Alcohol Inks

with Monica Moody

Alcohol inks are acid-free, fast-drying, highly pigmented inks that are ideal for many mixed-media applications. They are intended for use on nonporous substrates, such as synthetic paper, glossy paper, glass, plastic, and metal, so the vibrant colors retain their intensity. Blending ink colors and adding isopropyl alcohol or alcohol blending solution can produce stunning effects. Although the inks have a thin viscosity, texture can be simulated using common household painting items. The unexpected “movement” of alcohol inks makes them especially fun for abstract works. With patience and practice, representational painting is possible, often with quite intriguing results.

Materials

• Alcohol inks (at least three colors)

• 91% isopropyl alcohol or alcohol blending solution

• Yupo® synthetic paper (74lb, 100lb, or 144lb)*

• Paintbrushes (small detail brushes)

• Cotton swabs

• Eyedropper

• Paper towels

• Cling wrap

• Masking fluid or frisket

• Freezer paper or other protective cover

• Wooden stamp with felt strips

• Rubber cement pick-up

• Black pens or markers

• UV resistant clear coating

*Each technique in this section is demonstrated on a 5” x 7” sheet of 144lb paper. Synthetic paper is preferred for alcohol ink painting. You may also wish to try glossy cardstock, glossy photo paper, Terraskin® paper, Claybord®, or hardboard covered in gesso. Results will vary with each type of surface. Other nonporous surfaces suitable for painting with alcohol inks are shrink film, acetate, glass, metals, plastic, polymer clay, melamine, ceramic tiles, and wax paper.

Dripping & Dropping Ink

Some of the most fun you can have with alcohol inks is simply to drip them onto a surface right from the bottle! As you randomly drop and splatter inks, you’ll quickly begin to notice how the different colors react as they meet. In many cases, dark lines may appear where two or more different colors touch. Depending on your preference, you can attempt to subdue this by adding a touch of 91% isopropyl alcohol (or an alcohol blending solution) to a detail brush and lightly going over the area. Don’t rush to remove those dark intersections until you’ve experimented and are happy with your composition. Sometimes those unintentional lines create interesting paths!

Alcohol (and alcohol blending solution) is to alcohol inks as water is to watercolor. You can use it to blend and lighten the inks. For this simple experiment, simply drip and drop some alcohol from an eyedropper on top of ink and watch the magic happen!

Abstract Landscapes

This abstract features a simple three-color combination. By adding alcohol, you can blend and lighten colors and create “washes.” It’s also possible to create a one-color ink painting by using alcohol (or alcohol blending solution) to produce different values.

Step One Drip ink directly from the bottle onto the paper; allow to run off the other side. Add multiple drips of the same color for a layered effect.

Step Two Repeat with another ink color (in this case, a lighter shade of green). Allow the two colors to run together.

Step Three Turn the paper so that the “horizon” is at the bottom. Run a drip along the horizon and allow the color to drip off the paper.

Step Four Using a brush wet with alcohol, make strokes horizontally to blend and create the sky.

Step Five Add a darker color to the top edge to add to the sky.

Step Six Dip a brush in alcohol and go over the darker color. Tilt the paper a bit to allow the ink and alcohol to move.

Step Seven While the sky is still wet, blot gently with a paper towel to soften areas and imply clouds.

Concentric Circles

Concentric circles are circles that have the same center, fit inside each other, and are the same distance apart. Using alcohol (or alcohol blending solution) to remove alcohol ink from a surface is called “lifting.”

Step One Draw a circle onto the paper using the tip of the ink bottle.

Step Two Using a different color, repeat the process, creating another circle around the first.

Step Three Repeat with a new color.

Step Four Repeat again, alternating colors if you like, until you’ve covered the entire piece of paper.

Step Five With an alcohol-soaked cotton swab, begin to work around your circles again. Go back over the concentric circles with the cotton swab until the entire paper is covered.

Step Six Add interest by lifting other small circles or dots with the cotton swab. Lift the ink from inside the innermost circle.

Step Seven Create a focal point by dropping a coordinating (or opposing) color into the center circle you made, lifting the ink out.

Cling Wrap Effects

Cling wrap can add some very interesting and dynamic effects when combined with alcohol inks. Wad it up into a ball to “stamp” texture on top of the ink or, as in this technique, use it to cover a large section or an entire painting.

Step One Begin by squirting ink in random lines or shapes directly from the bottle.

Step Two Add more ink in different colors until the entire paper is covered.

Step Three Tear off a sheet of cling wrap measuring the size of your painting, preferably larger. Crinkle it into a tight ball.

Step Four Unroll the ball of cling wrap, and place it on top of your painting.

Step Five Press the cling wrap down evenly over your painting. Pull the cling wrap tight and smooth.

Step Six Let dry overnight, preferably 24 hours, before removing the cling wrap.

More Examples

In image A, cling wrap was used for the green background and the first couple of layers of hair. Strands of hair were painted over and worked into the texture that was left behind after removing the cling wrap.

In image B, the beetle was added to a clingwrap background. The main shape of the insect was lifted with alcohol and cotton swabs, and then drawn with marker and gel pens. Detail brushes were used to color the beetle with alcohol ink.

Masking Fluid

Masking fluid (or frisket) can be used with alcohol inks to preserve areas of the paper you wish to remain white. It’s also useful if you prefer to paint backgrounds before subjects. Masking can be done in multiple steps or layers. You can mask an entire subject, paint the background, and remove the mask. Add masking fluid back to the areas of the subject where you want to retain white or add lighter details later. See the step-by-step example below for using masking fluid to create a field of aspens.

Apply masking fluid to the areas you wish to keep white.

Once the masking fluid is completely dry, begin to add ink to your painting.

For a special effect, add light green ink to a felt strip on a wooden stamper.

Stamp the lighter green ink on top of the dried dark green ink. For this effect, be sure to turn the stamper with each “stamp” to keep the pattern random.

Apply orange ink to a new felt strip on the stamper to add more details.

Once the ink is completely dry, remove the mask.

Using a pen (.01 tip), add details to the aspen trees.

You can add “grass” and more details to the ground with the lighter green ink, alcohol, and a detail brush.

Combining Pens & Alcohol Inks

Alcohol inks can be used in conjunction with pens and markers. The steps below detail a common process for creating a “painted illustration” using pen and alcohol inks.

Sketch a butterfly with pencil, and then use a black marker to ink the drawing.

Paint the background with blue alcohol ink, first in a somewhat “solid” layer, and then dotted with a detail brush in the same color. Next add yellow and gold alcohol inks with a detail brush as a base layer for the wings.

Dab in orange alcohol ink with a cotton swab.

Continue stippling with orange and rust alcohol inks, layering and blending dots. Darken a few areas by mixing a little red alcohol ink with the rust color.

Despite best attempts to stay “within the lines,” alcohol inks inevitably end up running into black areas. Go back over the black lines with your marker or pen after the alcohol inks are complete and dry.