Experimental Portraiture with Ink, Tea and Alcohol

xxMeet artist Carne Griffiths as he tells you about himself, and discusses how his art has developed, including the experimental principles he brings to his work. He also shares his influences and what has inspired the development of his unique aesthetic, followed by an overview of what to expect from the course.

Carne introduces you to the materials for the course, explaining the basics of working with ink, tea, and alcohol. Then look at the importance of stretching and preparing paper onto a board or aluminum frame. Learn the principles of drawing and basic linework as the foundations of your portrait. Then, experiment with abstract marks, creating patterns, and exploring botanical motifs with your different materials. Find the ideal place to add glass effects within the painting in the form of shards and refractions.

With Carne’s guidance, start sketching your final portrait. Work with different techniques in pencil, add ink, then build on your sketch with a combination of tea and alcohol in splashes and strokes. Assess the balance of your piece, then build up tones and contrast before applying the techniques from earlier to add your floral and glass elements.

Discover how to embellish your piece with gold leaf as an optional extra. Carne shows you how to remove your completed portrait from the frame and create a hand-torn edge. Discover best practices for scanning and archiving digital versions of your work for future use. End the course with tips on how to use images for creating, presenting, and selling prints.