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2022
2023

Ink birds [gif] (i.imgur.com)

submitted ago by solidwhetstone

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[–]czar_zach 67 points68 points ago

That is awfully cool. I'd never be able to keep track of where I'd put the water.

[–]solidwhetstone[S] 81 points82 points ago

Surely in a community of this size someone has tried this technique. Can anyone shed any light on how to do this sort of painting? What kind of paper/ink/lighting to use?

EDIT: Look what I found

[–]huxtiblejones 35 points36 points ago

Probably some kind of wet media paper like a thick watercolor paper with low grain. Painting the image in water would be relatively simple if you had an angled light shining on it, granted you'd need to move decently quickly before it dried. You will actually notice before he puts the ink down that you can see the bottom left side of the bird, I'm thinking they just shifted the camera away from the angle it was created at so it appears as if nothing is on the page.

He did the water by brushing it on with a water brush pen. The ink is probably india ink out of a bottle.

[–]CardboardHeatshield 7 points8 points ago

I'd be interested to know how they keep the colors in the ink from separating, as per high school chemistry chromatography lab.

[–]baggins 38 points39 points ago

By not using shit ink!
India ink is pure black, it won't separate.

[–]akallio9000 11 points12 points ago

It's tiny particles of carbon, the Brownian motion is greater than the speed of settling.

[–]CardboardHeatshield 1 point2 points ago

Actually, I just noticed the gif was in B&W, so even if it did separate, we wouldn't know!

[–]CardboardHeatshield 0 points1 point ago

Oh, cool. I didn't know that!

[–]streetwalker -2 points-1 points ago

yes it will. India Ink is simpley particles suspended in solution. Those will not magically evenly flow into a less dense solution. The pureness of the black doesn't have anything to do with it.

[–]baggins 0 points1 point ago

Oh I'm sorry, did I need to be more specific and say that the pigment is pure black?

CardboardHeatshield is referring to the experiment where you draw with a black marker onto absorbent paper, then get it wet, and the black runs into many colours.
The pureness of the black has everything to do with the fact that the ink won't separate into different colours, you should read the thread you're replying to before you make yourself look dumb.

[–]huxtiblejones 1 point2 points ago

I think it's just the nature of india ink to stay together. You can do ink wash drawings by diluting india ink into water in an increasing ratio so you have one cup of 10% black, one cup of 30%, one of 50%, and so on. I've never seen it split into different colors but I have used some that's brownish and some that's blueish.

[–]snowlion13 -2 points-1 points ago

colors in the ink from seperating?

[–]CardboardHeatshield 5 points6 points ago

Here is some science you can do at home!
http://www.shodor.org/ssep/lessons/ink.html

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Or just a good quality brush.

[–]huxtiblejones 0 points1 point ago

You could use a regular brush but water pens work better because they won't run out of water or drip.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point ago

Technology....once again taking the craft out of...well, everything. There's a really epic moment when you realize you've accomplished something impressive with a very difficult tool. It also helps if you know what kind of brush to use and how to load it.

[–]huxtiblejones 1 point2 points ago

You've got to be kidding. It doesn't really matter how difficult the tool is, it's more difficult to draw with your elbow or a stick but that doesn't necessarily make it better. I mean honestly, this is the most absurd complaint I've heard in a while. The fact that he used a water brush pen means there's no 'craft' in this art? Alrighty then, don't mind me rolling my eyes over here.

[–][deleted] -1 points0 points ago

No, I'm not kidding. The point is why go and waste money on some product you don't need when you can spend the time honing your skills? Roll your eyes all you want, take whatever cheap steps you want to make things easier for yourself. Or...learn.

[–]quistis1189 2 points3 points ago

Anyone else think the portrait resembles Natalie Portman?

[–]sinnerinchrist 2 points3 points ago

I thought it looked more like Keira Knightley.

[–]shahar2k 1 point2 points ago

I've done this many times in life drawing and its quite fun to use, simple too. Just one cup with ink another with water, paint with water and its easier to see than you'd think, paper gets darker when wet. It's also a cheap technique to try so why not do it yourself

[–]shankinstuff 0 points1 point ago

Some sort of capillary action it would seem

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capillary_action

[–]DeepDarkDown 0 points1 point ago

You are,EPIC.

[–]yxing 6 points7 points ago

If only there were some way of dying the water a darker color so you could keep track of it.

[–]VordLader 0 points1 point ago

I thought we were talking about the autistic kid and MS paint... that's what I get for opening comments in multiple windows.

[–]profgunnington 118 points119 points ago

Well this is going to the front page, or i'll eat my dinner.

[–]Legionofdoom 22 points23 points ago

Psh Starving artists.

[–]Volden 44 points45 points ago

the horror

[–]FlyingPasta 1 point2 points ago

You don't have to do this man, there is more to life...

[–]chromiselda 4 points5 points ago

That put a massive smile on my face.

[–]solidwhetstone[S] 33 points34 points ago

source

EDIT: Well it looks like this post is getting some visibility, so I want to take this opportunity to invite the /r/art community to join the new /r/NSFWart subreddit. Same moderation style as /r/art. Afaik there isn't a subreddit devoted to nude paintings, sculptures, and artistic videos- so come and give it a subscribe! And if you have any (tasteful) artistic NSFW content, please feel free to share it!

[–]violentacrez 16 points17 points ago

My god, you smutmongers will stop at nothing to pollute reddit with your vile and prurient filth.

Subscribed.

[–]solidwhetstone[S] 8 points9 points ago

I expect you to be the top contributor.

[–]himenohogosha1 2 points3 points ago

I was expecting a video about beautiful artwork ... and was sad that it was a PSA about dirty water killing people :(

[–]-devilstail- 8 points9 points ago

People. He drew out the birds first, possibly etched them out on heavy paper. Then he lightly filled in the space between the etches with water. Then a drop of india ink and PRESTO! Cool inked birds.

[–]Grizzalbee 5 points6 points ago

Why would he etch it? The water would have enough surface tension on it's own.

[–]-devilstail- 1 point2 points ago

because while the water has good tension, there is still a possibility for it to spread even a little. Who knows? He could of used just water. I would have etched beforehand, just to make sure.

[–]silent_p 6 points7 points ago

I've seen this post before, and there was an actual explanation of this technique. If I'm not mistaken, you fill in the negative space with some sort of wax, so the water rolls out of those areas.

[–]graffiti81 1 point2 points ago

There'd be no need. The surface tension of the very thin layer of water would constrain the ink. The fades are probably just that, fades with water instead of paint.

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

he's using masking because the water most often will start to soak into the the paper surrounding edges of the water he's laid down - especially with as much water as he's using - blurring the sharp edges of the image. He's not leaving it to chance that that won't happen. Masking is the only way to reliable ensure the result.

[–]graffiti81 0 points1 point ago

The gif that was posted looked like he was working on some non-porous surface like a counter top, I thought, but it might have been masking.

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

He's using watercolor paper. If he used a countertop, then you'd be right - there would be no bleed, but it would also take so long to dry that the ink would become uniformly mixed in the water, destroying the image - I don't think he's doing this just for video.

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

its called masking.

[–]lodust 0 points1 point ago

Transparent water color folks do this all the time. It's called charging

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

"charging" is the practice of repeatedly brushing over dried watercolors on the palette with a wet brush to increase the saturation of the paint - the brush becomes charged. As he's using india ink, which has a consistent maximum saturation, he's not technically engaging in charging - though the effect is the same: highly saturated paint.

The correct name for this technique is "wet-on-wet."

[–]SmittenJane 0 points1 point ago

Wouldn't brushing over dried watercolours with a wet brush cause the pigment to be soaked into the brush?

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

how are you going to get the paint onto the paper if you don't load the brush? You're preparing the paint on the palette - loading up the brush for painting. Once you get the wet brush to the desired saturation - you put it to paper. ie. charging is done on the palette and not on already painted paper.

to charge a brush, you drop some water on the dried paint, and start vigorously scrubbing the paint with the brush. The more you scrub, the more saturated the paint becomes. You need some empty space on the palette to test the saturation - use a white palette. This gives you fine control over the saturation.

[–]SmittenJane 0 points1 point ago

OHH yes, okay I understand that. For some reason I assumed you meant brushing over dried watercolours that were already on the paper!

[–]streetwalker 1 point2 points ago

he used masking - a rubber-cement material to mask off the areas that he does not want to paint on. Etching destroys the paper and generally badly alters how the paper accepts water - the result is... well, etch. Etching, scratching, can be done effectively as paint is drying to highlight areas, but after that forget painting the etched areas a second time.

[–]SmittenJane 0 points1 point ago

How did he prevent the ink from wicking completely into the body of the bird making it completely black? The finished product shows a nice gradient affect. Did he "lightly" mask this area? Or is there a difference in how wet the paper is?

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

Masking is all or nothing - there is nothing in between.

The gradient happens naturally as the ink diffuses into a less saturated solution - in this case pure water. Try it your self: create a puddle of water and touch a drop of india ink (or water color paint) to it. The puddle never instantaneously mixes to becomes uniform. You'll get all kinds of partial mixing as the ink spreads out. And if you don't stir it will take quite a while time to distribute uniformly. If the puddle dries faster than that, the uneven distribution transfers to the paper. You can soak off excess with a paper towel or sponge to aide that process.

Yes it makes difference a how wet the paper is - paper will wick the ink to different areas. He has a big puddle at one end, and it is drier at the other end where the feet are - that's why you see the flow go up the legs. You can create a puddle at one end by tilting the paper slightly, and it looks like he's doing that. Tilting allows you to control how the puddle mixes as well.

this video has been sped up, so it illusory of the actual process.

[–][deleted] ago

[deleted]

[–]Faelenor[!] 15 points16 points ago

Being a lefty causes problem only when writing text from left to right, unless I miss something... When drawing, it doesn't change anything.

[–]adamcanbeadam 2 points3 points ago

Put a bird on it!

[–]deerafts 1 point2 points ago

Did you see this ink-blot picture before? I didn't. Now there's a bird!

[–]ldamron 1 point2 points ago

That's amazing.

[–]frankiefightsfood 1 point2 points ago

This is super cool, but I'd really like to see what it looks like after it dries. Does the ink spread out too far and just end up making a silhouette? That's my guess at least.

[–]streetwalker 0 points1 point ago

pst! they used a mask.

[–]caldera 1 point2 points ago

WHAT KIND OF SORCERY IS THIS!?

[–]streetwalker 1 point2 points ago

its called "masking" and "wet-on-wet" That's Watercolor 101.

In 102, we show you how to sprinkle salt on the paper where there still liquid pooling on the surface as it dries, among other advanced techniques.

Watercolor is one of the simplest and most sever and exacting of the artistic crafts: You don't get an eraser. Masking helps greatly, but if you want to go pro, you do it all with a brush. This guy used a mask.

[–]Camachan 0 points1 point ago

I'm pretty sure this will get buried, but I wonder if this is possible with Copic Marker ink? It's, unfortunately, the only kind of ink I own. I kind of want to try this right now.

[–]Applebeignet 0 points1 point ago

Cool! I wonder how the water is applied to the substrate. A hacked inkjet printer could do it?

Also, how would different liquids behave, is water the best option?

[–][deleted] 2 points3 points ago

A hacked ink jet printer...or practice? You can do this with watercolor and water-based paints and inks. It's like painting, only with water, the you add a touch of color here and there. Wet-into-wet. It just takes practice and control over the amount of water in the brush. Sumi-e artists do this often, though if memory serves, it wasn't a traditional technique.

[–]thetebe 0 points1 point ago

A heck of a lot practice. Fantastic gif, made me wonder the hours behind the short clip we see.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points ago

That's art. Lots of practice. Just like martial arts, it's a way of life.

[–]CheckeredChicken 0 points1 point ago

That is so fucking cool.

[–]AllixxZer0 0 points1 point ago

Oh my golly gosh that is fantasmal

[–]ePaF 0 points1 point ago

How does it look dry? What if you also drop some transparent "medium" in there, too?

[–]aged_monkey 0 points1 point ago

WHAT IS THIS BLACK MAGIC!!??

[–]keiyakins 0 points1 point ago

BURN THE WITCH.

[–]tuesdays_ 0 points1 point ago

That's so cool. I need to try this......

[–]thoff_camel 0 points1 point ago

How the hell...

[–]vteeny 0 points1 point ago

saving this for later!

[–]Color_Bars 0 points1 point ago

What came first, the ink or the law?

whoooaaaaaaaa...

[–]GrownBravy 0 points1 point ago

i tried this and spilled my india ink all over my desk.

[–]QJosephP 0 points1 point ago

I heard a note on the xylophone with each drop.

[–]willpump4gas 0 points1 point ago

I wish I had talent

[–]TheLonelyTroll 0 points1 point ago

From my experience, another way he could have done this is by using a resister such as wax or crayons, in this case white, to fill in the places he did not want the ink to cover. Then followed with putting water around where he wanted to ink to spread and then applying the ink.

[–]RandomFantasyName 0 points1 point ago

Relevant dnb music video

[–]cclsn3 0 points1 point ago

What is this sorcery?

[–]jleonardbc 0 points1 point ago

In reverse, you invented a bird vacuum.

[–]Zippe91 0 points1 point ago

WOW, really awesome

[–]adamschiclets -3 points-2 points ago

relevant?

[–]Eboo -5 points-4 points ago

It kinda looks like he's just putting developer on a piece of photo paper.

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