Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Painting with Alcohol Inks

Hi everyone.  Today I'm sharing my first attempt of painting with Alcohol Inks.  I hope to figure things out with more practice.  For a first one, it's not bad. :)  I learned today that it's better using less colours.  I had originally added four layers of oranges and reds to the poppies, but the ink built up and became too thick.  Less is more with AIs (alcohol inks).  I ended up taking quite a bit of colour off with blending solution.

Since making this card, I have seen a tutorial by Tim Holtz where he adds blending solution to the barrel of a water brush and then picks up dried Alcohol inks with the tip and paints.  This seems like a much easier way to paint with AIs, so I will give that a try soon!

For the card above, I started by dropping three shades of yellow / brown in the background.  I added a squirt of blending solution and then used a folded up paper towel to move the colours around ... basically sponging the background.  I let it dry and then gave it a couple of spritzes of blending solution from a mister bottle.  As I mentioned in an earlier post.  When working with alcohol inks, rubbing alcohol or blending solution, make sure to work in a well ventilated room and keep the sprays away from your face.  Wear a face mask if you have one.

Once my background was dry, I stamped my poppies in archival ink and then painted over top with orange and red alcohol inks.  The archival ink stamps well on the dry background, but once you start adding AIs over top, it dissolves into the colour, making it similar to no-line colouring.

I added a simple frame and stamped sentiment to finish the card.

Going to add this card to the gallery at CAS Mix Up where the challenge this month is Liquid Colours.  Check out the challenge HERE if you haven't had a chance yet ... lots of inspiring cards in the gallery.


Thanks for stopping by for a visit!






Stamps:  Blooming Garden (Penny Black); Heartfelt Thanks (Penny Black)
Paper:  White card base and frame (Neenah 110 lb.); Yupo
Ink:  Alcohol Inks:  Sunshine Yellow, Butterscotch, Poppyfield (Ranger); Calbanza Orange (Pinata); Black Archival (Ranger); Black (Memento)
Accessories & Tools:  Blending solution in mister, paint brushes, Rectangle Nestability (Spellbinders)

Challenges:
CAS Mix Up January Challenge - Liquid Colours

34 comments:

Marianne said...

Well done Loll! Your painting turned out great. Don't leave any blending solution in a water brush or it will start eating the plastic away. Not sure what happens if you clean it after use (Tim didn't say).

Craft-E-Place said...

Stunning card and really useful details about how you did it. I love the vibrancy of colours that you get from alcohol inks.
Elaine

Cathy said...

Another wonderful AI card Loll, love how many ways there are to use these inks, Cathy x

Linda said...

This is really pretty Loll. You are the Queen of new techniques. Love it.

Susan said...

Love those vibrant colours - especially on a grey day like today. Looking forward to trying that technique.

BożenA said...

It must be very difficult technique, but you do not have things difficult :-) Wonderful card, I love the vibrant colors and the work of blending the liquid on the card.
Hugs and kisses
BożenA :-)

nancy littrell said...

I love your beautiful AI background for your AI painted poppies. A really beautiful card Loll. You are inspiring me to try painting with AI's. TFS my friend...like Susan, your brightening my rainy day! Hugs...

Nstiz said...

You are one, brave lady! This is fabulous and the colors are so rich and vibrant! What a wonderful, new technique! This is amazing and I'm a long way off from trying it.

Canonbury creations said...

Wow Loll, I've used alcohol inks for backgrounds but never thought to paint with them! What a marvelous technique.
Val x

Liz said...

Super card, Loll. What a great way to use alcohol inks. xx

Lisa Lara said...

Painting with alcohol inks? WOW Loll this is just amazing.

Bonnie said...

This is just gorgeous, Loll! I love the red poppies on that bright yellow background! Another technique I'm anxious to try!

swldebbie said...

I think it is pretty darned pretty, Loll! Love the vibrancy of the colors.

scrappymo! said...

This card is so cool. You are very good at trying new things, Loll.

kiwimeskreations said...

Ohhh what a stunner Loll - love how you experiment and then share the results, you are so brave.
Blessings
Maxine

Linda said...

WOW! Painting with AI ..... never tried that. You've got amazing results here, I love the bright colours xx

Petra Swart said...

Oh, you are just the best when it comes to trying out new techniques, Loll!!!!! Your poppies look absolutely amazing and I really like the wonderful yellow bg!!!!! The fonts of the sentiment stamps are so lovely and it compliments your beautiful painted panel so perfectly!!!! I love the big, white frame!!!! STUNNING card!!!!!
Have a great day!!!!
Hugz

JosieD said...

What stunning, rich colors! Thanks for sharing your experiments with new things...you are fearless (smiley face) and that is inspiring! Clever idea to put blending solution in barrel of water brush.

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

WOW Loll! You really are mastering those AI aren't you? It's hard to believe that this was your first attempt at painting with them! You have done a truly fabulous job with them! This is a mini masterpiece that should be on a wall somewhere! Have a wonderful day my friend! Hazel xx

Jeanne said...

Oh my goodness, this is beautiful! You are so good at so many fun techniques. The colors here are so bright and vibrant and that sentiment is wonderful. Makes me smile! Hugs! :)

Susanne Vargas said...

Wonderful piece of art (and you call it "not so bad"...)! I admire your adventurous spirit and always trying out something new!

Marcia Hill said...

BEAUTIFUL!! Never thought of painting with Als...will have to give it a try! :0)

Sue said...

Your poppies look gorgeous on that lovely sunny background, Loll. Another great technique to try!

Diane said...

Wow Loll your Alcoholic Inks flowers are gorgeous.

Hugs Diane

Christine Alexander said...

Loll, I can't wait to see this one IRL, the colours are stunning

Vicki Dutcher said...

Gorgeous vivid colors!

Mac Mable said...

Enjoyed learning about painting with AI's in your post. Thanks for all the tips and the information about Archival and how they react to the inks. Such a brilliant and colourful card with a great effect. Thank you for the inspiration x

Nonni said...

This looks fantastic to me, I can't see you had any trouble! I have just a couple of alcohol ink bottles but might fun to give them a go, I've been checking out the current CAS MixUp and thinking to enter but haven't really had the courage to get those ink bottles out yet! Maybe over the weekend, let's see! Fantastic card!

My Paper Epiphany said...

Fantastic job! I was thinking of getting my Yupo out again. Today I watched a few tutorials about watercolouring on Yupo and I remembered how addictive it is to use alcohol inks as well!

Anita in France said...

Goodness, the colour here is fantastic, Loll ... rich and saturated ... so bold and gorgeous! Hugs, Anita :)

Julia Aston said...

What gorgeous bright colors on this Loll! the white framing make the colors pop all the more! Julia xx

MaryH said...

I'm enjoying your 1st efforts at some of these splendid techniques (just saw your kraft & pencils). Doesn't look at all like MY 1st efforts. You've got wonderful shading in the red poppies where the leaves are separated. The red & yellow look brilliant together, and can't wait to see more of this from you. Love to see you trying 'new to you' techniques! TFS

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Love those vibrant colors!

Susan said...

Love those PB blooms...need to try that "painting" technique! Lovely card!