Acrylic Inks
As many of you know, my painting process is often a lengthy process. I love getting lost in the work and multiple layers are important in finding the depth I often seek. If I use acrylic paint, oil sticks or layers of rice paper, I find multiple layers are important and satisfying. This may be one reason I do not work well with watercolors. Can you imagine the mess I would have then? Does this mean I like working with a heavy hand?
The process I find most appealing is to apply the medium to the surface and remove some of it, apply more and remove, etc. When the painting is where I think it should be I begin another layering process of clear glazing. I might add up to 100 layers of clear glaze to a painting. Sometimes, I find I can also continue to adjust the work as I go along between the layers of the glaze which can be very interesting.
One product I have found to be of great interest to me lately has been acrylic inks. A few companies have come out with this very stable product which gives the most sheer, smooth application. These inks blend in amazing ways. If you enjoy working with very fluid mediums (like watercolor) and watching the colors meld together, I think you will really enjoy acrylic inks. My reflection series uses a lot of these inks in both regular and pearlized formulas. On canvas I often combine them with acrylic paints, on paper I will often use just the ink. Here is a close up example of a work in progress. You can see the pearlized ink easily here.
The dark background is fluid acrylic paint. The bit of blue in the lower left-hand corner is regular (not pearlized) ink.
I use these inks in several different ways and have tried them on a variety of surfaces. They do well with many applications and on a wide variety of surfaces. The example you see here is on hardboard.
Have you given these new inks a try? Do you like them? Would you like to try them?
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There are 5 Comments to "Acrylic Inks"
oops, i forgot to type in your new blog address to my list of blogs that get automatically posted. Or I automatically get a heads up about the posting, i mean. I would like to try these inks. I like the way they look. Not trying anything new right now though as most of my art supplies are packed. be well, suki
Kim, I haven’t tried those inks, but I like the effects you’ve gotten with them.
Thank you both for your comments!
Suki, I really like these inks, too. When you have time and a place to set up a studio, then you can look for these inks. You haven’t missed anything, though, Suki! I am glad you want to add me in to your list, though.
San, it is so much fun to watch these inks work… you can use them in so many ways.
Thanks Again!
Kim, thanks for the wonderful description of the inks you use. Of course, this makes me want to try them immediately:) They look great on the little bit you are showing us here, I love the way they “move”. About the layers, you can work with layers in watercolor too, but you don’t have the satisfaction of creating a new surface, something organic-looking, create a “crust” of paint/glaze etc. I see the watercolor more like a meditation of following the pigments dispersing in the water and doing their very own work, which I’m not responsible for.
But as you said, perhaps this works also on canvas with these inks. I’ll try that one day:)
Thanks so much for sharing the process, it’s so interesting to hear you talk about your work,
love
Andrea
Hi Andrea, I am glad you like this description. I think I like the way they move, too, and I am quite sure you would enjoy them in a different way, but you would enjoy them never-the-less.
You know, I understand how you are right about this. I need to work more with the meditative qualities of the watercolor medium and allowing them to form their own paintings. I really find that idea appealing.
Ah, you are wonderful about talking about your work, too. I really enjoyed your latest post…oh, the challenges we meet with this work!
Thanks for your very insightful comment.