Have you ever tried painting with watercolors? Acrylics? Maybe even oil paints, and you’re still looking for something that appears really bright? The Tingology Alcohol inks are a media that has a mind of its own and is quite dramatic. It’s not about obeying the rules and staying inside the lines. It’s about having faith in the turmoil. Let’s get right to the point so that your first dance with these colors doesn’t turn into a disaster.

To start, get some surfaces that aren’t porous. Yupo paper is great, but so are ceramic tiles, ancient mugs, glossy papers, and even glass. These inks only spread, mix, and run wild over smooth surfaces. Paper that is normal? Don’t worry about it. It will soak up the ink and leaving you with something that looks like a dirty pool of water.

Don’t open every bottle and start squeezing it without thinking. If you’re not careful, alcohol inks can stain your hands, your table, and even your cat. Put down a silicone mat or wax paper. Put on gloves unless you like rainbow-tipped fingertips. Get some isopropyl alcohol ready. It’s not just a cleaning tool; it’s also your “undo” button and blending master.

A drop here turns into a nebula, and a drop there fizzles out into nothingness. Don’t expect things to be flawless. Accept good accidents. The substance moves about, pools, and splits, and then—bam!—it makes a splash of color that looks like it should be in a museum. The flowers and veins will never look the same again. That’s the magic.

A little bit goes a long way. Are you about to tip the bottle? Stop and think: this isn’t a bottle of ketchup. Begin small. Only add more when you see what happens. See how colors interact with one other? Sometimes they kiss, and other times they fight. Want edges that are softer or abstract shapes that make you feel dreamy? Blow through a straw. Want lines that are sharper? Dip a fine-tip brush in alcohol. A hairdryer on a low setting will help the inks move along if you feel impatient, but keep it cool unless you want to see paint fly across the room.

Let’s talk about safety. Fumes can be bad. Open a window. Don’t drink your coffee with one hand and hold the inks with the other. Like gossip in a small town, alcohol quickly evaporates and goes into the air.

Pay attention to the end. In the sun, alcohol inks fade. You worked hard, so keep it safe! Put on a UV-resistant varnish when your creation has dried. A few coatings usually do the job. That great work could survive longer than a fruitcake.

Did you make a mess? That’s half the joy. There will never be two of the same project. Laugh. Try again. Try it out. The best thing about it is that you never know what’s going to happen. All you have to do is come up, let the inks fly, and see a blank surface turn into a colorful explosion. No other paint can claim that.