Dear alcohol ink, you mesmerize me. The way you flow. Unpredictable. Sometimes with strong lines that won’t budge. Sometimes with such softness that I can’t help but smile. There is no end destination. Just play. Pure and organic. Thank you for giving me so much pleasure. Alcohol ink on back of photo paper.

Have not played in my altered journal for a while. Fun to get back to it. It is getting really thick and yummy. Reflecting on the twists and turns of life… you never know when a bad day could turn out to be clearing for very good things to come. The key is to have faith in yourself. And you will go places 💃💃💃 thankful and looking forward to what 2021 will hold for me.

When I play with alcohol ink, I get lost… seeing how the ink flow, how it responds to the air from my hair dryer…. I get lost in my thoughts…

Painted her a while ago but did not feel she was done. I finally added a tattoo on her back and that did it for me. She needed that tattoo. Maybe I am just projecting my own needs on her. Been thinking of getting a tattoo but paralyzed with too many options. Hence still no tattoo on me yet. I chose an OM tattoo for her. It’s one of my favorite sounds in a yoga class. When the whole class makes this OM sound together, I feel I am ONE with everyone, I am at peace, I am whole. There is a special vibration when the whole class OM together. Ommmmmmmmmmm🙏

Sometimes I struggle with a piece. This is a good example of a piece like that. It started with some ink play that just got worse with every color I add on top of it.

I kept adding, and cursing at how horrible it looks. Then I walk away. But it pulls me back in. I add more colors. It’s a mess. I go to bed. Tried again the next day. More layers. And then all of a sudden it clicked. A whale appeared. I like it now. Glad I did not throw it in the trash😂 art is a journey. Just like life. Don’t give up. Keep at it. Walk away, take a breather. Try again. It will all work out. If it doesn’t, you’re not there yet. So keep going…

I love to draw faces and I love to play with inks. In this case, I was inspired by a photo I saw on Pinterest. Decided to make a background based on that. And then I would add a face to it. I am loving this style more and more. And it suddenly hit me. I know why I like this style!. I like the imperfection built in. The ink splotches on her face. Being a perfectionist, the messy background gives me the creative license to play, to accept imperfection. She may be imperfect, but she is still beautiful in her own right. Like me.

Another alcohol ink and face. Took a while to finish this one as it is a bigger piece 8.5×11. Feeling better about using alcohol ink to paint. This is also on the back of a photo paper. And I used micron pen to outline the features.

I am my own worst critic. I am sure many of you can relate. But every now and then, I will create a piece that I just love so so much. This is one of them. It is a simple piece. Took a break from alcohol ink and splashed some watercolor ink on a page. Then a line drawing on it. Not my usual color combination, but there is something about this that I just love. One of the rare moments when I pat myself on the back 😋

More alcohol ink play. Need to buy a photo album to keep all these pieces of alcohol ink art. It was not easy to find it anywhere! One young associate from Target looked at me in bewilderment when I asked him where can I find photo albums…😂

Sometimes that is all you can do. Trust. Embrace the uncertainty. Listen to your heart. Another alcohol ink piece. Ventured to a bigger piece of paper. A very relaxing process as you go with the flow. Literally😂 as the ink flows around. Thankful that the day is warming up. Was a torture doing this outside in the cold.