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