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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
May 8, 2019
Q: Heather wants to know: "What is the best type of tape to apply to watercolor paper when applying water to the paper?"
A: Look for a painter's tape that is designed for delicate surfaces. I haven't done a side-by-side comparison, but I've been happy with the yellow Frog Tape, which comes in different widths. Scotch has a blue tape that works well, and I've heard good things about the purple tape from iCraft too.
May 1, 2019
Q: S. Morgan wants to know: "You've mentioned granulating watercolors - what are those?"
A: Some artist watercolor paints have pigment solids suspended in them that don't dissolve or distribute evenly when they're activated with water. These separate from the binder and settle into the valleys of the paper as the paint dries to create a grainy texture. There are certain pigments that will do this naturally; you can also use a granulating medium (a liquid additive) to encourage the effect with other pigments.
April 24, 2019
Q: Kaylie asks: "I just pinned a SCS card that indicated they used kraft paper. I have seen kraft paper listed as a supply in a project many other times. What is that?"
A: Contrary to popular belief, kraft is a type of paper, not the color! The "kraft process" was developed to create a very strong type of paper that is most often used for shopping bags or other packaging products that require high tear resistance. (Did you know that "kraft" means "strength" in German?) The pulp produced during the process is very dark, so that accounts for the brown color we associate with kraft paper, but it can also be bleached and dyed to any color.
April 17, 2019
Q: Jo wants to know: "I wanted to ask about coloring with colored pencils on stamped images. Very often, I get lines where I've stopped and started coloring, especially in larger areas. Is there a technique I can use to avoid doing this?"
A: If you're getting lines with your pencils, you might try lightening up on your pressure - the best way I've found to do that is to grip my pencil back further from the point. A friend describes light pressure as 'tickling the paper' - that helps me remember just how much pressure to use. For large areas, too, you can do a base layer with alcohol markers, and then shade with pencils over the top. There's more information about coloring techniques and pressure in the Pencil Monochrome tutorial HERE.
April 10, 2019
Q: mrsclark2001 wants to know: " I have seen some videos where stampers mask with stamping mask paper. I don't mask too often, but when I do, sticky notes have worked just fine. I would like to mask more though. In your opinion, do I really need a special masking paper?"
A: I generally reach for a sticky note too, but there are some times that they're not best. They don't hold up well to multiple uses, and after several impressions in the same spot, ink starts to leak through them. (This usually happens to me when I'm working with overlapped layering stamps.) They're also only sticky on one edge, and if your image doesn't have a straight side, you're often cutting off a good portion of the adhesive when you create your mask. Masking paper, frisket film or even removable contact paper have the advantage of an all-over adhesive. They're also made to withstand a little more blending or brushing, and can be reusable.
