The Idiots purchased a couple of amateur paintings in Quartzite, AZ several years ago. The technique used to make them was called “alcohol ink.” They’ve wondered about this medium ever since. When they learned there would be a “hands on” alcohol ink evening during the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, Idiot He decided to give it a go.
Alcohol inks are alcohol with pigments in it. The colors can be subtle or very intense. They can be used on porous materials like paper and fabric, but they are often used on impermeable surfaces like glass, glazed tiles, and a paper made of poly called “Yupo.” The alcohol makes the pigment spread and interact with other patches of ink, forming interesting patterns and designs. Various techniques can be applied, like dabbing with brushes or cloth pads to add texture or a light mist of alcohol that forms patterns of “bubbles.”
It is harder to describe than to show. Idiot He spent two hours playing and learning – and forgot to take any pictures during the “class.”
Here are three tiles and a piece of Yupo paper that He experimented on. Fun stuff!
A closeup of part of the practice on Yupo paper.
Some tiles produced by other participants.
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A rainy morning gave way to a gray afternoon for the Women in Plein Air demonstration. Nothing complicated – just any women who wanted to came to the Hole in the Rock Heritage center and set about realizing their vision in media. (One man was apparently unaware of the demonstration and ignored his friends making fun of him as he worked on his painting. It was striking to see how the different media and techniques resulted in such wildly different art works.
One woman worked fairly slowly with a palette knife.
One woman started with a popular “ground” color – orange. In abou45 minutes she had quite a bit of a painting done.
The woman working in pastels produced a completed work in less than an hour… nice work!
Another painter working on an orange base on canvas.
Here’s the guy who just went right on painting as he was surrounded by women artists and observers.
Another artist… another vision…
