I am in the process of doing a few float tubes and fly boxes like Paul Cooks (no need to worry Paul ) and was going to do some simple line drawing to decorate them. Now the question is how? Can I use Indian ink? If so where can I get it from? Also if a sketch out in pencil then go over with ink can I then remove the ink without smudging it?
Got plenty of ideas on paper just need them on the tube now!
Have you thought about printing pictures onto transfer paper Darren? I supplied some prints to a fellow traditional float tube maker and he shrunk down my illustrations on a program on his computer and printed them onto slide transfer paper, then sealed the transfers and applied varnish over them. Just an idea.
Not a fish was visible that first time I visited Beechmere; an utter
stillness brooded over the place and I felt the strange and sinister atmosphere which, so the story goes,
has been the cause of several suicides.’
BB – Confessions of a Carp Fisher
Carp Artist wrote:Have you thought about printing pictures onto transfer paper Darren? I supplied some prints to a fellow traditional float tube maker and he shrunk down my illustrations on a program on his computer and printed them onto slide transfer paper, then sealed the transfers and applied varnish over them. Just an idea.
You can simply draw in ink straight onto the transfer paper as long as you seal it well with acrylic varnish (use spray just in case brushed varnish smudges your work!!) That's what I'm about to do.
That’s interesting guys. Do you know if you can just varnish over indian ink or will it smudge? I really want the illustrations to be in my own hand so might do the image on paper first them pop it on the tube and go over it .
You can varnish over the top, I've found a spray vanish gives a nice finish. Yes you can use a pencil and erase when the ink is dry, but go easy, an eraser will take biro off if you're too vigorous ... ...let us know how you get on...
) and was going to do some simple line drawing to decorate them. Now the question is how? Can I use Indian ink? If so where can I get it from? Also if a sketch out in pencil then go over with ink can I then remove the ink without smudging it? 
