BobBlast 278 - "Special Effects with Alcohol."

BobBlast #278 “Special Effects with Alcohol“ Welcome back to another BobBlast! Looking for something new? A fun way to start a painting? Something a little magical...? Painting with alcohol! No, not that kind of alcohol - Isopropyl Alcohol. Isopropyl alcohol sprinkled on wet water-based paint will make a bubbled and marbled textural design in your painting. It’s one of the loose techniques used by water colorists and acrylic painters worldwide. However, I suggest following certain criteria and procedures for this technique to work. First, prepare the surface of the watercolor paper (or canvas) with a coat of really good gesso. Let it dry. Then, apply a light wash of pigmented color over the entire surface. Then while the surface is still wet, sprinkle the alcohol either by hand or a spray pump with an adjustable nozzle (use the course option, rather than fine). Don’t use a “mister“ as the vapors will be too fine to have much of an effect.