The Wet Stain

Inky illustrations by whimsical Chicagoland artist, designer, and cartoonist, Ali Cantarella.

[thewetstain]

Sorry I'm not posting art, 'cause I'm hanging out with irl angels @pollensalta and @loveaudreyhorne for her birthday in Indianapolis! 😘 (at Hotel Tango Artisan Distillery)

[thewetstain]

Quick pen and watercolor mess at @grotesqueburlesque figure drawing tonight-- thanks to beautiful muse @britthill_fineart 😍🍷💕 #watercolor #paint #wine #winepainting #paintingwithwine #paintingwithcoffee #lineart #linework #pen #ink #ballpoint #ballpointpen #bic #sketch #sketchbook #portrait #woman (at Uptown Underground)

[thewetstain]

I'm over the moon to be a part of upcoming public art in Chicago! In participation with @pawschicago and the Chicago Police Department, this K9 will be decorated and displayed this summer down Michigan Avenue, along with hundreds of others by many other amazing Chicago artists. Having worked with PAWS closely in the past, and being raised the daughter of a Sheriff's Deputy in Michigan, I'm thankful and looking forward to being a part of this project. #dogs #sculpture #publicart #streetart #k9sforcops #k9 #germanshepherd #paint #doodle #sketch #sketchbook #wip #personalpost #chicago #chicagoartist #chicagoart #studio #puppy (at Chicago, Illinois)

[thewetstain]

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Coffee and red wine on canvas board, several layers deep of staining and glazing. Once dried, line work is added with an alcohol-based marker to avoid re-activating the line work when the second water-based layers (like additional coffee and wine!) are added after the fact. Pieces like this require a lot of foresight and patience, and confidence that the actions you take early on will end in strong results, even if you can't see the finish line yet 😊 #watercolor #coffee #coffeepainting #paintingwithcoffee #wine #winepainting #paintingwithwine #lineart #linework #art #wip #timelapse #video #sketchbook #sketch #drawing #abstract #stillife #chicagoartist #foodandwine (at Chicago, Illinois)

[thewetstain]

Drawing pugs and ❤️ with @whenuwerelittle today!! #pug #ballpoint #ballpointpen #lineart #linework #pen #pencil #pugsofinstagram #heart #friendship #sketch #sketchbook #doodle #drawing

[thewetstain]

Took my new @bummercitystudio earrings out for a spin on this sunny Chicago Monday! ✨⭐️☀️💛 #vegan #handmade #diy #jewelry #chicago #chicagoartist #fashion #featherearrings #madebyfriends #local #shopsmall #shoplocal #etsy #ladyartists

[thewetstain]

Had so much inspiration yesterday at @chicagozinefest so I drew up a little amalgamation of some standout features from the artsy crowds! Zine femmes are real cute, they got all the patterns and all the flair, arms full of beautiful tattoos and hand-screen-printed posters and comix 😍 . . . #czf2017 #zine #chicagoartist #chicago #sketch #sketchbook #ballpoint #ballpointpen #girlswithtattoos #lineart #linework #doodle #womenincomics #ladyartists #femme #comix (at Wicker Park, Chicago)

[thewetstain]

I might be super into painting with wine and coffee but also I might just be an accident prone animal. #notallspills . . . #cupcake #tea #sketch #sketchbook #ballpoint #ballpointpen #lineart #linework #zine #comics #womenincomics #doodle #drawing #chicago #chicagoartist

[thewetstain]

Thank you so much @chicagozinefest for an amazing, inspiring time!! Painted up this piece with @halfwitcoffee behind my table, and sold it to a beautiful soul mere hours later ☕️⭐️✨ See you next year! #czf #czf2017 #chicagozinefest #watercolor #coffee #coffeepainting #sunandmoon #sunandmoontattoo #lineart #linework #pen #ink #art #sketch #sketchbook (at Local 130 Plumbers Union Hall)

[thewetstain]

Hanging out at @chicagozinefest where @halfwitcoffee has me awake and painting already 😍😍😍 #halfwitcoffee #czf2017 #coffee #coffeepainting #chicagoartist #chicagozinefest #sketchbook #liveart #lineart #linework #pen #ink #watercolor #wip #doodle #ladyartists #womenincomics (at Local 130 Plumbers Union Hall)

[thewetstain]

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NEW COMIC debuting on my table at @chicagozinefest this Saturday, 05/07, 10am - ??? at Plumbers Union Hall!! This collaboration with @thesunbros has three amazingly imaginative stories, illustrated by yours truly! "Eisegesis: Kings and Queens" is 40 pages of full color, with a centerfold poster and pin up art from talented contributors. I'll see ya at the show, Chicago! #czf #czf2017 #chicagozinefest #chicago #chicagoartist #womenincomics #ladyartists #lineart #linework #comics #indie #smallpress #fantasycomics #originalcomics #sketchbook (at Local 130 Plumbers Union Hall)

[thewetstain]

We had a #starwars themed model at @grotesqueburlesque tonight, buuuuut I've been reading Craig Thompson's "Habibi" so I couldn't help but be inspired in another direction... 😍 Straight Ballpoint Pen! #figuredrawing #liveart #figuremodel #femalefigure #woman #nude #model #pen #ballpoint #ballpointpen #bic #habibi #lineart #linework #doodle #drawing #sketch #sketchbook (at Uptown Underground)

[thewetstain]

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Cry Club pin by @andyharvest looks gooooood on leather too, because even tuff kids cry. #pingame #pin #enamelpin #madeinchicago #chicago #chicagoartist #chicagozinefest #comics #womenincomics #ladyartists #cryclub #supportyofriends #shoplocal #shopsmall

[thewetstain]

At @c2e2 this year, a man ((not the one pictured)) stopped by my artist alley table with his sketchbook. Without really speaking to me, he started drawing a caricature of my face, leaning on my table and blocking my space in order to do so. I asked him if I could have the drawing when he finished and he laughed. I asked if he was going to pay me a modeling fee and he feigned incomprehension. I asked if he could please stop blocking my table and he asked me "What the problem?" I know I was supposed to feel flattered by being so inspiring someone just HAD to stop and draw me right in that moment but, hey, sorry, I wasn't. I was frustrated that in my place of work I was being reduced to someone else's craft while they blocked my own efforts, putting their interests above my own. I think it was a good lesson that being inspired by someone or finding something worth capturing doesn't mean you get to capture it without taking into consideration that person has feelings and a life completely separate of your own. I draw strangers in bars, in coffee shops, in malls, and I know I am violating a private moment for my own artistic growth. But maintaining respect is a lesson in tact and humanity. THAT SAID, here's a portrait of @crosafix I drew without asking him what so ever. Thanks for giving me permission to share and allowing me an hour spent with my craft that made me feel more in tune than ever. #portrait #ballpoint #ballpointpen #bic #lineart #linework #man #maleportrait #malemodel #pen #sketch #sketchbook #hatching #chicago #chicagoartist #art

[thewetstain]

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Use the tools you have at hand-- literally! Free sketchbook, cheapo ballpoint pen, and some of my tasty black coffee from @greatlakescoffee here in Michigan! Glad to be getting back into morning warmups (brown sugar cupcake and best sister company doesn't hurt either 😍💕) #coffee #coffeepainting #puremichigan #greatlakescoffee #cat #catsofinstagram #portrait #sketch #sketchbook #wip #paint #paintingwithcoffee #lineart #linework #design #pen #ink #bic #ballpoint (at Sweets)

[thewetstain]

Stella thinks art is pretty hard, but she tries to stay pawsitive about it. #ballpoint #ballpointpen #bic #anatomy #hands #lineart #linework #doodle #drawing #sketch #art #chicago #chicagoartist #cat #catsofinstagram

[thewetstain]

Having a tough time drawing things I used to be good at today. Confronted by my atrophied skills and the uphill climb ahead. Thankfully, I can still find peace in this mantra while simultaneously recognizing the importance of dedicated improvement. "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." Surrounded by Lavender and Rosemary. #wristtattoo #tattoo #tattodesign #lineart #linework #pen #ink #ballpoint #ballpointpen #bic #sketch #sketchbook #doodle #drawing #wip #draweverydamnday #essentialoils #plants