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How to paint a patterned portrait with India Ink and mixed media

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How to paint a patterned portrait with India Ink and mixed media

Patterns are fun, you can include them in your paintings for graphic effects, like this Indian ink patterned portrait with lots of stripes and dots.

This summer we took a picture of my daughter as it was raining and she was under this doted umbrella, wearing a striped jacket and I really liked the interaction of the patterns and the idea of making a black and white painting from this picture.

Here is how you can paint a patterned portrait with India ink

Start by preserving white areas with masking fluid

Transfer your drawing to your canvas, outlining the main elements of your portrait and patterns.

applying masking fluid on canvas with a silicon brush

After your drawing is done, the first step is to mask all those tiny dots and stripes with masking fluid. Masking fluid works really well on canvas with watercolors, acrylic inks or India ink. A silicon brush is a very convenient too to apply masking fluid as you can just peel off the masking fluid from the brush once it dried.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Colour Shapers Tools

Apply oil or acrylic straight from tube with a Colour Shaper, then carve back into paint for unusual surface effects. Also for calligraphy. Use the rubber tip shapes to lift or blend paint, draw line, and draw contours.

all the stripes and dots have been preserved with masking fluid on canvas

Masking fluid works well on canvas but might pick up the layers of paint underneath it when removed. In that case it wasn’t a problem as this is my first layer of paint and the dots and stripes are going to be white.

Apply India ink to the background

painting with India ink on top of masking fluid on canvas

When the masking fluid has dried, I get ready to apply India ink.

applying India ink on the background, leaving the portrait unpainted

This must be done very carefully so as to not lift the masking fluid. You can paint all the background and then leave the portrait unpainted for now.

Let dry the India ink on canvas overnight

Then you can leave the ink to dry overnight.

I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.

Speedball Super Black Waterproof India Ink

“Super black” means its blackness will be very permanent and fadeless. Contains 100% carbon black pigment. Also free-flowing, non-clogging, and waterproof.

taking masking fluid off the canvas to reveal patterns

When you take off the masking fluid, you might notice a few areas where the paint did smudge a bit.

fix smudges with a bit of white acrylic

You can fix those areas with a bit of liquid acrylic.

Painting the portrait with mixed media

face in mixed media

Then I am working on the face, I am using dry pastels and black and white watercolor crayons as well as the liquid white acrylic on the face.

patterned portrait painting with India ink and mixed media

Rain Geometry, mixed media on canvas

buy prints from North Vancouver artist Sandrine Pelissier

Click here to buy greeting cards and prints on Fine Art America

5/5 - (1 vote)

Comments (15)

  1. ula

    Where can I see some works from this lesson, from other participants of this course? I would like to compare my work.

    1. Hello Ula, when you are logged in your class, go back to unit 1 and at the end of the page you can see a link to the galleries and what other artists did for this class.

      1. ula

        Thank, you. I found it, fortunately.

  2. […] You might also like:  How to paint a patterned portrait with India Ink and mixed media […]

  3. leslie12410800

    I just signed up and am so excited to start…but I can’t choose! Do you suggest I go through my photos first and find something that inspires me and then choose the best example?
    Thanks!
    Leslie

    1. Thanks Leslie! I am excited you took the class 🙂 yes, I often give links with an assignment so you can have an idea of different subjects or techniques to inspire you. What I would recommend actually is to look at a few of them and pick one or two ideas you like for each link or demo and from that make your own art.
      I can’t wait to see what you will draw and paint 🙂

  4. […] Rain Geometry: India ink and mixed media on canvas. A play on negative and positive spaces: See a step by step tutorial here […]

  5. as always, I’m inspired by your work! Thank you

    1. Thanks Janice, this is nice to hear 🙂

  6. Teresa Myat Berg

    Thank you Sandrine, for sharing your tutorials.
    They are clear, concise and looks easy to follow!

    1. Thanks Teresa, I love it when I get feed back like yours 🙂

  7. Harmony

    Great work. I am always amazed at your exactness. It’s way out of my skill set but I love seeing it it someone else :-h

    1. Thanks Harmony, I am glad you liked it 🙂

  8. I only have one word for your painting…..WOW….It is so beautiful. Love the way you did that and love the tutorial too =) Thank you!

    1. Thanks Nicole!

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