Hello all... almost the end of January already - how did that happen?! I hope 2022 is treating you well so far.
I've something a little different for you today - though in some ways it's not different at all! Regulars will know how much I love creating ink splotches with Distress Inks and Oxides. I can't imagine why it's taken me so long to have a proper play with doing the same using alcohol inks.
They've been sitting there on the shelf, coming out every once in a while to alter a metal embellishment, or tint a bit of acetate. But I've never taken them out for a proper ride. After watching the Tim Holtz demo on YouTube last Saturday, I decided it was about time I did a bit of playful exploration.
My mojo has been on go-slow, so playing without expectation, judgment or any kind of plan was a lovely thing to do. And I'm pretty excited about the results. I'll shut up now and let you have a closer look at some of the splotches and layers in these abstract "maps" of inkiness.
These are from the first one (click to see them a little larger).
And here are some close-ups of the second "map" - lots of organic shapes and seeds growing in this one...
These are a combination of Ranger's Alcohol Inks, Alcohol Pearls and Alcohol Alloys. The Inks involved are Monsoon, Mushroom, Espresso, Denim, and maybe a touch of Ginger (don't really remember all of it - I was just playing). The Pearls are Celestial, Smolder and Mineral, and the Alloy is Foundry.
I'm hoping I can stay nice and loose and just keep playing, whilst trying to remember and recreate some of my favourite effects so that I can have at least some idea of what will happen with various combinations and actions! I do love a learning curve.
I hope 2022 is providing you with new creative adventures, and I'll see you all again soon.
You can learn new things at any time in your life if you’re willing to be a beginner. If you actually learn to like being a beginner, the whole world opens up to you.
Barbara Shur
The beginning is the most important part of the work.
Plato