Gourds and alcohol ink don’t always work well together. Many gourd artists confuse gourd dyes with alcohol inks. They really are different and if you learn why and how alcohol inks work and what the challenges are you will understand why gourds and alcohol ink can be a wonderful combination. Let’s learn the facts.
Alcohol Ink Sources
Most of the supplies I use come from Welburn with their Gourdmaster inks and from Blue Whales Art. This is own by an artist/gourd grower and a just a great lady to work with. Check her supply list before you try the bigger suppliers! Any brand will work, but I like the quality and brightness of color found in these two brands.
The two products I use
There are two major brands of alcohol inks I use, Ranger Adirondack , Jacquard Pinata Inks. Both about $4.
You can use these together without a problem. They do not work well with other color media so you often have problems. All have a combination of ink and a high-grade alcohol base. They are at their best when they are applied to a white or clear non-porous surface, like glass, stone, or plastic where their translucent brilliant colors can sparkle! On paper, they don’t disperse but soak in.
Gourds and Alcohol inks
The Gourd Presents 3 Special Challenges
A gourd also has a porous surface. Drop dye on an untreated flat gourd surface and it will soak in and not bleed well. Plus, the gourd’s color does not play well with the translucent dye colors. That’s a challenge. All of the ink makers provide products that change the dye’s actions and our gourd surface presents additional problems. And alas, these dyes will fade on your gourd over time. This post will explain how to solve these three problems with gourds and alcohol ink and what not to do when using these on a gourd.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Gourds and Alcohol inksChallenge #1: The nonporous yellow surface of the gourd.
We need to fill the pores so the gourd won’t consume a lot of our dye solution.
Solution:
We can use Formula 49 and the Blending Solution that is available in each product line This extender and blender solution will fill the pores enough to allow a limited amount of dye to flow on the surface of the gourd. Welburn instructions always suggest that you cover your gourd with Formula 49 before using any of their dyes including their gourd dye for this reason alone. I put my blending solutions in a small long nose bottle so they are easier to handle.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Challenge #2: Optimize the brightness of the ink color
To neutralize the gourd color, we have several options assuming that you are going to cover the entire gourd with layers of dye.
Solution: 1.
Give the entire gourd a light spray of paint. White, silver, yellow, and gold all work well to enhance the dye colors.
Solution: 2.
Before you apply the Formula 49 or Blending Solution, add color to it! Several options here.
Add pigment powder, like this yellow gold, to the solution and apply it to your gourd.
Gourd Painters Tip:
Most gourd artists doing complicated painting on gourds will use one of these methods. They will use light white wash to take away the yellow of the gourd color so their bright colors stay true.
Creative tip:
When you add drops of 99% clear alcohol solution to dry alcohol ink, it creates beautiful bubble-like rings that resemble the appearance of stone or marble.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Using Other Products with the gourd and alcohol Ink
Problem: Blending Solutions Limits
Their purpose is to provide a fluid surface to help the ink disperse or bleed out from the center on your surface. I like to put the solution into a small long nose plastic bottle so I have more control as I drop it on my palette or directly on the gourd.
You cannot spray these solutions onto your gourd! They contain a resin that you can inhale.
The best way to move the ink around the surface of the gourd
You can manipulate the fluid with a straw,
Here is a video of Mirium Joy using the straw and canned air technique.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
The Mixatives
Problem: Expensive and limited flow
The color selection for gourds and alcohol ink is limited. Pastels and metallic are not there. So you can turn to other additives. These have either pigment or mica particles in them so they are not as fluid as the ink itself. Anything you add to the dye will affect its transparency. Which can be good. For example, If you add a white mixative or pigment powder to reds or blues you can get a sky blue and a pink tone.
Solution: Use them sparingly and only for impact!
Try using the metallic colors. Add a drop of gold metallic mixative. This will only bleed slightly and stop at a color’s edge. It gives the area a focal point! I also like to use copper metallic. I always add these at the end of working on a section before I heat set it.
Each product line has its versions of Mixatives. They are convenient but expensive and you can use your different kinds of pigment powders to create the same effects if you want to take the time.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Using Rubbing Alcohol
Problem: Needs to be strong and in the right bottle
This product, unlike the blender, lifts the ink from the surface. It acts as a subtracter, lifting the top layer of color away showing the color underneath. When it evaporates, the dye is attached to the gourd. Only another alcohol product can reactivate it. The dye has ethanol in it which means it will take a higher level of rubbing alcohol to be effective, so use at least the 91% variety for the best results.
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Solution: Look for a bottle with a light misting spray.
Alcohol can be sprayed or you can drop it from a bottle onto the gourd. If you are spraying it on the gourd while the ink is wet you need to consider two things. First spray about 2 feet away from you, moving the gourd into the spray. Second, to get the best effect, find a bottle with a nice mist spray.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Problem: This ink does not clean up with water well!
With gourds and alcohol you will have to rely on this stronger strength alcohol to clean up your tools. I also suggest rubber gloves and an old cookie tray to set the gourd and your ink bottles on. Remember to put the lids back on while you are in the process.
Gourds and Alcohol ink Challenges
Challenge #3
All Color Media Used on Gourds Fades Overtime
Once the alcohol has evaporated from the dye, it is permanent and theoretically needs no protection.
As I said before, only another alcohol-based product will reactivate it. Our fading problem is solved by using a clear spray. Make sure the spray does not contain resin or alcohol!
Solution:
I cover all my finished gourds with UV spray. This means, dyes, acrylic, and colored pencils, and watercolor media.
With the Alcohol inks I spray 3 light coats. Let it dry between coats.
Hopefully you can avoid these problems next time you try to combind a gourd and alcohol ink. Do you have any tips you can offer in the comments?
Please, share your thoughts here in the comment box or share them with all the gourd artists on our Facebook Group Page.
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Thank you for your kind words. Started this site in October. former art teacher and author, so I enjoy this format, Be sure to check the library where you can get some posts as a download. This helps support the site.
You can find a total list of posts under the post archive button on the blog page.
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