Marker Art

Playing around with Alcohol Marker Art

August 2014
Sheree McKee
sewfabsew.blogspot.com

What could be more fun than drawing, doodling and dotting, then smudging                      it all up for a watercolor effect?  
There are a lot of possibilities for creative expression, even if you aren't an artist!

Alcohol Marker Brands:

·      Avery Marks-A-Lot

·      Copic

·      Prismacolor

·      Sharpie

·      Spectrum Noir

Basic drawing - I am NOT an artist.	Basic drawing gets softened with application of alcohol
A finished postcard and alcohol smudge effect	Very simple swirl shapes with daubed paint
Radiated designs turn into flowers.  I went back and outlined shapes with marker edg	Radiated designs make flowers
Over metallic star printed fabric. Simple star bursts
Outline dye radiations to make flowers My first test with row effect	Star-like radiations on star fabric I like these random drawn stars

Ideas to ponder:

 ~ Protect work area because these marker dyes will stain!
~ Use background fabrics in light colors other than white
~ Why not try some printed fabrics as a background
~ Draw complete pictures then saturate lightly with alcohol for a soft background blending all over
~ Radiated designs form by dripping alcohol in middle only, and it will wick outward in a circle
~ Rubbing alcohol comes in different strengths such as 70% and 91%
~ Keep shapes simple, as alcohol inks wick and blend it adds more interest
~ Don't forget to Press with iron to set ink
~ Stamp or layer metallic paints on top of designs with daubers or rubberstamps

Internet Inspiration Sites:

·      Upcycling Goodwill garments with Sharpies

·      Skip to my Lou blog

·      Make it and Mend it blog

·      Intro to Alcohol Markers @papercrafterscorner.com

·      Design Originals Book Creative Dying for Fabric Arts

Thanks for stopping by.  Please leave a comment below!  

ShereeSews in Michigan

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Sun Printing fabric postcards

Solar transfer or Sun Printing with INKODYE

 “Sunshine on my fabric makes me happy”… thank-you John Denver for that melody playing in my head!

Orange InkoDye over lime green fabric.  Lace and sewing notions used as masks.

 A recent swap held at PostcardMailArtYahoo group, used the technique of sun printing.  Summer is the perfect time to play with fabric dyes, solar inks and fabric paint combinations.

I found a new product at JoAnn Fabric Crafts called INKODYE.  It is a light and UV activated printing technology made by Lumi Company.  It is also made in the United States.

Small snap packets 0.95 fluid ounce of water-based Inkodye came in nine colors.  It comes out of the package nearly colorless until exposure.  This photosensitive ink can be used for shadow dyeing, or photo printing.   One snap packet will cover a 12” x 12” area of fabric.

Sun Printing is simple:

·    ~ Shake the Inkodye packet
~ Snap open
~ Spread thinly on fabric using packet as a scraper
~ Let dry in the dark
~ Layer unique opaque obstacles on fabric
~ Expose to sunshine 10-20 minutes
~ Wash twice, rinse, dry
~ Enjoy!

Plum Inkodye over green fabric.  This was a vibrant contrast until I let it sit too long 
in sun after removing objects.  Now the contrast is not as drastic.

In my first experiment, I spread plum INKODYE over a lime green printed fabric.  I layered sewing notions and lace pieces. However, my fabric was too damp.  Ink stained the lace doilies, button backs, and tools.  So remember, to let your ink dry to touch before layering opaque objects.

I was extremely anxious to see the results.  So I pushed off the notions and admired the purple / green contrast!  But warning:  I walked away leaving fabric in the sunshine for another 10 minutes.  It continued to solar process and darkens the green areas, lessening the contrast between the two colors.  I had lost the bright contrast from a few minutes earlier!  I won’t do that again.

In my next play session, I was more cautious.  I let the coated fabric dry overnight under a black trash bag.  In the morning, I layered notions then exposed to sunshine.  Once I pulled off the resist pieces, I immediately rushed it into soapy water for washing twice.

Odor warning – this product has a strong pungent smell similar to hair dye. 

I completed two fabric pieces, as shown above.  Then I cut them up for our postcard swap.  Unfortunately, cutting the solar transfer apart diminished the ability to see most of the sewing notion motifs.

Have fun playing around!

ShereeSews in Michigan

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