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I've been stamping for awhile now...but, I just can't seem to get my watercoloring right!! :oops: It never looks like any of the examples I see (here or catalog!)
This is what I usually do: color parts of my image with SU watercolor pencils (mostly highlighting the edges). Then, use my blender pen to spread the color. And, the results, to me, are usually icky IMO.
So...as simple as it seems, I need help! :? What is the easiest way to watercolor? Do you color the whole image? Or...do I forget the pencils and use something else? Please share your technique with me!
I use my watercolor pencils and scribble a little color at the left side of my image (sometimes bottom instead). Then I come in with my aqua pen and drag the color over (or up). Does that make sense? I was having a difficult time with the blender pens and pastels, so I stick to the watercolor pencils and like it a lot.
I can never get my watercolor pencils to work right. I prefer to squeeze the lid of my ink down and pick up the excess ink on the lid with my wet watercolor brush. Always looks great!
Jen, how do you keep all of these awesome tips and links at your fingertips? You always seems able to point people in the right direction. You're the bomb baby!
And Cindy Lyles, thanks so much for your awesome tutorial!
__________________ I LOVE being a SU demonstrator! my gallery my blog
Well, I do it completely different. I scribble the color(s) I want to use on scratch paper and then use my aquapainter to blend them around and then paint with them. I love this way for doing several colors together.
I usually use blender pens and ink pressed onto the lid of my inkpad. I have the watercolor pencils, but have only used them once or twice. When I'm watercoloring folds in cloth, I concentrate a stroke of color along the fold line, and then come back in and make it lighter as I move away from the fold. Also, I usually drag the blender pen along the ripple rather than across it. Does that make sense? Here, I'll attach one of my cards where I think the watercoloring turned out the best...
__________________ Rachel Proud SU! demo and Sci-Fi Geek!
My Stampin' Up! blog "I'm a time traveler -- I point and laugh at archaeologists." 10th Doctor, "Silence in the Library"
I've discovered a great way to watercolor that has quickly become my favorite way: I got an inexpensive 6-well plastic palette from Michael's. In each well, I place just ONE DROP of re-inker of each color I want to use. Then I use my Aquapainter to dip the very tiniest part of the tip (it doesn't take much at all.) The colors are a little more concentrated that way, if you like a more vivid look. My customers LOVE it that they can spend only $2.50 per color, if they want to watercolor!
__________________ Lisa There is a fine line between HOBBY and MENTAL ILLNESS http://thestampinabode.stampinup.net
I use my markers and scribble them on a cd or cd case. Then I pick up the color with my aquapainter. I feel like an artist with all of those colors at my fingertips.
Rachel - absolutely gorgeous card!!!! Thanks for letting me see your artistry and teaching me a better way of highlighting the stamped image with watercolor.
When I use my aquapainters it seems I use too much water. I am not squeezing too hard, at least I don't think I am. After using your aquapainters do you have to let your art work dry for what seems like FOREVER? I must be doing something wrong. Any tips on using the aquapainter? Thanks! Steph
I'm having the same trouble as Steph. Too much H20 from my aquapainters. Is there a trick to using these well.
Rachel, your card is beautiful! I see what you mean about the folds of her dress being darker. Concentrate the color where you want to create a shadow and move the color outwards.
I use the large aqua painter for large back grounds or future technique. I use the small one for everything else I never sqeeze them I let the water flow naturally. If I squeeze I get way to much water. sometimes you might have to blot the end to get any extra water. I use these daily and because of some one on here I used them to seal all those Christmas cards I had to make. I wish I had known about it when I sent out DH business cards.
I've discovered a great way to watercolor that has quickly become my favorite way: I got an inexpensive 6-well plastic palette from Michael's. In each well, I place just ONE DROP of re-inker of each color I want to use. Then I use my Aquapainter to dip the very tiniest part of the tip (it doesn't take much at all.) The colors are a little more concentrated that way, if you like a more vivid look. My customers LOVE it that they can spend only $2.50 per color, if they want to watercolor!
I often use the ink from the markers for watercolor. Taking the simplest way, I scribble the brush end of the marker on the top of a plastic stamp set box. Those boxes are always near at hand! Then I proceed as others have described.
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When using the aquapainters or blender pens, you can take the color directily off the watercolor pencils for more intense color. For some things this is the perfect technique.
Also if you are using the w/c pencils you do not have to color in every speck of white like you would with colored pencils. Just scribble in some color and then use your aqua brush to spread out the color. For instance in "Rachel's angel" go down the folds in the dress with blue and maybe some random scribbles in blue or a lighter blue and a scribble of blush across her face and then let the water do the work.
You will have lovely shaded folds and lovely lighter highlights on other parts where the water has done its magic! If you decide it needs more (maybe some purple?) scribble that on a plastic lid and pick up a tiny bit and accent it where it is needed . Let it DRY before you give up. W/c usually dries lighter so that might be where you can apply some glitter LOL or decide to cut out or layer or keep for a practice piece.
When I use my aquapainters it seems I use too much water. I am not squeezing too hard, at least I don't think I am. After using your aquapainters do you have to let your art work dry for what seems like FOREVER? I must be doing something wrong. Any tips on using the aquapainter? Thanks! Steph
Another thing I recommend is never to use the US cardstocks; use the naturals or confetti's. They are more durable for watercoloring, and IMHO dry faster. I also like to use real watercolor paper, that way the panel I'm watercoloring never curls or gets "nubby." And I agree about not squeezing the Aquapainter at all; just one little squeeze to get it started but after that, let it come out on its own.
__________________ Lisa There is a fine line between HOBBY and MENTAL ILLNESS http://thestampinabode.stampinup.net
When I was at Regionals in Madison this year, SU did a presentation on watercoloring. The presenter said, first of all the best paper to watercolor on is Confetti White. She said that while the US papers are great papers, they are just too smooth for watercoloring, you don't have the control like you do with the confetti paper. I experimented when I got home, and she was right - US papers are sort of "slick" and the watercolor just sort of "slides" around, confetti white was much easier to do watercoloring on.
Ooooh...feel so dumb!
