You can start your ink journey easily and economically. If you have attended one of my workshops you have heard me talk about my favorite products for teaching and then the products I use for my art. I will lay out a couple of different sets to get started with and then add on to based on what you are making. Remember, fluid art is a journey and you will evolve, find your personal preferences and do a lot of trial and error. Just have patience, have fun and enjoy the process.

View my recommended products below.

Ink sets are a great way to explore many colors inexpensively, here are a few I would recommend:

T-Rex Inks
T-Rex Inks Alcohol Ink Set of 12 Jumbo Sized Bottles (.67oz / 20ml) with 11 Vibrant Colors & 1 Clear Blender for Alcohol Ink Art & Epoxy Resin Painting

Jacquard Pinata Color™ Alcohol Ink
These alcohol ink colors are acid-free, transparent ink colors that can be used on both porous and non-porous surfaces, including glass, plastic, Yupo, leather, resin and paper. They become moisture-resistant after dried.

Ranger Inks
You can use it on a variety of non-porous surfaces like glass, metal, glazed tiles and more to create beautiful effects. Inks come in sets of 3 coordinating colors

Moving and manipulating your ink with alcohol and air.

Isopropyl Alcohol 90% or higher You will use alcohol like you would water to loosen and dilute your ink, it can also be used to reactivate your ink after it has dried

Straws
To move your ink on your surface you will need to use air. Straws are a great way to get a feel for how to move the ink and to help develop a style.

Embossing Gun
You can also use an embossing gun to move your ink. I only recommend this for hard surfaces, as it can melt your paper if you apply to much heat.

Alcohol ink works best on non-porous surfaces, such as, tile, synthetic paper and ceramics.

Nara Paper
Nara Paper is a unique alternative to traditional art papers. It's a synthetic paper, machine-made in the USA of 100% polypropylene. It is waterproof, stain-resistant, and extremely strong and durable. This extraordinary, non-absorbent surface resists tearing and buckling and remains perfectly flat, eliminating the need for soaking, stretching, or taping.

Tile
Tiles are a great way to experiment with ink as you can wipe the color off with alcohol if you are not satisfied with the results. The cheapest place to get tile is at your local home improvement stores in the flooring section.

Sealing your piece will help prevent fading and smudging.

Kamar Varnish
Kamar varnish is the varnish that should be applied first to your piece. Any other spray coat with react with the ink and could ruin your piece. Once you have given your piece a coat of Kamar you can apply any other seal to it without ruining your piece.

UV Protection Spray
It is good to seal your piece with a UV spray/protection. Inks are not necessarily lightfast and could fade over time. This will ensure that your piece will last for a long time.

Resin
Resin is a great way to create a show stopping finish to your piece. It provides a glass like surface that is durable and functional. This resin is great to seal tiles for more functional uses and to coat wall art for the wow factor.