Alcohol Ink Class

 

This week Annette (fellow member Southern Utah Fiber Arts SUFA)) and I took a beginners abstract alcohol ink class at MakeSpace at Kayenta Art Village with Leslie Wignall DeBry (she has an Insta page - but I don't do FB so I can't link). I rarely take in-person classes, but Annette mentioned it and I thought "Why not?". So glad I took the class.  It was just 2h long and was absolute enjoyment and gratification!  Terrific instructor who was unfailingly patient and helpful.  Fun students - some who had art background, some who didn't.  All of us left with 2 pieces on beautiful abstract art.  All utterly different.  Here are some pictures:

Here above is Annette's (the eggplant color was more vivid than my crap picture).  It was lovely.  She and I occupied the middle ground of ink usage. You'll see what I mean coming up. Haha!

 

Above is Janice.  She is mid creation.  Her piece IMO turned out the best.  It was gorgeous actually.

This was Leslie's (instructor) demo.  Later she connected the blown out ink where it was white w/ black ink dots.  It made all the difference!

Here we have Ink Maximalist Mike's piece. It looked like an undersea reef.  Lovely.  He has done this before and it showed.  This is mid make.

I believe this was Karen from Mesquite's piece.  The peach and green were so beautiful.  She left the center open.  She was the only one to do that and it was interesting.  I will try that on my own.

I cannot remember this lovely lady's name. She was delightful.  Also from Mesquite.  I told her (at this point - which is midway) that it looked like an exploding octopus's arm.  Not sure she loved that description.  She went on to create something really pretty and decidedly not sea creatury.  She also took copious notes.  I took no notes.  She turned out to be an ink maximalist!

Her name starts with an A (Angela?). Rats! I should have blogged about this yesterday since my mind is a sieve. She teaches painting at Makespace.  She was such a nice and helpful lady.  She was the lone ink minimalist to great effect.  This is maybe 3/4 the way thru.  Her's looked like a spray of lilies.  So delicate and pretty.  Loved it.

And our unrivaled ink maximalists here is Sue. I heard from her brother-in-law Jeff her middle name is Joy.  She could not be more well named.  I laugh typing that because I teased her in class for her absolute maximalism.  She took it sportingly.  She was creating this for a room in her house.  It reminded me of a lava lamp. It was bright and cheery just like the maker. 

This is Daphne's.  I remember her name because her tag was Daphe.  Hers was most interesting.  She had experience and was friends with the instructor.  Super nice lady. She started with sprays at each end connected with long lines of 3 colors (I think).  I loved LOVED it midway.  I wanted her to stop.  I had to remind myself that it was hers.  She continued on and blew out the sides leaving just a hint of the lines.  Her idea was good too.  I'll admit it.😄  It ended up quite pretty and intricate.  Wish I caught it at the end.  BUT I am going to do the lines when I do another because it was beautiful!  Oh, she was an ink maximalist.

Mine. Ink Mediumist Not all that bold.  I finished first and was happy about that because then I could go around the room looking at other's work!

Here is a pic from Leslie's portfolio.  I thought it was so beautiful.  The colors were just so and her use of the gold ink and the flecking made it. Sorry for the monster shadow lurking above.

 

Now then.

Here is what we used a medium for the ink: 

That's all I'm going to say about the doing of this art form because - go take the class!  I don't want to spoil the fun!  I will say that it is fun and easy to produce something really pretty.  Perfecting this hard to control art form might be challenging.  But I am going to try.  I have some inks, I got some craft plastic.  I have air in my lungs (thank God). I can think of no more satisfying play date with friends than this.  It doesn't take maximum concentration and with creative friends you get to see what floats their boat.  Are they minimalists or maximalists?  You can treat their work as a Rorschach test!  Great fun.

So far I am loving the year of learning and trying new things and it is only 25 days in!