MICHELLE WHITEHEAD
LITE: ALCOHOL INK ON CERAMIC
FREEDOM IN FLUID ART
“It wasn’t until my first really stressful job in medicine that I realized I needed to reconnect with my creative side as a way of stress relief,” shares Michelle. “I found it really freeing and relaxing the way that the inks move on their own and force you to just let go and enjoy the process.”
The meditative and enjoyable process of alcohol inks allowed Michelle to incorporate art back into her life and let go of the need for perfection. “With their unpredictable nature, alcohol inks take the pressure off of creating ‘perfect’ pieces. I think this quality makes alcohol inks an extremely friendly medium for makers of all experience levels. I love the way alcohol inks force you to give in and let go, a lesson that can be applied to many areas of life.”
ALCOHOL INKS KIT
Michelle’s thoughtfully curated kit includes all the tools and materials needed to make your own one-of-a-kind designs on a ring dish or a set of four circular coasters. This workshop has optional add-ons to purchase which may be demonstrated on film as well. Alcohol ink in saturated colors will allow for experimentation with mixing and different design elements, while adding metallic brass ink elevates the pattern with a spark of shine. Your resin comes in two bottles, allowing you to mix the exact portion needed. Once poured, the resin may have tiny air bubbles which can be removed with the heat gun.
In the workshop, Michelle walks you through the entire process of decorating ceramic pieces. You’ll learn different techniques for manipulating the inks—including using an optional heat gun—while still embracing the unpredictable nature of the medium. Once dry, Michelle demonstrates how to mix and pour resin to act as a sealant and protectant for your finished alcohol ink designs.
The Curated Kit of Tools & Materials
This workshop includes:
- A detailed digital workshop led by Michelle Whitehead of Michelle Lynn Designs
- Tools & materials from artisan suppliers, curated for you by Michelle
- PDF download with written instructions to complement the video tutorial
The tools & materials included in your kit:
- Your choice of project:
- Four round ceramic coasters with cork backings in the Marsh Colorway
- A ring dish in the Bloom colorway
- Alcohol inks in your choice of colorway
- Metallic alcohol ink in a variation of gold
- Resin, 4oz
- Isopropyl alcohol, 2oz
- A pair of nitrile gloves
- Small disposable mixing cups
- Pipettes
- Popsicle sticks
Materials to have at home:
- Heat gun (optional)
- Alcohol ink blower (or a straw)
- Safety goggles
- Painter’s tape
- Large disposable mixing cups
- Paintbrush
- Plastic cover sheet for table
- Cotton balls
- Cotton swabs
- Paper towel
Please note: in the workshop video, Michelle also includes an overview of the items offered in the Premium version of this workshop.
Safety: Epoxy resin is NOT food safe. Always work with alcohol inks and resin in a well-ventilated area, preferably outdoors or in a garage, as the materials can give off fumes. Wear gloves at all times. If you get alcohol ink or resin on your skin, quickly clean it off with isopropyl alcohol. Never rinse resin down the drain. Allow excess resin to cure before disposing of it.
Customize Your Subscription
Swap: Ring Dish in Bloom Colorway
$0
The subscription includes four round ceramic coasters with cork backings in the Marsh Colorway. If you would like to create a ring dish in the Bloom Colorway instead, then please check out with this $0 listing.
Add-Ons for More Exploration
Alcohol Ink Bundle in Lagoon
$30
Incorporate new colors into your alcohol ink art with this bundle of six curated hues.
Ceramic Tray,
Ring Dishes, and Coasters
$56
Continue making with this add-on - a rectangular ceramic tray, two ring dishes, and four round coasters with cork backings.
Epoxy Resin
$56
This 32oz resin kit is perfect for protecting and sealing your alcohol ink designs on the ceramic pieces in an easy 1:1 ratio.
Heat Gun
$15
This versatile tool is perfect for a wide range of creative projects, including removing bubbles in your resin projects and manipulating the alcohol ink composition.
About the Artist: Michelle Whitehead
Michelle Whitehead is an alcohol ink artist with a love for creating functional pieces of artwork. She believes in making artwork more accessible to consumers, finding ways to intertwine beautiful pieces of art into otherwise mundane parts of daily life. She has an eye for sophisticated color palettes and satisfying compositions, while still embracing the unpredictable, abstract nature of alcohol inks.
As a life-long crafter and maker, Michelle has always found immense satisfaction in the handmade process. Although finding free time for creating has not always come easy, she feels fortunate to have found her way back to painting in recent years as a way to relieve stress. She believes in the importance of exercising balance between the left and right side of the brain, and she hopes to encourage others to nurture their creative side as well.
Most weekends, she can be found painting and crafting in a sun-drenched corner of her home, outside of Philadelphia, where she lives with her husband and their golden retriever. When she isn’t creating, she can be found exploring the outdoors, traveling, or challenging someone to a board game.
We can’t wait to see how your botanical monoprints turn out. Share your creative journey and finished projects with us by tagging @thecraftersbox + @michelle.lynn.art in your social posts. Don’t forget to use #thecraftersbox so our community can also see your workshop come to life. Happy making!
