Teens Experiment with Alcohol Ink

Glue is sticky, colored pencils leave something to be desired and paint is permanent - from artist legends to toddlers still mastering the art of finger paint, many can attest that the process of creating art with irreversible materials can be frustrating. Alcohol ink is a medium that defies the intimidation of permanent paint strokes. The Leavenworth Library hosted Craft Night for Teens, Thursday, August 9, for a chance to try the forgiving alcohol ink. 

Aspiring Van Goghs or teens' whose only  muse was finding an indoor activity to hide from the summer heat; all children, ages 12 and up, were invited to Craft Night. Budding artists gathered to test out the method led by librarian, Lana Larson, who has experience with alcohol ink. 

"It's (alcohol ink) foolproof," Larson said. "If you don't like what you've done, you can take a cotton ball and wipe clean."

Following a swift, but clear explanation of the seemingly simple process, everyone launched into wiping down their individual tile. The teens were instructed to use gloves and pick up the finished product tomorrow after drying overnight.

Using tiles as the canvas, the teens' were given the opportunity to create, erase and re-start their artwork. The first step was to cover the tile with rubbing alcohol and then drip the ink onto the tile. Some of the children eyed the rubbing alcohol curiously, one faceless voice rose above the others and compared the scent to the doctor's office. Alcohol ink seemed to be a foreign product amongst the teens.

"This is the first time (using alcohol ink) and I'm so excited," Ella Stimmel, 12, said. 

Straws, toothpicks and paintbrushes were used to take individual artistic liberties with swirling patterns. Several of the participants tapped into their creative side by blowing their breathe to create different designs. There was soft chatter from the tables, comparing tiles and various methods to best formulate a pattern.

But the real magic was the ability to change the art at any time by applying rubbing alcohol to wipe down the tile and start over with a fresh canvas. 

"You can be as creative as you want, if you don't like it you can clean it off and start all over again," Larson said.   

Mistakes happen: a shaky hand, a clump in the brush or an uneven foreground in a landscape portrait. Craft Night was an opportunity for teens to work on art without fear of mistakes on a permanently stained canvas.