Methods For Creating Alcohol Ink Tiles

By Joshua Reynolds


Creatively inclined people have a lot of varied mediums from which to choose to explore their artistic visions. Every product will have a particular group of characteristics and be suited to certain surfaces. One project those who enjoy the look of marbling or the use of multiple tones to create a background, might find making alcohol ink tiles to be fun.

What makes this medium stand out from others of similar type is that it is acid free, has concentrated pigmentation, dries quickly, and is very forgiving. The colors are really vibrant, yet easily diluted, which gives them a highly versatile nature, allowing them to be used in many ways. The product is intended for non-porous surfaces as it would tend to saturate a porous one and produce a faded or muted look.

To get started, it is first necessary to gather the required materials as well as the optional ones to be used for embellishments. The non-porous ceramic surfaces are available in a multitude of size and shape combinations with finish selections of either matte or gloss. The details are completely left to the artist because the techniques may be adapted to fit practically any circumstances or formats.

Inks can be purchase either singly, or in packs of three colors that are coordinated to work together effectively. Other products one might want to have on hand to enhance versatility are a blending solutions, pigmentation to customize hues, metallic additives to add luminosity or a polished effect. Stamp pad applicators, refillable markers, gloves, straws, canned air, felt, and clear coat sealer, are also needed to complete the project.

The first method is adding felt to the bottom of the stamp applicator and applying only a couple drops of the chosen colors to the pad. The next step is to dab the ceramic piece repeatedly until the intended pattern and coverage are obtained. Do not be alarmed if felt strands are left embedded in the ink, as that is the nature of the material, because they can be easily removed once the medium is sufficiently dried.

An alternative method is to apply the medium directly on the chosen surface, which allows better control of how much is used and precisely where it appears. These areas can be blended in various ways using compressed air, straws, gloves or fingers, or felt. To get a lovely fractured dispersal effect, droplets of blending solution can be applied to dilute the colors.

Another choice is to drop some of the medium into water that is placed inside of a wide container. The colors float, and when the artist submerges their tile into the liquid, it will collect the inks on its surface. This produces a beautiful marbling that one may opt to either leave in its natural state or use the tools to alter it.

The look of technique can be altered to preference by either dabbing it with the felt stamper, blowing on it with either straws of varied widths or compressed air, using the markers to add detail, or applying blending solution for dilution. This is a very forgiving medium that can be wiped off and reapplied as desired. To protect one's work from damage and possible fading, add about three thin coats of a quality clear sealer.




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