A detailed progress video on how to create usable art with alcohol inks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crWEwR9ppkk&t=216s

In this detailed process video, I will be walking you through specific steps related to creating successful usable art using the alcohol ink medium.

Materials used are:

*A white ceramic soup mug

*Yellow, Silver, Slate, and Fog Alcohol inks (Ranger and Pinata inks)

*91% Isopropyl Alcohol

*Paintbrush

*A Heat Gun (Chandler tool)

In the introduction, I am explaining step-by-step what I do to prepare myself for working with alcohol inks and the tools I use specific to this medium. The preparation is detailed but if you do it right, you shouldn’t run into any problems along the way because you have everything available and within reach.

I begin my soup mug by taking the alcohol ink medium and applying it directly to the ceramic cup using a paintbrush. I don’t use any alcohol because A) I don’t my want my colors to run and B) I don’t want to dilute the colors. As you continue watching, pay attention to how I apply the other colors to the yellow and how the greys are affected based on the yellow color already applied.

In this video I also discuss the use of negative space. If you are an artist interested in a clean look, negative space is the way to go. This means that you are incorporating the white of your surface into the piece. In this case I use the top and bottom of this mug as a way of incorporating that negative space and in the areas where the alcohol medium overtakes the mug, I use isopropyl alcohol to pick the color up for a much lighter contrast.

Once I have added my base colors, I go back and add my silver metallics to my piece. However, I am intentional about the amount I apply because metallics have the ability to take over a piece quickly. You can see that I begin by adding the metallics with a paintbrush and using little bits at a time. Once finished, I add the isopropyl alcohol in small amounts to my piece. As I do this, you can see the colors lighten and the silver dispersed among the other colors.

The rest of the video focuses on the use of tools used to dry/move the isopropyl alcohol around. Tools such as my heat gun, straw or blowing directly on the wet area. Once I have my colors where I want them I then return to my piece for quality control. Meaning, cleaning up the edges by creating wispy, finishing touches to the negative space. I also take a brief moment to show a few examples using a past mug of mine on how to create texture and additional style with my distressor spray gun.

Not shown in the video is my sealing process and one that I will share in a different blog. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to share them with me. Thank you for watching/reading my process video and I hope this video/blog helps in your creations of usable art with this amazing medium, Alcohol Ink.

My Final Product:

Kari Hertzog (Litchfield)