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Ash bowl
WABI - SABI Bowl
"The Catalogs"
Ash bowl - interior view
Ash bowl
White Ash
Walnut vessel
Gobble Gobble
Marc Banka

Ash bowl

A White Ash bowl, blackened with India ink then washed with alcohol, top coated with tried and true.
Twice turned, outward facing orientation.
12 inches by 4. Weight 18 oz
Click to expand...
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Reactions: Aaron Harris, Robert Arnold, Ted Pelfrey and 21 others
Will Armstrong
Both your submissions today are lovely Marc. I particularly like your washing back of the ink with alcohol.
May I ask what is "outward facing orientation"?
 
June Talvitie-Siple
It’s beautiful. I’m not a fan of white wood so this caught my eye as a way to embellish and have a striking result. Could you tell me why you did an alcohol wash?
 
Marc Banka
Will Armstrong said:
Both your submissions today are lovely Marc. I particularly like your washing back of the ink with alcohol.
May I ask what is "outward facing orientation"?
Click to expand...
Hi Will, thanks for your comments and question.
Outward facing vs inward, pith down vs pith up, or as some call it ‘O’s or ‘X‘s.
I differentiated because I feel there is so much more to it than which will yield the largest bowl. There are spiritual, emotional and artistic reason to how the piece is perceived, but in almost every case, I think the wrong decision is made.
 
Marc Banka
June Talvitie-Siple said:
It’s beautiful. I’m not a fan of white wood so this caught my eye as a way to embellish and have a striking result. Could you tell me why you did an alcohol wash?
Click to expand...
Thank you for the question, June.
I decided against jet black (and my method for applying was flawed), so considered steel wool or even sandpaper to cut it back. I felt that would give me too much contrast, and getting it even would be an issue. So the alcohol wipe was easy, and fairly easy to achieve a smooth result. I’m happy with the contrast I achieved, showing grain and it’s variations.
 
June Talvitie-Siple
Marc Banka said:
Thank you for the question, June.
I decided against jet black (and my method for applying was flawed), so considered steel wool or even sandpaper to cut it back. I felt that would give me too much contrast, and getting it even would be an issue. So the alcohol wipe was easy, and fairly easy to achieve a smooth result. I’m happy with the contrast I achieved, showing grain and it’s variations.
Click to expand...
Hi Mark, Thanks for the explanation. I am unfamiliar with this process. Do you apply the ink, let dry, and then apply the alcohol to remove some of the ink?
 
Marc Banka
June,
The India ink pigments are suspended in shellac, which is alcohol based. Shellac doesn’t polymerize like many finishes. It can always be removed with alcohol .

So, my method, or rather my recommendation is to paint the piece with the ink. I’ve found that brushing in makes a mess. Just go over once, as much as possible. Let dry. It doesn’t take long, but no need to hurry either. I might let it set for 30 minutes to make sure the ink deeper in the pores is dry.

Then wash with alcohol to taste. I used a shop paper towel soaked (dripping) and also had a spray bottle with the alcohol. Sprayed and wiped till all of the ink on the surface was gone.
Thats about it. More alcohol and more rubbing will take more, less will be more black.

Of you make a mess of it (as I did) wash it well and start again.

I used a danish oil for a protective finish.

A safety note. The alcohol sold at the big stores is dangerous to your health. It’s all methyl or isopropyl. I use denatured ethyl. It has a funky smell, but won’t rot your brain. Or you could use everclear if your state allows the 190 proof. Good ventilation is needed either way.
 
June Talvitie-Siple
Marc Banka said:
June,
The India ink pigments are suspended in shellac, which is alcohol based. Shellac doesn’t polymerize like many finishes. It can always be removed with alcohol .

So, my method, or rather my recommendation is to paint the piece with the ink. I’ve found that brushing in makes a mess. Just go over once, as much as possible. Let dry. It doesn’t take long, but no need to hurry either. I might let it set for 30 minutes to make sure the ink deeper in the pores is dry.

Then wash with alcohol to taste. I used a shop paper towel soaked (dripping) and also had a spray bottle with the alcohol. Sprayed and wiped till all of the ink on the surface was gone.
Thats about it. More alcohol and more rubbing will take more, less will be more black.

Of you make a mess of it (as I did) wash it well and start again.

I used a danish oil for a protective finish.

A safety note. The alcohol sold at the big stores is dangerous to your health. It’s all methyl or isopropyl. I use denatured ethyl. It has a funky smell, but won’t rot your brain. Or you could use everclear if your state allows the 190 proof. Good ventilation is needed either way.
Click to expand...
Thanks so much for detailing your process! I’ve got to try this.
 

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