Working With Alcohol Inks- Art Techniques

Below you will find a variety of projects, resources and alcohol ink techniques to enjoy. 
These projects can be done by  K-12th grade students. Be sure to Use in a well ventilated area and be sure to read the warning label.

What is Alcohol Ink?
Alcohol ink is a concentrated dye that can be used on non-porous surfaces. The ink can be pushed and moved around on your canvas of choice with rubbing alcohol or blending solution. There are endless techniques that offer hours of creativity for the artist- this is my favorite medium to use!

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​What Supplies Do I Need?​

1. Ink- I like to use Tim Holtz brand. They are bold and excellent to work with.

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2. Yupo Paper- This is the traditional paper of choice to use with alcohol inks. There are numerous surfaces that you can use (see below for a list), however, I highly recommend starting with this. It can be pricey but you can cut the sheets in half to make them last longer. A good alternative is to use glossy cardstock.






3. Blending Solution -This stuff is used to blend, lighten, and remove the alcohol inks. It is made of ethanol, glycol ethers and isopropanol. It is a must for alcohol ink art. If you place a drop of ink on the yupo paper then place a drop of this in the center it will push the ink outward creating cool effects.




4. Blending Tools- These are handy to spread the ink around or to dap the blending solution or ink in a specific area. You can purchase blending tools (see below) or for your students you may just ant to use Q-tips. My favorite blending tool to use is the small pointy one on the left.
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