Tutor day at Hilton Art Club

I was asked to do a tutored session at the art club last Friday morning. The subject was to be my acrylic ink technique. This was going to be a challenge - a really wet medium, takes ages to dry and is really risky (things can go wrong at any stage - and often does)!

Most people hadn't used the inks before and definitely not in the way I use them, so a lot of explaining to be done initially. Luckily I had prepared quite a few tester pages, giving examples of how it reacted - especially in terms of being able to use watercolour techniques (which they were aware of) such as salt, cling film, masking fluid etc. I also had tried out calligraphy inks on the tester pages, as I had a lot of colours - however it doesn't have the same vibrancy when diluted. However, I also tried the spritzing on Indian ink - loved the effect on the Bockingford paper, so maybe I'll be trying some monochrome paintings at some stage.

Some of the member had problems in terms of the ink drying too quickly - whereas I can draw the whole thing first before applying the water. I think this was two-fold. Firstly quite a few tables were placed near radiators - basically it was too warm and therefore dried the inks more quickly. One member had brought her own inks, which looked like the Liquitex version of the FW inks I use. However, when reading the label, they mentioned they were quick drying - not so helpful.....  However, they did keep their vibrancy when diluted, so could be used on small paintings - not the size I generally do (which is double what is in the photo, usually 1/2 imperial).

Another issue someone had was that when they tried to remove the masking fluid, it either didn't remove properly or ripped the paper. Sometimes the ink stays quite thick on the page - however, I have found that this tends to be the thicker inks (either semi-transparent or opaque). You can feel it when you are applying them on to the paper - they just don't flow the same way. This means that having a print-out of the FW ink chart, which shows which are transparent, semi-transparent or opaque, is really helpful in deciding where to put the inks in relation to the masking fluid.

I was delighted that everyone tried the technique and went outside their comfort zone in certain cases. I think it is always good to try new techniques and mediums every so often - you never know when you'll find something that you absolutely love. That was the case with me and the inks. I used to be so timid, but you can't be with colours like these!

I am probably going to be fairly quiet for a while now. Although I have lots of paintings to do for the July Cambridge Open Studios, I have a major project coming up - redoing my studio. Up until now I have been managing with no running water, everything piled under the eaves in miscellaneous plastic/cardboard boxes and some absolutely ancient melamine furniture (that goes back to the ark). Well - February brings the builders and I will have a basin - with hot and cold running water and draining board - and fitted cupboards along one wall. On the other wall will be open shelving for books next to my plan chest and at the end will be storage for all my canvases/portfolios etc in purpose built shelving, so they don't fall on to each other. Really looking forward to getting organised and making it a proper studio at last. At the moment I am just going through everything - throwing out stuff that isn't needed and boxing and labelling things so that it is all easy to find one I have all the cupboard space. I can't believe the amount of equipment I have - but it all gets used at some stage and as I love doing mixed media it all needs to be immediately available. Can't wait.....