of surfaces. There are a variety of different techniques one can use to manipulate the alcohol ink in imaginative ways. With the right materials and using some creative vision, painting with alcohol ink can be fun and quite easy for anyone and everyone.



EXPLORE 6 8 10 12 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ABOUT REQUIREMENTS PROCESS 16 17 26 30 CAUTION TIPS PRODUCTS ART EXHIBIT 18 20 APPLICATION MEDIUMS 40 41 AUTHOR’S BIBLIOGRAPHY NOTE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First of all, I am grateful to The Department of Design, Nirma University for facilitating this course. I am thankful to the course faculties - Prof. Nandini Gandhi and Prof. Monika Khanna Gulati for their guidance. Their timely and continuous feedback and comments has helped in the successful completion of this handbook. 5 | Flo

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ABOUT “ “Paint with pure magic. It comes in small bottles. A Wild Child with a mind of its own and an attitude of pure joy. And the colors! These inks create stunning effects that no other medium can produce.” Alcohol ink is a colorful, acid-free medium that’s a blast to paint with. The ink is capable of creating colorful abstract collages or more intricate paintings on various surfaces by using various techniques. “ Where the inks lead, my paintings take on a life of their own. 7 | Flo

Have a playful spirit Alcohol inks are a relatively new art and allow the inks medium. Having been around for about 9 to ‘do their thing’. I years or so, they were originally used for have realized that stamping by greeting card makers. It’s been the enemy of inks within the last few years that they have is trying to control really taken off. and tame the flow. Like many other trends, this also originated in America and is already experiencing a The colors dry very real hype in. Alcohol Inks consist of a large quickly due to the part of alcohol mixed with color pigments. evaporation of the alcohol, which can Flo |8 certainly be used to one’s favor.

REQUIREMENTS It is a quick drying, richly pigmented, and acid-free medium that works well on non- porous surfaces mostly. These inks easily glide around, allowing one to manipulate them into swirling shapes. By employing different techniques, one can use the alcohol ink in imaginative ways. With the right materials and using some creative vision, painting with alcohol ink can be fun and easy. Alcohol Inks and Markers The colors of company Beyond Inks are the most well-known and probably most frequently used. The brand also has a set of metallic tones. Alternatively, refill bottles for Copic Marker are also available. One can use this refill ink in the same way as the Alcohol Inks. Blending Solution or 91% Isopropyl Alcohol Blending Solution consists of isopropyl alcohol and glycerin which ensure that the colors are brightened or subdued for mixing. Optimal Painting Surface The optimal surface should be smooth and not porous for the colors to be mixed in alcohol, swiveled, and applied in different ways. Metal, glass, ceramic tiles or primed wood as well as special Yupo Paper and Stone Paper are particularly suitable. 9 | Flo

Brush Drinking Straws Using different types of brushes for various Straws help to move around smaller bits of effects works well. alcohol ink in a particular direction. Felt Applicator Hair dryer A piece of felt is attached to the surface on which alcohol ink in various colors, as well as The canned air, when directed on blending solution can be applied. Through the surface of alcohol ink canvas at a this process, decorative backgrounds can be perpendicular angle helps with the drying stamped on cards or similar surfaces. process, while also helping simultaneously to create circular patterns. Blending Pen Varnish Using a blending pen or some cotton buds This will help to secure the artwork and helps to achieve a smoother wash. protect it from UV light. Flo |0

PROCESS GETTING THE MATERIALS 2 Get a blending solution. 3 Pick a canvas to paint on. The blending will dilute Good canvasses include 1 Choose your alcohol ink. the paint and create a unique glossy card stock, shrink film, You can purchase alcohol effect when dropped on gloss paper, glass, metal, ink online or at an art store. top of wet alcohol ink. It primed wood, and ceramic. Some inks will come in kits is necessary to make more Yupo paper is also a popular that have complementary interesting effects with the canvass to use when painting colors that look good when ink but isn’t mandatory. with alcohol ink. they are mixed together. Use the solution to clean any Create different effects by Much of the allure of alcohol ink that gets on the hands or applying masking fluid where ink is how the colors blend on the brushes. you don’t want ink. and mix, so keep this in mind when purchasing the ink.

DESIGNING THE ARTWORK 2 Paint freehand for an 3 Determine how the ink abstract. Alcohol ink mixes together. Before 1 Create an outline with is typically used to create one starts painting with pen. Create an outline for abstract art. If you want to alcohol ink, have a basic the painting with a pen. You create an abstract piece of idea of how alcohol ink acts can use alcohol ink to create art, don’t plan it out at all. when mixed. Drip different more intricate pictures. Draw Use different colors and colors of the alcohol ink on a a picture on Yupo paper with go with the flow to create separate piece of scrap paper a pen or pencil. Then, pour something that’s different and use a brush to mix the some alcohol ink into a paper every time. colors together. See how they or a palette. Absorb the ink bleed and interact. with a brush, then fill in the Choose lighter colors for a drawing accordingly. happier and brighter painting Practice mixing the colors and darker colors for an together on a palette before Common alcohol ink pictures ominous, brooding artwork. beginning with the artwork. include abstraction, flowers, mountains, and landscapes. F l o | 12

PAINTING THE ARTWORK 1 Pour a couple of drops of ink onto the canvas. Pour a couple of drops onto whatever surface you’re painting on. The ink will form a small pool that can be manipulated. 2 Spread the ink around with a brush. Place the tip of a brush into the pool of paint and use light strokes to apply it to your canvas. Start to get a feel for the paint and examine how the ink dissipates and bleeds. Create more pools of paint and see how they mix with one another. 3 Paint over the existing ink with the blending solution. Saturate the brush with blending solution and go over the painting. Examine how the solution interacts and aids while blending. One needs to apply the blending solution while the paint is still wet. 4 Let the paint dry. Leave the painting in a well-ventilated area for about 1-2 hours and come back to see the dried painting. Now that you have an idea of how the ink and blending solution work, you can start to implement more advanced techniques.

USING ADDITIONAL TECHNIQUES 1 Apply a coat of blending solution. Before applying the ink, wet the surface down with blending solution. This will first create a wavy, wet effect that can be used for landscapes or abstract paintings. This method helps to lay down an undercoat of color onto the canvas. 2 Blow the ink with hair dryer. Pour a decent amount of blending solution and ink on your canvass. Hold the hair dryer a few inches away from the wet ink at a perpendicular angle with respect to the surface. This will push the paint abstractly so that it dissipates in different directions. See how they mix with each other. 3 Use blender pens or cotton swabs. Blender pens are small pens with a blending solution that comes out of the tip. Alternatively, one can use a cotton swab saturated with blending solution. While the painting is still wet, rub over the surface of ink with the blending pen to lighten or blend colors together. 4 Use a felt applicator to get a marbled look. While painting on tile, stone, or glass, one can achieve a marbled look with alcohol ink. Pour a couple of drops of different ink onto a felt applicator and it against the surface. This will create small circles that resemble marble. F l o | 14

CAUTION Breathing Mask Ideally, one should only work with alcohol ink in a room that you can ventilate very well. If one does not have this possibility, a breathing mask with filter is advised. It will also prevent one from accidentally inhaling small amounts of the color pigments contained in the ink when the alcohol evaporates. Rubber Gloves Rubber gloves are also recommended for working with Alcohol Ink. The gloves will also prevent skin grease from the fingers getting onto the painting surface and thus influence the reaction of the ink. One other reason for this is that it is extremely difficult to get the ink off the fingers once it is there. 15 | F l o

TIPS The painting can be By using a brush Always have a rag or Dried ink can be changed at a later or cotton swab paper towel handy to “revived”, if pure date, for example by moistened with soak up any unwanted alcohol or fresh ink is adding new colors. alcohol, beautiful, liquid floating on the added. This possibility is not individual decorations artwork. available with acrylic can be worked on. paints, for example. F l o | 16

A P P L I C AT I O N Mixing and Diluting Alcohol Ink Depending on the needs and experience, When using alcohol ink, one will need to the rubbing alcohol will be used to mix, successfully mix and blend it. The best and dilute, and clean the inks with. Besides easiest choice would be rubbing alcohol rubbing alcohol, blending solution is almost which comes in different percentages from similar to Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA) but 70% - 99%. Some of the lower percentages contains additives as well to help improve may contain other unwanted substances the blending process. and this could affect the artwork’s outcome. Get creative with your supplies! Use a Q-tip or a fine- tipped brush to add small details with the alcohol inks. 17 | F l o

The painting can be changed at a later date, for example by adding new colors. This is not possible with acrylic paints, for example. Using a Brush with Alcohol Ink When working with a brush, be careful Coarse brushes provide more texture, because if the ink dries too quickly, it would while a softer brush blends better and can leave brush strokes behind. Also, if one produce finer details. A bigger, flat brush works too slowly, the ink evaporates, and is will work for a wash of color, following the left with a patchy wash effect. Do not paint principles of watercolor painting. When you back into an area that has already been make a piece you don’t like, step away from covered beforehand. it and come back to it the next day. F l o | 18

MEDIUMS Alcohol Inks on Porcelain The procedure here is the same as on Yupo All these ceramic surfaces are perfect to paper, but the challenge lies mostly in the paint on with alcohol ink. One can use the round shapes – here the colors sometimes tiles as coasters or simply display as art or run unexpectedly. Another possibility is the can be used for gifting purposes. Besides application of alcohol inks with an airbrush tiles, one can also decorate dishes with gun. This way a very specific application is Alcohol Inks – from plates, cups to vases possible and is used for realistic pictures. everything is possible. 2 Hand washing is recommended instad 1 To make the Alcohol Inks stick better, of using a dishwater. place the painted porcelain in the oven at 150 ° for about half an hour. 19 | F l o

Alcohol Inks on Glass Alcohol inks flow easily over glass surfaces, creating attractive blended colors. The final finish appears like stained glass and when placed in the light, will create a lovely effect. Seal the alcohol inks on the glass surface. One can do this by: 1 Use a heat gun to burn off the alcohol, this also stabilizes the dye. Do this before the ink has dried properly, and this will create a realistic stained-glass effect. 2 Spray with a clear glass glaze or glass fixative after the ink has dried. F l o | 20

Alcohol Inks on Metal “ Painting on metal... ?! “ Using alcohol ink, one can easily create Is this even possible ?? amazing art pieces. The easiest way to begin with this art form is to get an aluminum canvas from the local craft store. Other metal and alcohol ink ideas include kettles, thermos containers, and tumblers. Other surfaces to use alcohol inks on include copper, brass, and stainless steel. One can also make jewelry pieces using bracelets, earrings, and metal pendants. 21 | F l o

Alcohol Ink with Zentangle After drying, one can apply Zentangle One can achieve an equally ingenious effect patterns with waterproof markers. Apply by combining a classic alcohol ink image simple or complex patterns, depending on with the Zentangle technique. Create a one’s mood. beautiful image with color transitions.

Fabrics and Alcohol Inks When using alcohol ink on fabric, you can The very famous technique of tie-die is control what you do. This means one can definitely back in trend. One can easily use easily create patterns with stencils and spray alcohol ink to create some beautiful fabric bottles. One can even design more abstract pieces. Create intense and vibrant colors patterns, similar to ones on paper. One can with the concentrated alcohol ink, or dilute also use alcohol inks to create the most and go for lighter and more pastel colors, common watercolor effect. depending on the mood. One can dye almost all kinds of fabrics from clothes, pillows, scarves, sheets, napkins, and even tablecloths and many more pieces. 23 | F l o

Alcohol Inks with Epoxy Resin The chemical reaction creates so-called Alcohol can be used to color epoxy resin “petrified rainbows”, i.e. petri dish effects. – for resin art. One can get a visually Spice up your resin artwork with fascinating bombastic impression by filling silicone color effects. molds with crystal clear resin and then dripping Alcohol Ink colors directly into the“ resin filled container. “ This craft is all about trusting your intuition. Know that mistakes are a part of the process! F l o | 24

PRODUCTS Bookmarks 25 | F l o

Trays

Pillows 27 | F l o

Pots F l o | 28

ART EXHIBIT 29 | F l o



Panel Artwork 32 | F l o

Panel Artwork F l o | 32

Masking Fluid Technique 33 | F l o

Masking Fluid Technique F l o | 34

Ink Ripple Technique 35 | F l o





““ The best thing about this medium is that you can NEVER recreate something that’s already been created. This is why every piece is unique and one of its kind. F l o | 38

AUTHOR’S NOTE Besides abstract art, the Alcohol Ink technique can also be used to create realistic paintings varying from animals to landscapes and everything in between. The possibilities are practically unlimited. It will take a while of trying and experimenting until one can really get to know the properties of alcohol ink. It is also exciting to experiment with different tools, or to mix different colors on a color palette. Be curious and test how different inks spread and react with each other. Discover the different shades and brightness levels of colors that are similar. Discover the possibilities that working with alcohol ink offers across different mediums! 39 | F l o

BIBLIOGRAPHY www.acrylgiessen.com - Jennifer Pace www.artsupplies.co.uk - Tanith Hindley (Ken Bromley Art Supplies Blog) www.happilyevercrafty.com - Artist Resources (Artist Share Their Alcohol Ink Tips) www.fluidpainting.com - Alcohol Ink Art (Learn Everything about Alcohol Inks for Paintings) www.pinterest.com - Pinterest F l o | 40





Institute of Design NIRMA UNIVERSITY This book takes one through an endearing art style of Alcohol Painting. It is a compilation of the entire process, with a few handy tips and is a guide for any beginner. Paint with pure magic. It comes in small bottles. A wild child with a mind of its own and an attitude of pure joy. And the colors! These inks create stunning effects that no other medium can produce.”