You know when you’re really into a hobby and just can’t put it down? That’s what happens when you use Alcohol ink art techniques for fun. The color changes and blooms. You look at your page with some awe as it comes to life. Every drop is a little test. Now and then you act like a crazy scientist. A daydreamer at times. You can’t do anything wrong because the ink tells half the story and you’re just along for the crazy, colorful ride.
Most people who sign up for this class think they will make at least one pretty picture. Soon, they are planning their shopping trips around which brand of isopropyl alcohol to buy. You start to bring little pieces of Yupo paper with you “just in case.” Suddenly, you’re texting your friends, excited to share your new writing. “Hey guys, check this out!” It looks like the Milky Way got married to a jellyfish. Even though they smile politely, you know that things are getting serious now.
Have you seen how gold ink moves? When you tilt the paper, the light hits it, making it look like it knows something and is trying to blackmail you. Some people are crazy about circles, while others are crazy about waves. In every corner, you’ll find little worlds. Chaos and order are always fighting, and it’s hard to tell which is in charge.
Everyone is quiet at the beginning of class. After five minutes, laughing breaks out as colors cover hands and sometimes faces. As a quick tip, don’t wear anything that you even slightly like. You’ll have to deal with the ink-stained fingers later. It’s better than treatment, cheaper, and there’s not as much talking.
There’s more than just fun to discover. The process makes you creative in ways you didn’t know were there. Someone says, “I can’t draw a straight line!” Why should I care? The ink can’t either. Freedom! All of a sudden, you let mistakes and accidents happen to you. Others look like unintended wonders, while others look like cosmic disasters. Both of them should be in the album.
A couple of experts show up with a lot of color charts and swatch samples. Beginners have big eyes and what they think are enough paper towels. After fifteen minutes, no one feels like a beginner. There are rings, splatters, and trippy dreams in everyone’s hands. It gets quiet because everyone is “chasing blooms,” which means they are getting lost in the process.
You find a new way to do something just when you think you have it down pat. Use a straw to make marks on things, put salt on top, and blow them out with a hair dryer. The mistake you made yesterday will be the base layer tomorrow. A lot of the time, people in this class have said “Whoops!” and “Wait, that’s crazy!” at the same time.
The class doesn’t end when the timer goes off. No, no. You’ll have to look for frames at thrift stores. Looking through Pinterest for crazy color combinations. arguing with yourself about how artistically interesting it is that there is a spill on your kitchen counter. All of a sudden, you want to draw on anything flat and easy to reach.
You should know this by now: you’ll want to come back. There will be lots of crazy ideas and midnight color tests in the group chat. “Letting go,” “letting color,” and “letting things get gloriously out of hand” are all very fulfilling. Remember that the hardest part is stopping once you start.