Experimenting with Kamenskaya Delaminating Inks on Cold Wax and Oils
I made a new YouTube video about experimenting with Kamenskaya delaminating alcohol inks on a cold wax and oil background, and I have to say: I was very positively surprised by the results!
These inks create beautiful textures and really unexpected effects. They separate into tiny particles and patterns, which gives the surface a lot of movement without having to add actual heavy texture. I used isopropyl alcohol to thin them down and help the inks move across the surface.
For this experiment, I tested the inks in two different ways. On one side, I used them on a dry cold wax and oil background. On the other side, I applied them onto a fresh, still-wet layer of cold wax and oils.
The most interesting effects happened on the wet side. The inks seemed to move, separate, and settle into the surface in a much more exciting way. But I am not completely sure yet if this was because of the wet layer itself, or because I may have added more alcohol, used a more transparent colour, or simply got lucky. That is the fun, and sometimes frustrating, part of experimenting!
I definitely want to test this more, but for now I love the possibilities. I probably would not use these inks over an entire painting, but as small areas of surprise, texture, or movement, they can be really beautiful.
I know many artists worry about the lightfastness of alcohol inks. According to Kamenskaya, their delaminating inks are lightfast and not affected by direct sunlight, although I would still personally use them thoughtfully and protect finished work properly. Their own instructions also recommend thinning with isopropyl alcohol and letting the inks air dry rather than using heat.
The STAR of the show is called SeaWave
You can watch the full experiment in the video below.
