Thursday, March 16, 2017

Time for Geraniums ~ alcohol inks demo

6x7 alcohol inks on Yupo synthetic paper done yesterday.  As usual I had no idea what might develop from dropping inks onto blank white support.  A usual rule of thumb, at least for me, is to always start with the most pale or light colors as the dark ones tend to go to black with only a few applications.  An informative demo with photos illustrating each step including supplies used will follow this image.*
*All photos COPYRIGHT 2017 Kay Smith.


SUPPLIES:  Alcohol Blending Solution (Tim Holtz), alcohol 91%, fine mist sprayer filled with alcohol, large red drinking straw, Yupo, assorted alcohol inks (Jacquard Pinata brand and Tim Holtz Adirondack Ranger)
 
Do not use alcohol 50%.  I place all on a 11x15 sheet of foamcore to protect my table.  No pencil or brush used in this demo.  Five colors:  Shell Pink, Senorita Magenta, Willow, Juniper, Poppyfield were used and will be shown together at the end.  Yupo is 6x7 inches and is adhered on back with masking tape on a sheet of white printer paper that sits on the foamcore


STEP 1
Spritz or spray 91% alcohol onto Yupo then add Shell Pink (Adirondack) ink, the lightest pink value


 
STEP 2
After blowing through the large straw to push ink around, add 3 puddles of Senorita Magenta



 
Another view

 
Turned a different way


 
STEP 3
Adding blending solution to top of magenta shapes


 
STEP 4
Blowing with straw again quickly (canned air is also used if available).  Ink is feathering outwards


 
STEP 5
Spritz or spray with fine mister the alcohol 91% again which gives tiny droplets over the surface.  Blow again with the straw or add more blending solution if you need to do so


 
STEP 6
Adding greens.  This will no doubt be a floral of some kind with the 2 pinks and now my lightest green, Willow

 
STEP 7
Place Willow in 3 areas as shown for balance, add blending solution to move the inks, and blow air again to widen and spread



STEP 8
Adding second green, my darker value Juniper 1-2 drops at edges.  Inks starting to bleed into each other,  mix and separate

 

 
Continue adding Juniper around 3 sides at least



STEP 9
Turn the Yupo several ways to get a sense of what it will be, a floral or an abstract
 


STEP 10
Add a stronger deeper warm hue such as Poppyfield, a rich red for single drops as seen below
 


Continuing to add Poppyfield


Adding more Poppyfield with this orientation, having the leaf shapes mostly at bottom
 

 
Separated single drops of Poppyfield ink to mimic geranium blooms and florets (upside down view).  I've not blown air on these final drops


Five colors used for this demo in order of application L to R
 
 


Signing my name with Sakura Pigma Micron 01 permanent ink at lower right
 


Finished alcohol ink "Time for Geraniums" 6x7 on Yupo

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