You know, the one who faces adversary with an I’m-gonna-do-this-watch-out-world kinda attitude and seems to think they can arm-wrestle problems into behaving themselves.
I never thought I was, until I tried alcohol ink painting.
The first time I saw an alcohol ink wall hanging, done in blacks and golds and a touch of soft teakwood, I had no idea what I was looking at. Only that I definitely had to figure out how to create some of that flowy, expansive freedom for myself.
After a bit of research, I figured out which supplies I’d need – namely, ink, alcohol and a hair dryer (it works magnificently with a regular hair dryer, despite what the professionals might say about heat guns).
I’ve done all kinds of painting in all kinds of mediums. How hard could it be?
Well, the first thing I discovered is that my painting style is, ahhhh… aggressive. I like stabbing my brush at the canvas – Jab, jab, jab! Take that, yellow ochre!
So naturally, when I aimed the hair dryer at the ink, I pointed it almost like a gun. Gotcha, ink! Instead of fluttering in those stunning graceful swoops, the ink just skittled away in fingerlike dribbles, scattering splatters in a jagged, unappealing pattern. It looked awful.
What was I doing wrong?
The good part about alcohol ink is that it’s easy to erase and start again – it wipes away with a little alcohol. So that’s what I did, over and over again – swipe, botch, swipe again (I won’t tell you what the room smelled like at that point…suffice it to say don’t EVER do alcohol ink painting without proper ventilation!)
Finally, I tried a gentler approach.
I teased the alcohol, I tilted the hair dryer a bit, angling it so the full blast of air landed somewhere past my paper, and only the gentler flow of air reached the wet ink. I watched as the ink drifted slowly in billowy threads and whisps, spreading in ever growing, soft circles.
I had actually created the delicate, flower-like art I was after!
As my kids get older, I’m discovering that alcohol ink isn’t the only delicate art out there. Ever try demanding something from a preteen – that they complete their homework, make their beds, eat breakfast, for goodness’ sake PUT THAT BOOK DOWN AND GO TO SLEEP?! Heh. Like alcohol inks, children don’t respond too well to a direct blast from the heat. Angle the command a bit, so just the milder request swoops by them in a gentle breeze, and they may just swirl off in a graceful arc just in time for the school bus. There you have it – a lesson for life in an art project!
Are you wondering where you fit into the alcohol ink personality spectrum? I’ve done super-fun alcohol ink workshops with women of all ages, and it’s fun to see who’s patient and passive, and who can’t seem to put the inks down on the paper while they’re sitting in a chair (guess which category I fit into?). One thing they all have in common is having a good time and going home with something absolutely beautiful!