Discover the joy of creating your own gorgeous abstract artwork

Have you ever seen those beautiful, vibrant alcohol ink paintings and wished you could create artwork like that? 

Well, guess what... you can!

In The Magic of Alcohol Ink, I will lead you step by step through everything you need to know to create your own unique artwork with this fun, playful medium. I'll introduce you to the basics of how to get started, show you my go-to techniques and tools, share my personal tips and best practices, and serve as your guide and mentor as you explore and experiment and create. 

While some classes are designed to teach you to paint a particular subject (flowers, or landscapes, for example), The Magic of Alcohol Ink is centered on teaching you a wide variety of techniques. This focus on technique rather than subject helps you to develop your own skills and then use them in a way that supports your own unique artistic vision and expression. Beginning artists will gain the knowledge and tools to get started and begin creating, while the more experienced inky artists will find new ways to deepen and develop your skills.

What you'll get

This four week program blends weekly live group sessions, an online classroom with loads of tools and tutorials, and a private Facebook group for a robust, supported learning environment.

  • Weekly Live Sessions

    We will meet weekly for virtual studio sessions, where I will be doing live demos, answering all your questions, and helping you troubleshoot any challenges you are having as you learn to work with alcohol ink. Studio sessions are tentatively scheduled for October 6, 13, 20, and 27 at noon PST. These sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the online classroom, so don't worry if you can't make it to class! You can simply watch the session at a time that works for you.

  • The Online Classroom

    Full access to the online classroom, where you will find everything you need to know about how to work with alcohol inks. Tons of in-depth tutorials, techniques, and other resources, available to you 24/7 and with lifetime access so that you can always come back and revisit any tutorial you'd like. Right after you sign up, you will have access to the initial videos about getting started, studio setup, materials and so on. And then all the techniques videos become available to you on October 1st when class officially begins.

  • The Magic of Alcohol Ink Facebook Group

    The place where we connect around the virtual water cooler--the place to get to know other artists, post what you're working on, ask questions, get feedback, find answers, share ideas and tips, and participate in discussions about all things alcohol ink.

Introducing your instructor

Kristy Swanson

Hi, I'm Kristy Swanson! I'm an artist based in the Pacific Northwest, and I work in a variety of mediums, but alcohol ink is one of my favorites. I discovered them through a series of artistic rabbit holes (you know, one thing leads to the next and suddenly you're up to your ears in something new and exciting like alcohol inks) and have been working with them ever since. I've taught this class in person for several years now and absolutely love sharing what I know with others.

What others are saying

“OMG, what a blast. I have tried alcohol inks on my own and never had much luck getting them to look very good--they always turned out blobby and weird. So when a friend signed up for Kristy's class and invited me to join her, I did--and what a difference it's made! Finally, I'm making artwork that I'm happy with.”

Rina, Maple Valley, WA

“Kristy is a great teacher--clear, concise, and thorough. She led me from absolutely no experience with alcohol ink to feeling totally comfortable trying things out and creating my own artwork. Well worth the price of admission! ”

Erica, Seattle WA

“This class was so full of great info, tools and hands on experience that it changed the way I do my art now. Kristy really knows this medium and she teaches with such clarity and love for it. Highly recommend! ”

Beth, Seattle WA

“The alcohol ink class I took with Kristy is very detailed, hands on and inspiring. She is knowledgeable, experienced, and approachable, and was available and happy to help whenever I had questions. I definitely recommend this class. ”

Ella, Redmond WA

Questions? Here are some answers.

  • I'm really busy, but I want to take this class... how much time will it take?

    You can spend as much or as little time as you have available. Nearly all of the content is available in the online classroom, and you can work through the material at your own pace. And any live sessions will be recorded and uploaded to the classroom as well, so it's really up to you how much time you want to spend. But I warn you, these inks can be addictive, and time will magically speed up as you begin experimenting... :)

  • I'm a complete newbie to alcohol inks... is this class for me?

    Yes, absolutely! We begin from the beginning--supplies, safety, etc-- and move through a wide variety of techniques to help you develop a solid grasp of how to work with the inks.

  • I've been working with alcohol ink for a while... would I benefit from this class?

    I've taught many people of various levels of experience with alcohol ink, and even the most experienced artists have stated that they learned new ways of working that helped them hone and grow their skills in ways that they hadn't been able to on their own. So, yes!

  • Will I be able to paint like you some day?

    My hope is that you will be able to paint like YOU--to use what you learn in this class to find your own artistic expression. But I definitely will be sharing my go-to techniques and secrets to how I get the kind of effects that you see in my artwork.

  • Will you be available for me if I have questions during the class?

    I will be available during the duration of the live class via our Facebook Group, so when you have questions, that's the place to post them. Once class is over, I will be popping in the group from time to time to check in and see how you're doing. And I'm always happy to help you with whatever questions you have--just message me!

  • How much is it and how do I sign up?

    Good news--right now tuition is a special early registration pricing of $129, which is a savings of $20 off of the regular rate of $149. Your tuition includes lifetime access to a robust online classroom full of information, demos and tutorials; four weekly live Zoom studio sessions; and access to our Facebook learning community. To sign up, just click the button at the bottom of this page.

  • What's your refund policy?

    I get it--plans change, things happen. If you change your mind or something else comes up, I'm happy to refund your tuition within one week of purchase. Thank you for understanding.

Supplies you'll need

Top five materials you need to get started: a few bottles of alcohol ink in any brand; isopropyl alcohol or blending solution; Yupo paper; gloves; and a hair dryer. For a more detailed list, download the complete alcohol ink supply list.pdf and get ready to join me!