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Acrylic Inks .. Anyone Tried Them?

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Cordelia Campbell

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Now I am not sure if these are the same as alcohol inks discussed previously.  I am new to them and someone in my art group had some leftover colours and asked if I wanted to try them.  I put a small amount onto an acrylic painting I was doing, just in a corner and was surprised at the effects and thought them quite vivid. I wondered if anyone had much success with them and had any recommendations on different suppliers?  They do go on very thin and may be ok for underpainting but perhaps not for a completed painting.  Is it worth buying them as I have many different types of media and am not sure if I'd use them much. 

Denise Cat

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If you go to reviews, I think Fiona has done a recent article about acrylic inks. If you're nor aware, POL now supply quality artists materials.

Carol Jones

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I use Daler Rowney pearlescent acrylic inks and also Liquitex metalic inks for calligraphy, using dip pens only and would highly recommend using Higgins pen cleaner and if using a brush wash regularly with washing up liquid. Haven't used acrylic inks for a painting, landscapes etc. Have a look at how Chris Forsey uses this type of ink, he is a mixed media artist. The way he builds up his paintings is dramatic and inspiring. Liquitex metalic -

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by Carol Jones

Waddesdon Grotesque

Andrew Roles

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I use Daler Rowney FW inks for adding detail to acrylic or watercolour paintings. Great with a brush but I find they dry too quickly to be used neat successfully with a dip pen. They can be diluted with water but are permanent and can be over painted when dry. 

Jenny Harris

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I use Daler Rowney FW acrylic inks a lot for mixed media work to create background shapes and textures using clingfilm.  When the first coat is dry you can add more and manipulate it into the shapes you want.  I don’t very often use it with a brush or pen, though. I’ve found it can quickly ruin brushes unless they’re cleaned very thoroughly straight after use.  The background on this is all done with acrylic ink.

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by Jenny Harris

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Martin Cooke

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I use Liquitex acrylic inks eg my recent Tango was ink only. I don't generally apply them with a brush because I want the full strength and vividness to come through, especially in any line work. In the Tango case I used a dropper for most of it, and a piece of card for the flat areas (which didn't turn out as evenly as I'd have wished, so perhaps this was the wrong decision). I've also used them in 'Agnes Martin' style repetitive abstracts. They mix well, as you'd expect.

Alan Bickley

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I’ve been using both FW and Liquitex acrylic ink for years, I particularly like the vibrancy of them when sketching outdoors! Here’s a quick sketch using Liquitex.

Norrette Moore

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I've used FW for detail, and I've also used a couple of drops to stain acrylic gesso into neutral shades. Hope I don’t regret that.

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by Norrette Moore

Sylvia Evans

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This is Brusho with white gouache added.  I love their vibrancy?

Norrette Moore

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Great colour

Fiona Phipps

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I had never used acrylic inks before being asked to review the Liquitex Essentials range of inks for the Painters online store Cordelia. Yes the colours of this range are vivid but you can tone them down, or use them diluted, it all depends on your style and what you require from them to meet your style. Diluted they are beautifully transparent and just as permanent. They are very adaptable and versatile. As Denise mentioned above, the review along with some examples of paintings, are on pol. A couple of examples….
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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I doubt you'll have any trouble with tinting your acrylic gesso, Norette - these products should be easily compatible. I've not used acrylic inks very often, but have used Chromacolour acrylic in pots as inks - they're capable of a great deal of dilution; and I've used FW inks, though so far in a very limited range of colours.  For the former product, just Google Chromacolour UK; the latter is readily available from any art-store.  Just make sure you give Chromacolour a good shake before use; same is true for many other inks. That's a gorgeous inky-Bickley up above!  Plus two of Fiona's finest - life may be too short to try everything, but while it lasts, I've got to have a go with more inks.  
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