This is not a traditional approach to suminagashi...quite the opposite actually!
For starts, the papers are not washi paper- although I do use a nice light cotton rice paper at one point. For the most part my papers are from the pantry and I am getting great results using teabag paper and coffee filters.
I even try a few strips of drywall tape!
They were first dyed using natural dyes- Avocado, tea, and black beans (see Part 2 for a good dye bath session).
Then (in part 3) I treat the papers with an alum wash to help make the blacks a bit more crisp
!In place of traditional sumi ink I use an India ink by Pebeo THAT I LOVE!
The water bath gets pretty muddy and murky but I keep going! I also don't use a surfactant as many do as I simply find it hard to find one over here in Italy...such as Photoflo by kodak...although I am still looking for it!
Be sure to make it to the end to see all the results after they have dried! They have so much potential for your art or scrap journal or mixed media art project!Enjoy!