There are explosions of color on the painting as the alcohol ink does its strange magic. It moves around. Changes. Not even the best artists can make two drawings that look the same. This thrill is right in the middle of things at The Tingology vibrant alcohol ink color palettes.

Have you ever dropped ink into an isopropyl pond and then watched the chaos that ensued? For that is the spirit of painting with alcohol ink. It’s mostly a talk between you and the paint. You can push, pull, or even trick the pigment. It’s a whisper some of the time and a loud yell other times.

This conversation is helped by workshops at The Tingology. You might be nervous and think you can control every drop when you get there. By the second lesson, that’s no longer true. Mistakes can turn into works of art. Instructors push you to be open to the unexpected, like a cook who throws in a lot of spices and trusts that they will taste good.

It’s not paint-by-numbers, but alcohol ink. There’s an art to it. There’s also a wild streak. There is a little answer that can change a line into a cloud. A lot of fun with an airbrush? It is now a galaxy. You can learn these tricks at Tingology’s classes. Students will gasp when their ink does something they didn’t expect it to do. That’s when you learn: when you let go and lean in.

Here, getting certified isn’t just about checking off boxes. It’s about getting a better grasp on things. You should be able to teach or show someone else how to dance between being in charge and being spontaneous. Some techniques are using fine liners to draw tiny details, straws to stretch gradients, and tilting the fabric to make rivers with gold veins. After a few minutes, you’ll be hunched over and either laughing or groaning, or probably both.

Some people come in sure they’re not creative. They have dirty hands and bright smiles on their faces by the end. Do you remember painting your fingers when you were a kid? Painting with alcohol ink makes me feel that wild joy again, but this time the colors are more vivid.

In these groups, people quickly become close. People who don’t know each other trade tips, push each other, and talk about that one piece that “fought back.” You see people becoming friends over smeared ink and unintended wonders.

If all you’ve ever done is watch time-lapse movies and feel envious, The Tingology is the book for you. You leave with pieces in your hands, but also with confidence, knowledge, and maybe a strong desire to paint your walls again at home.

Not sure? You’re not by yourself. Next time you work, you might find that you’re good at letting the ink lead the way. It can paint you just as much as you paint it.