Have you ever been so excited as you looked at a blank canvas? There’s no shame in having two left thumbs or being scared of paintbrushes. It was by mistake that I learned how to paint with Alcohol ink painting course after spilling a set of markers and having to clean up the mess. Instantaneously, hypnotic blooms, wild rivers, and waves of color appeared on my kitchen table. I was hooked.

The crazy part is that you don’t have to be an experienced artist. That sounds like something you’d have to study for three years at an old school to get good at. Use alcohol ink? It is the rebellious cousin. It looks like the paint wants to dance, and you’re just playing music.

Gather some things: alcohol paints (three colors should be enough to start), 91% isopropyl alcohol, Yupo paper (which doesn’t absorb ink), plastic droppers, and a straw. Wear gloves to protect your hands unless you want rainbow fingers for a week! Being safe is cool.

Color should fall on the paper. Do not think too much about plop, splat, or rain. By adding a few drops of alcohol, you can see the colors spread out and dance in awe. Use a straw to move them around. Bring out your inner storm. Spin the paper around. The colors will mix, overlap, and make shapes that don’t make sense. Everything is a mess, but magic still works. You’ll get edges that look like feathers, streaks that look like bold lines, and layers that look like dreams instead of art.

You’re going to love this if you think watching paint dry sounds dull. It dries quickly. In an instant, you’re looking at something as strange and surprising as a double rainbow in the snow. The first try will sometimes look like a toddler’s party cake. Have fun! Throw it away or turn the sheet over and try again. There is no pressure or criticism.

In some ways, it can be very calming. I sometimes just watch the colors move around and wonder if I’m learning art or lessons about life. Relax. Deal with the chaos. Thanks for the gifts. Making a mess can have some amazing results.

Get your friends together. Make it a Rorschach party on Friday night. Tell each other about the strangest thing you saw in your new abstract works of art. There is no way that you can “fail” at this. Every sheet has a gift inside it. You don’ need to tell anyone your secret. Or do—it’s up to you.

If you want to try something new, this alcohol ink journey will do the trick. Your secret skill might suddenly come to the surface. You will question everything you thought you knew about what you could (or couldn’t) make with this method, even if you don’t think you have one. Gather your pens, turn on your favorite music, and jump right in. Who knows? The next great work of art (and laugh out loud moment) could be just around the corner.