Happy New Year with Alcohol Inks

I wish all my Blog Readers a very happy 2020!!

In my last post I promised to show you some details about my experiences with Alcohol Inks.

Some months ago I realized, that the first producer of alcohol inks in Germany comes from my hometown Dresden.

The name of these inks is "Octopusfluids".
To all of you who are interested to try these amazing ink I attach the link here

I was curious to test what alcohol inks are and if / how they could be combined with Zentangle.

A very interesting and exciting journey begun when I started to play with these inks. I was really blown away by the brilliance. The quality of these inks is excellent!

My very first try of Alcohol Inks by Octopus Fluids at all

There are several techniques to use alcohol inks. I tried a few but there is still so much to explore and to learn. I found lots of tutorials online to use the inks.

The tangling techniques on the inks I discovered myself, with several pens and papers.

Here are some of my works up to now:

"Fuchsia" on Yupo paper...

...tangeled with black permanent pen and gelly roll gold 

I need to mention, that different materials these inks are needed, than for classic Zentangle. 

You need non absorbent surfaces. The most usual paper is called YUPO.
Tangling directly on this materials is possible with Gelly roll pens and permanent markers.

"Fuchsia" and "Berry Juice" and "Gold Rush" on Yupo

... tangled with Identipen 

This one I love to print on Inkjet paper and add some gold and/ or stardust gelly roll on the printed card. It is a lovely gift to use them as postcard or greeting card.


Another possibility is to scan the colored Yupo paper sheets and print them on Inkjet paper with textured surface (similar to watercolor paper). Then you can tangle directly on this surface with the Sakura Micron pens and the other standard materials as charcoal etc.

"Sapphire", "Lagoon" , "Shadow" on Yupo

printed, tangled with black and white

"Bloody Mary", "Fuchsia", Marigold" "Plum" on Yupo

printed on Inkjet paper (textured) tangled with Micron, shaded with pencil and white charcoal

"Berry Juice", "Sapphire" and "Lagoon" on Yupo

scanned, printed on Inkjet paper (textured), tangled with blue, shaded blue and white

"Berry Juice" and "Hot Pink" , a bit "Sunlight" on Yupo

tangled with Identipen directly on the Yupo 

tangled with white gelly 05 and Microperm 01

 I tried other surfaces as well. I was successful with "Stone paper" (watertight)

Here I dripped the inks on stone paper and tangled with Microns

Fabriano Pergamo is also an interesting surface to dye with the alcohol inks:

alcohol inks on Fabriano Pergamo paper. Tangling on the backside. This one  is too busy for me but it is worth another try.

Last, but not least, these are some of my works which are waiting for tangling, possibly....

Unfortunately I have less time than ideas...

I am happy, that I discovered this completely new field of painting.

Unless the standard Zentangle method and drawing will still be my main focus it is very inspiring to go into the brilliant colors from time to time.

I am very grateful to Octopusfluids to support me on this journey.

I will keep you informed ...

Have a good time!