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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
February 28, 2018
Q: Ann asks: "Can you please tell me what the difference is between Gesso and Gel Medium?"
A: Think of gesso like a paint primer - it seals a surface to prepare it for painting, and has an added texture that helps paint stick. You'll find it in clear, white, and black, and it can be mixed with acrylic paint to create custom colors as well. Gel medium can be used in a lot of different ways, and there are many different kinds of gel medium used for different purposes. I keep matte gel medium on hand to use as an adhesive in layered collage or mixed media work - you can put it under and over layers, and it isn't noticeable when it dries. You can spread it through a stencil and apply glitter for a fun effect. It can change the consistency or glossiness of acrylic paint. It can even be used for some great transfer effects - I will work on a tutorial for that soon!
February 21, 2018
Q: Laura asks: "How do you decide which stamps you should buy from a given catalog or stamp line? In another life, I'd love to have them all, but realistically that can't happen. Are there questions you ask yourself to decide, etc?"
A: My general rule is to think of 3 ways to use a stamp or set before I buy. If it's kind of a 'one trick pony', then I don't buy it. I like to buy sets that can coordinate - either with each other or with something I already own. That helps to shape a decision as well. For online shopping, I keep a Pinterest board of "stamps I need", then save up and wait for sales.
February 14, 2018
Q: Amy is looking for ideas:
"I have so much double-sided patterned paper and I want to show it off with fun folds."
"I have so much double-sided patterned paper and I want to show it off with fun folds."
A: Great idea - I love being able to show off both sides of the paper in a project! For fun fold cards, try the Trifold Pocket Card, Diagonal Double Pocket Card, Pinwheel Fun Fold, or Double Gate Fold Card. The Pleated Skirt Fold makes a fun embellishment for a card front. If you're looking for a cute treat holder, try the Diaper Fold Pouch, or the Two Pocket Treat Holder. For gift giving, tuck notecards into a Card Clutch or top off a package with a Paper Bow!
February 7, 2018
Q: Judy asks: "Does anyone have a filing system for their paper that makes it easy to see the color family and pull what you want to work with?"
A: I don't have a great system for larger or patterned papers, but I keep my colored cardstock (half and full sheets) in hanging file folders, organized by color family. With it organized that way, I can see all the colors from the top. I have 6" pads and patterned papers in a box, ordered by color; I keep some quarter sheets in that box as well. For scraps, I use side-loading DVD binder pages that have 2 pockets each. They're easy to pull out, and they're organized with one pocket for each color family. (If you'd like to share your paper filing system with our community, click HERE!)
January 31, 2018
Q: Gail wants to know: "I mask but get 'ink shadows' - what am I doing wrong?"
A: My guess is that your mask is just a little bit too large - try cutting to the inside of the outline to avoid getting that white 'halo' around the image - this will allow the ink to come right up onto the outline of the stamped image. Using a thinner masking paper may help too, or even wide masking tape.
