Alcohol Ink Abstract Play and Loosen Up Your Art with Air from Udemy

What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction

Just a quick little introduction, so glad you have signed up. I hope you enjoy painting with me. If there is anything you feel you need, please don't hesitate to send me a message in the Q & A section or email me, I'm here for you. Also if there are any changes I can make to the course to help you and future students please share. It would mean the world to me if you find the course a 5 Star!

Introduction to the course - This course is all about playing with Air. We'll use a Straw, Canned Air, and a small air brush to create some beautiful abstracts.

These videos are short and very easy to follow and you can quickly create some lovely pieces.

If you are new to Udemy you may find this quick tutorial helpful. I'll discuss Playback issues, where to post Questions, where to find your resources in the lectures, and how to leave or skip a review.

In this section Students will receive the full material list as well as a printable PDF. Some items may be purchased online and a few online links are available in the Bonus Section. Remember this course has lifetime access so you can use what you have and play. A straw is a great start and is very inexpensive.

We'll start this Alcohol Ink course using just a straw. It's the most inexpensive way to create this lovely abstract look. But please make sure you are not inhaling the fumes from the straw. Another option is to use an air blower tool that you would use to clean your camera with.

Let's try it on a tile so that if you aren't happy with it, you can use pure alcohol to clean off the tile and start again. Remember this is all about PLAY so try a few using different color combos! Tiles are also great for using resin to seal your tiles to create coasters.

*Alcohol inks have warning labels. These are irritants like spray paints, varnishes and many other chemicals etc. Read labels and use Safety precautions. You do not want to in-hale inks or alcohol. I use the straws to blow out air. Use these in a well ventilated area or wear a organic vapors mask.

Now let's move on to working on Yupo Paper. Yupo is my favorite to work on. It's easy to frame and no special sealing is needed if you place your art behind UV glass. Yupo is known for staining, but you can create some lovely shades of colors on it. You can also use Yupo scraps to cut out and glue onto another sheet or yupo or onto a birch cradle, or a canvas. It provides lots of options. I'll be posting more of these options up on my Youtube channel.

We will continue using a straw for this demo.

Canned air is another option working on Tiles and you can also try it on Yupo paper. In this demo we will cover only the tile, but I encourage you to try it on yupo as well. Canned air is a bit more expensive than a straw. You can purchase Canned air at most Office supply stores.

I'm sure you've had an art piece that you weren't completely happy with right? In this lecture I'll show you how I re-worked an older piece and brought new life back to it using canned air. Let go of fear and discover how fun it is to create something new from the old.

You may skip this video if you have taken a previous Alcohol Ink Course with me. This lecture is from a previous course on preparing your yupo paper by cleaning it off with alcohol and then how I tape it down to a Foam board to help control movement when using an airbrush. Some folks find it just as easy to hold in their hands as well.

Let's cover a simple one to start with the Air Brush. I have a reference photo that was my inspiration. It's always fun to

replicate colors and explore with the airbrush to create movement in your colors. In this demo we will use Wild plum, snowcap, and butterscotch.

Now that you are a bit more comfortable using your airbrush, let's create something that looks more like a ocean scene with waves. Try not to get discouraged as it will take a bit of practice.

This is our final demo and we'll explore the color slate more. The color range is wonderful with this shade and I would advise you to try some other colors such as Pitch Black on a small demo sheet of yupo to see it color ranges.

This sealing Demo is in all of my Alcohol Ink Courses so if you have taken another course with me you may like to watch this one as a refresher.

In this section you will see how I seal my Alcohol Inks. If you frame your painting with UV glass I have found that you can skip the spray. I have been working with Inks for over 4 years and I can only comment on my own experience as an artist. As with most art mediums direct sunlight can fade them. I often work with Art Resin which has a built in UV Stabilizer. For AI on Yupo I seal with Kamar and UV Spray and I recommend UV glass.

I have my Ranger brand AI pieces hanging in my own home in a light filled room (Not direct sun rays) still testing after 4 years so can't say for longer but do not see obvious signs of fading on those pieces so I would rate that as excellent, but in direct sun the results are very poor. Alcohol Inks are a Dye and were originally meant for Crafts not fine art and they are NOT lightfast.

I wanted to add this demo and the coaster one for you as a bonus sealing video. These two videos were a couple that I did for my online students and I thought you may like to see them as well since you can choose to seal yours a few ways.

Here is a new Demo video for my Private Student Group that I wanted to share with you. I show how I cover my tiles with Art Resin in-order to seal them as a Coaster. It will hold a Coffee cup up to 120 degrees fahrenheit. I recommend using and uneven cup bottom or some type of felt on the bottom of the cups to prevent it sticking to the tile.

Products mentioned in video clickable links in Bonus section:
Art Resin: (Works out to .99 per ounce for gallon bulk)
Tiny Rubber Feet
Butane Torch
Spec Noir Colors: TB3 and PL3

This is an extra Bonus video added from previous watercolor class. You can follow the same steps to mat and frame your Alcohol Ink paintings. If you choose to use UV glass, sealing or UV spray is not needed. Just make sure that your painting does not touch the glass. (Usually a Mat will provide enough space).

How to give your paintings a professional framing look. In this section you will learn about all the supplies you will need and we will cover how to add backings and wire to complete your painting.

BONUS

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Provides a great introduction to using alcohol inks, especially for those who may not feel confident in their drawing abilities or want to express themselves through color

Encourages learners to let go of perfectionism and embrace a more fluid and intuitive approach to art-making, which can be beneficial for artists seeking to break free from rigid techniques

Explores the use of various tools like straws, canned air, and mini airbrushes to manipulate alcohol inks, offering a range of techniques for creating unique and colorful abstract paintings

Covers how to attach Yupo paper to canvas and seal artwork with art resin, expanding the possibilities for displaying and preserving alcohol ink creations

Requires learners to acquire canned air and a small air compressor, which may not be readily available in a typical household or library, to fully participate in the course

Advises learners to adhere to manufacturer safety guidelines when using paints and chemicals, and to contact a doctor if they have concerns about medical conditions, which is important for safety

Reviews summary

Alcohol ink abstract play with air

According to learners, this course offers a playful and experimental approach to alcohol inks, particularly focusing on using different air tools like straws, canned air, and airbrushes to create abstract art. Many found it highly suitable for beginners wanting to try the medium or for artists looking to loosen up their style. Students praised the clear demonstrations and the instructor's encouraging and supportive style. The course effectively teaches how to let go of perfectionism and embrace the creative process. Bonus sections on sealing and framing were also appreciated for helping finish artwork.

Covers techniques using straw, canned air, and airbrush.

"It was great to see the different effects you can get using a straw versus canned air or an airbrush."

"The demos on using the airbrush were particularly helpful for getting movement in the ink."

"Starting with the straw was a brilliant idea, making it accessible before investing in tools."

"I enjoyed experimenting with the different ways to blow the ink around with air."

"Seeing all three techniques demonstrated gave me a good overview of the possibilities with air."

Bonus lectures cover finishing techniques.

"The bonus lessons on sealing and framing were incredibly valuable."

"I didn't know how to finish my alcohol ink pieces before, the resin demo was very helpful."

"Appreciated the information on protecting the art and the different sealing methods."

"Learning how to mat and frame helped me present my work professionally."

"The sealing demos were a great addition, giving practical steps after creating the art."

Step-by-step process is easy to follow.

"The demo videos were short, sweet, and very easy to follow along with."

"Kellie clearly explains each step and shows exactly what she's doing."

"I found the demonstrations simple yet effective in showing the techniques."

"The visuals were clear and made replicating the process straightforward."

"Her process explanation in the demos made understanding the method simple."

Great introduction to alcohol inks.

"As a complete beginner to alcohol inks, this course was the perfect starting point."

"It's designed well for someone who has never used alcohol inks before."

"The course breaks down the basics making it very approachable for new artists."

"I felt confident trying alcohol inks after watching these lessons."

"Even with no prior experience, I was able to create some fun pieces."

Kellie's teaching style is supportive and inspiring.

"Kellie is an amazing teacher, she's so encouraging and makes you feel like you can really do this."

"I really appreciated the instructor's emphasis on 'play' and letting go of perfectionism."

"Her gentle guidance and willingness to answer questions made the process so much less intimidating."

"The instructor's passion for alcohol inks is contagious and truly motivates you to create."

"I felt very supported throughout the lessons; Kellie makes learning fun and stress-free."

Emphasis on experimenting and letting go.

"This course really helped me just play with the inks and not worry about the outcome."

"If you want to loosen up and embrace abstract art, this is the perfect class."

"The whole vibe is about experimentation and having fun, which is exactly what I needed."

"It's less about perfect technique and more about creative expression, very freeing."

"I loved the invitation to just 'go with the flow' and see where the colors take you."

Some air tools can be an additional expense.

"While you can start cheap with a straw, the airbrush is where the magic happens, which is an added cost."

"Realized I needed to invest in canned air or an airbrush to get the full experience beyond the straw demos."

"Budgeting for the airbrush was necessary to try all the techniques shown."

"The course shows different tools, but the nicer effects often require the more expensive options."

"Just a heads up that getting the most out of the class might require buying an airbrush."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Alcohol Ink Abstract Play and Loosen Up Your Art with Air with these activities:

Practice Airbrush Techniques

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Improve your airbrush control before the course to create smoother gradients and more controlled ink movement.

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Watch online tutorials on basic airbrush handling and maintenance.
Practice spraying water or diluted ink on scrap paper to get a feel for the airbrush.
Experiment with different air pressures and nozzle settings.

Read 'Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language'

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Gain a deeper understanding of abstract art principles to enhance your creative process with alcohol inks.

View Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language'.
Read the chapters focusing on color theory and composition.
Take notes on key concepts and how they might apply to alcohol ink painting.

Create a Color Palette Inspiration Board

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Explore color combinations that inspire you to create more vibrant and expressive alcohol ink paintings.

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Gather images of color palettes from magazines, websites, or nature.
Arrange the images on a board or in a digital document.
Note the specific colors and how they interact with each other.

Four other activities

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Experiment with Ink Flow on Different Surfaces

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Master ink flow control by practicing on various surfaces to achieve desired effects.

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Gather different surfaces like Yupo paper, tile, and canvas.
Apply alcohol inks to each surface using different techniques (straw, air can, airbrush).
Observe how the ink flows and reacts on each surface.
Document your observations and adjust your techniques accordingly.

Document Your Experiments

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Record your experiments with alcohol inks to better understand the medium and track your progress.

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Create a journal or digital document to record your experiments.
Note the materials used, techniques applied, and the results achieved.
Include photos or sketches of your experiments.
Reflect on what you learned from each experiment.

Create a Series of Small Abstract Pieces

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Apply the techniques learned in the course to create a cohesive series of abstract alcohol ink paintings.

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Choose a theme or color palette for your series.
Create several small paintings using different techniques.
Arrange the paintings in a visually appealing way.
Reflect on the overall message or feeling conveyed by the series.

Explore 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'

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Deepen your understanding of color and light to create more dynamic and visually appealing alcohol ink art.

View Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions) on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter'.
Read the chapters focusing on color temperature, value, and atmospheric perspective.
Experiment with applying these principles to your alcohol ink paintings.

Career center

Learners who complete Alcohol Ink Abstract Play and Loosen Up Your Art with Air will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Hobby Artist

A hobby artist creates art for personal enjoyment and fulfillment. This course, with its focus on play, abstraction, and alcohol ink methods, is perfect for a hobby artist looking to explore new techniques. By taking this course a hobby artist can benefit from its demonstrations of using air to manipulate inks. The course's easy-to-follow demos and emphasis on self-expression are suited for a hobby artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hobby Artist

Fine Artist

A fine artist creates original artwork using various techniques and mediums. This course, focusing on alcohol ink techniques and abstract art, helps build a foundation for a fine artist looking to expand their repertoire. It explores movement and color through air-based methods. A fine artist can especially benefit from the course's emphasis on experimentation and letting go of perfectionism, and discovering self-expression. The demos using a mini air brush to achieve unique effects in abstract, sunset, and seascape paintings are particularly helpful for a fine artist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fine Artist

Art Instructor

An art instructor teaches art techniques and concepts to students of all ages and skill levels. This course, centered around alcohol ink and air techniques, helps prepare you to teach others these methods. Art instructors can adapt the demonstration of using a straw, canned air, and a small air brush to inspire new students. The course's focus on creating a fun, exciting, and colorful abstract painting can translate into engaging lesson plans. An art instructor that wishes to expand their curriculum should take this course.

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Mixed Media Artist

A mixed media artist creates artwork using a combination of different materials and techniques. This course, focusing on alcohol ink and air techniques, may be useful for expanding the range of a mixed media artist. This may lead to incorporating new and dynamic effects into their pieces. The course's demos using various air techniques may integrate well into mixed media projects.

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Art Therapist

An art therapist uses creative methods of art making to help clients explore emotions, reduce stress, and improve mental well-being, often requiring a master's degree. This course, focused on play and loosening up through alcohol ink, may be useful. It can assist an art therapist in finding methods to encourage patients to express themselves. The course's focus on abstraction and the use of air may be very useful in this regard.

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Surface Pattern Designer

A surface pattern designer creates designs for various surfaces, such as textiles, wallpaper, and product packaging. This course, with its alcohol ink methods and abstract play, may be useful for a surface pattern designer looking to generate unique and colorful patterns. Taking this course will lead to experimentation with the use of air to create movement in the inks. The course's instruction on moving inks with a straw, canned air, and a small air compressor may inspire a surface pattern designer.

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Digital Artist

A digital artist creates artwork using digital tools and software. This course, although focused on physical mediums like alcohol ink, may be useful by providing inspiration for creating digital abstract art. The techniques of using air to manipulate inks may lead to unique digital textures and effects. A digital artist can translate the physical processes into the digital realm.

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Textile Artist

A textile artist creates art using natural and synthetic fibers or fabrics. This course, with its emphasis on abstract art and alcohol ink techniques, may be useful for a textile artist interested in incorporating these methods into their work. This can lead to exploration of the use of air to create movement and texture. A textile artist may find the demonstrations using various air application methods to be very useful.

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Illustrator

An illustrator creates images for books, magazines, and other media. This course, although focused on abstract art, may be useful for an illustrator looking to explore different techniques and loosen up their style. The stress on playing with air to create abstract paintings may lead to a more original style. The course may assist an illustrator in finding different ways to make their art.

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Muralist

A muralist designs and paints large-scale artwork directly onto walls or other surfaces. This course, highlighting alcohol ink and air techniques, may provide a muralist with ways to experiment with movement and explore the use of color on a large scale. The course's focus on using a variety of air sources may lead to interesting textures and effects. A muralist might find the course helpful by translating some of the methods used in alcohol ink to the medium of paint.

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Commercial Artist

A commercial artist creates artwork for commercial purposes, such as advertising, marketing, and product design. This course, with its focus on alcohol ink and abstract art, may be useful when looking for new ways to create art for these purposes. This may lead to experimentation with unique textures and effects. The course's instruction may assist a commercial artist in their role.

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Art Curation

An art curator selects and organizes artwork for exhibitions in galleries, museums, or other venues. This course, focusing on alcohol ink and abstract art, may inform an art curator about contemporary styles and techniques. The course's focus on self-expression and unique air-based application may lead to interesting pieces that an art curator might select for display. The course may assist an art curator.

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Floral Designer

A floral designer arranges and designs floral displays for various occasions, this course with alcohol ink and air techniques, may be useful for a floral designer looking to incorporate art into their designs. This course may enhance their understanding of abstract forms. The course may provide a floral designer with new ideas.

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Set Designer

A set designer creates the visual elements of theatrical, film, or television productions. This course, highlighting alcohol ink and airbrush techniques, may provide a set designer with ways to create interesting backdrops or atmospheric effects. This may lead to experimentation with colors and textures. A set designer may find the abstract look of the paintings created in this course helpful for specific set designs.

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Art Director

An art director is responsible for the visual style and images used in various projects, such as magazines, newspapers, product packaging, and film productions. This course, with its approach to alcohol ink and air techniques, may be useful for an art director looking to gain knowledge of new methods. This understanding can help create unique styles for various projects. The focus on abstract art may assist an art director in their design vocabulary.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Alcohol Ink Abstract Play and Loosen Up Your Art with Air.

Abstract Painting

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Explores the fundamental elements of abstract painting, such as color, composition, and texture. It provides a solid foundation for understanding abstract art principles. It is useful for artists looking to deepen their understanding of abstract art. It can help students to better understand the 'why' behind the techniques taught in the course.

Abstract Painting: The Elements of Visual Language

Paperback

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara

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Although focused on realism, this book provides invaluable insights into color theory and light interaction. Understanding these principles can significantly enhance your abstract alcohol ink paintings. It is more valuable as additional reading than a current reference. It is commonly used by artists of all skill levels.

Dinotopia: Journey To Chandara (Calla Editions)

Hardcover

Alcohol Ink Abstract Play and Loosen Up Your Art with Air

What's inside

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Alcohol ink abstract play with air

Activities

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