Alcohol Ink Basics
Learn some of the basics of Alcohol ink. (Bonus Painted Cherry Blossom)
Learn what I use for creating my alcohol ink paintings. Get a better understanding of the tools you need for each of the different types of paintings. I will also show you how the ink moves and how you can start to play with it so you get a feel for what it does. PLUS a bonus video tutorial on how to paint a cherry blossom in alcohol ink. :)
Your Instructor
Virginia Crowe
Artist • Personal Trainer • Menopause Coach
I’m Virginia Crowe, and my work sits at the intersection of creativity, strength, and healing. For more than two decades, I’ve helped women transform their bodies, their confidence, and their sense of self—first through fitness, then through art, and now through a holistic blend of all the above.
My wellness journey began in 2004 after navigating my own challenges with pregnancy weight gain. Becoming a personal trainer changed my life, and since then I’ve trained hundreds of women, owned my own gym, and managed large group training programs at Lifetime Athletic in Laguna Niguel. Today, I run a combined gym and art studio in Laguna Hills, where my Thrive By Design programs bring together fitness, nutrition, mindset, and creativity to help women feel strong, grounded, and deeply supported.
My creative path started unexpectedly—and out of necessity. In 2018, after leaving an abusive marriage, art became my lifeline. What began as simple drawings grew into painting, teaching, and eventually launching my online art classes and in-person art parties. Art became my therapy, my joy, and my way of reconnecting to myself. Today, it’s one of the most meaningful ways I help women express, release, and rediscover who they are.
As a certified menopause coach, I specialize in guiding women through the changes, confusion, and opportunities of midlife. My own menopause experience pushed me to combine everything I know—strength training, nutrition, mindset work, nervous system support, and creative healing—into accessible programs that help women understand their bodies and truly thrive during this transition.
When I’m not creating or coaching, you’ll find me out in nature with my incredible son, who has autism. He teaches me daily how to slow down, appreciate the small things, and live fully in the moment.
Whether you found me through art, fitness, menopause support, or the desire to combine all three—welcome. I’m here to help you feel empowered, understood, and inspired on your journey.
Learn more at www.thrivewithvirginia.com — and feel free to reach out anytime.
— Virginia Crowe