Tutorials or tips on mark making ink

[caterina]

Hello.
I can't seem to find it on the forum, but it must be there somewhere: I am looking to understand and possibly learn how to make ink, dyes or paint or such to make marks on felt. Or if you buy those, what type of ink, dye or paint to buy.

I have seen an online explanation on rust marks making on felt, but I was looking for all the other mark making stuff. I keep seeing hints about how everybody make marks on felt to add details or make very interesting art, and I would like to see if I can try some, understand what works for me, how to use it in my projects..

I am doing something wrong with my searches, as nothing comes up! Please, help!

[MTRuth]

There are several people who have online classes about mark making on felt. That is perhaps why you can't find anything concrete or specific. I would suggest either taking a class or experimenting on your own. Different media such as ink, dye and paint all react differently on felt.

[caterina]

Feb 7, 2022 22:03:53 GMT MTRuth said:

There are several people who have online classes about mark making on felt. That is perhaps why you can't find anything concrete or specific. I would suggest either taking a class or experimenting on your own. Different media such as ink, dye and paint all react differently on felt.

Thank you, Ruth I see. It makes sense.

Well, I will have to see which classes I may be able to attend, then.
It's a bit tricky for me at the moment to find time in such stretches and frequency to attend a proper class.
And I do not know if it would be feasible for me to go into dyes and such, I just wanted to understand if it is something that I may be able to take up in my current situation or if I need to wait for better times: probably inks and paints are a better bet, considering that I can't keep a whole lot of stuff (pots, implements, microwave oven and whatnot) only for dyeing, and I do not have a space for me in the flat to dye in.

[caterina]

Ruth, you are offering a class on mark making with thickened dye: may I ask you if it is possible to follow the course without connecting at fixed times? I mean, is it something on videos that you can watch at your own pace or there are live sessions that you must attend at specific times? Because live sessions for 4 weeks would be very complicated for me, but if it is videos that I could watch when I have some time, then it would be fine.

[MTRuth]

The classes I offer are all done with PDF's and videos. They can be watched at any time throughout the six weeks of class. I use thickened dyes so you would have to have a way to steam your pieces. I do steaming on the stove top in a large pot. So I am unsure if you would have enough space in your current situation.

But you could use a permanent ink with the techniques I teach as ink would not have to be set.

[caterina]

Feb 8, 2022 15:48:40 GMT MTRuth said:

The classes I offer are all done with PDF's and videos. They can be watched at any time throughout the six weeks of class. I use thickened dyes so you would have to have a way to steam your pieces. I do steaming on the stove top in a large pot. So I am unsure if you would have enough space in your current situation.

But you could use a permanent ink with the techniques I teach as ink would not have to be set.

Thanks, Ruth. I think that I will like to try that course at the end of July. I may be able to try a few things more, by then and during August. These days, you never know, but I will wait for the booking opening day and see if I will be able to attend :-)

[Ann @ frabjous fabrica]

I'm not sure what sort of mark you are wanting to make Caterina. I think what you use will depend upon the effect you want. You can in fact use practically anything that will make a mark on paper or fabric, although the effect will be a bit different depending upon the surface of your felt.
I have used Felt tip pens which are specifically for textiles and are available in lots of colours. I have also used permanent markers, though the colours available are restricted. Then of course there are all sorts of paints - I find acrylics best as they are permanent when dried and can be diluted with water, or made shiny with gloss medium added. They can be thickened with the medium too, or with PVA glue which is a bit cheaper.
I do have some oil based artists' pastels which I have been intending to try, but just not got round to yet.
Of course there is always needle and thread too
Have a go with some "waste" felt and see what you can achieve with as many different things as you can find - that's my advice.

[caterina]

Feb 9, 2022 8:33:28 GMT Ann @ frabjous fabrica said:

I'm not sure what sort of mark you are wanting to make Caterina. I think what you use will depend upon the effect you want. You can in fact use practically anything that will make a mark on paper or fabric, although the effect will be a bit different depending upon the surface of your felt.
I have used Felt tip pens which are specifically for textiles and are available in lots of colours. I have also used permanent markers, though the colours available are restricted. Then of course there are all sorts of paints - I find acrylics best as they are permanent when dried and can be diluted with water, or made shiny with gloss medium added. They can be thickened with the medium too, or with PVA glue which is a bit cheaper.
I do have some oil based artists' pastels which I have been intending to try, but just not got round to yet.
Of course there is always needle and thread too
Have a go with some "waste" felt and see what you can achieve with as many different things as you can find - that's my advice.

Thank you, Ann, those seem a lot of different inexpensive and easy-to-find ways to modify felt.

I really am not sure what I want to do, I do not have a specific project in mind, I was more thinking of making a few samples, trying out things for future use: if I do not try, I do not know what I could make with it!

I really think that I need to learn more, about all of the different ways that one can go about modifying felt. I rather love the idea of having so much to explore. One mark making technique does not exclude the other, they may well be all interesting for different purposes. I will need a lot of guidance for the more complicated techniques (luckily, I now know where to find it :-) just a bit of patience till July), but the ones that you point out seem quite safe to try out in my flat as experiments. :-)

[lindsay]

One thing you could try is using whatever pens you have on nuno felt. Either in the prefelt or finished felt stage. Making marks on silk is easier than on wool.

[caterina]

Feb 16, 2022 23:33:43 GMT lindsay said:

One thing you could try is using whatever pens you have on nuno felt. Either in the prefelt or finished felt stage. Making marks on silk is easier than on wool.

Nice tip, thanks, Lindsay.