Trying ink resist

That looks really good Jenny, for your first attempt it's bloomin' marvellous!

Good result Jenny, keep at it!

Thanks very much for commenting, Margaret and Alan - I hesitated before posting this one, as it's definitely a bit 'rough round the edges'!

As a starter , it is great and you should be well pleased. It is the print effect that appealed to me as well. Make the various dilutions - 25%, 50%, and 100% for tonal variation - plus a weak dilution (dirty water strength). Choose your subject matter and look for the tone variation there before starting. Simplify as much as possible in keeping with that print effect. Just enjoy it.

Mike, many thanks for your comments and suggestion re the dilutions, I will definitely use them next time, I really just wanted to get a feel for the process with this first one. I found your article really instructive, especially the recommendation to use gum arabic - I think what held me back from trying this technique was having to effectively waste so much gouache. I had a bottle of gum arabic I'd bought years ago and never used so tried that, and it worked well. I've got a local river scene which would suit this process and will try that next, although I expect it will take several attempts to get anything which I'd be happy to post on the gallery! I've always loved all kinds of prints, and it's good to have something new to work on.

For a first attempt this is super !

Thanks, Richard! (On reflection, I probably didn't spend as much time on the composition as I should have done, at the time I just wanted to set down a fairly simple design on which to practice.)

I have no idea what an ink resist is but the result is lovely Jenny.

Thank you, Satu! It's a fascinating technique which gives a printed look to a painting. Basically, any areas which you don't want to be black need to be painted with a fairly thick coat of white gouache, or gum arabic, and when this is completely dry, waterproof Indian ink is lightly brushed over the whole painting. When that is dry, it's run under warm water which loosens the areas covered in the gouache or gum arabic and you're left with the black inked areas. Colour can then be added. I've just done a really simple version, but different textures and tones of ink can be used to give a much more varied painting.

It’s a cracker Jenny! My first try was horrendous...lol

Thanks, Fiona! I think this worked reasonably well because I kept it simple - I enjoyed doing it - not nearly as messy as monotypes or linocuts! - although the next one I want to try needs a lot more tone and texture which might be too much of a challenge, but will have a go.