Less Toxic

Mwardsprayink

I get asked alot about my concern for the environment with spray painting.  I do protect myself by wearing a mask (especially indoors).  An alternative to paint is ink.  There are several colors available through Ranger.  I call them spray ink but it’s really named Color Wash, and is a water based dye in a spritz bottle.  They can give you some cool effects, but don’t work in the same way as paint.  After alot of experimenting I choose to mostly use them for backgrounds.  Above is an example of a full sheet that I enjoy making and will cut down for various end uses.

Mwardsprayinkbkgd1

Notice the alphabet (on the right), monoprinted like we talked about earlier this month.

Mwardsprayinkbkgd2

Mwardsprayink2

If you use stencils the way I do with paint, then you know you can work fast because of the way the paint dries on the surface and the stencil.  If you try to work the same way with ink you will bum out because the ink puddles on the plastic stencils and will drip off as you try to move it.  Bleh!  You could be prepared for a quick monoprint with another sheet of paper….that would sop up alot of the ink from the stencl before you move it.

Mwardspraysmear

It helps to know that sprayed ink will smear as it’s water based.  Use that information wisely.  Be careful when using a glue to attach something over it…the gooby edges could get all weird and if your layered image is too thin the color might bleed through.  Might be cool, but might be heartbreaking.  The smear factor is cool if you want another look, spritz with water and pull a paper towel across it.  Or be lazy like me and try spitting and smearing with your hand.  Some smears below.

Mwink

Stencilled or stenciled?  Had to look it up.  Now we know.

Stencilled

Lots of love being spread over on the Street Team.  I’ll post some of the cool arrivals to my own mailbox and front step in the next few days.

Comments

12 responses to “Less Toxic”

  1. Maj Avatar
    Maj

    Love the hand! Evidence indeed! I got some water based paint intended for airbrush, I am going to try it in a spray pump bottle. Any thoughts on that?

  2. Lisa Hoffman Avatar

    Did you say Spit?
    ooxx
    L

  3. Kathy Avatar

    Hey! Great photos of your stencil work & great tutorial, I especially like the messy hand! But what I think I like best is the dictionary entry… who knew?!?!? 😀
    You’re awesome, girl!
    K.

  4. Nicole Avatar

    Ohhhh yeah, color washes and inks are great to smear them, made this on my canvas I am working on and I spritzed it either with some glittery liquid and alcohol inks, great effect though, you will see when it is ready. 😉 I just finished the cover for my Art Journal and you can see it on my blog. Was so much fun making. 😉

  5. Sharon @ Norah's Avatar

    OMG, spit. One of my favorite mediums. Perfect for art-at-the-desk with my big girl crayons.
    Lovin the stencil info, trying to fine time to do more.

  6. susanna Avatar

    Another great lesson, Michelle! You’re a good teacher. I really like the look on your first “sprayed ink background”. Has me thinking of imagery…

  7. ro bruhn Avatar

    Love the way this works, your stencils are fabulous
    Ro
    xo

  8. carlene Avatar

    awesome tutorial…and I love how you use your hand as a tool…hands are the best tools of all!

  9. Linda Warlyn Avatar
    Linda Warlyn

    More amazing Michelle magic…super cool!

  10. mary walmer Avatar

    If you want to add some shimmer to your work there are a couple of great spray inks out there- one from Lindys Stamp Gang-fABULOUS RANGE OF COLORS-THEY ARE BASICALLY A DYE WITH MICA POWDERS ADDED TO THEM. And Luminarte has their own version called Radiant Rain-tons of shimmer and great color combos.
    I was just gifted a garbage bag(yes big black garbage bag!!) full of stencils so hopefully I can get my rear in gear and try some of your fab. techniques.
    By the way-my 14 yr old daughter visits your site often just to see the videos and photos of HIM-her favorite band EVER.
    Rock on.

  11. stephanie Avatar

    Boy, you have a WEALTH of info on your site here….I need to spend an entire day reading it all!

  12. Ursula Clamer Avatar

    I love your colour combos…and the the great sketches in the picture with your hand! Ux

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *