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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
December 10, 2014
Q: Melody wants to know: "How can I clean acrylic paint buildup off of my stencils? I admit to not being diligent about cleaning everything right away when I've used it, and some of my stencils are getting pretty thick!"
A: I am terrible about cleaning things off too... I do take care of my brushes but let layers of paint build up on my brayers. A good spritz over with rubbing alcohol will loosen acrylic paint from stencils and brayers so they can be rubbed or brushed off under hot running water. You might need to reapply the alcohol between brushings if the paint is thick or old.
December 3, 2014
Q: Sharyn wants to know: "What's an inchie?"
A: Inchies are tiny pieces of art on a 1" square! They can be paper, chipboard, cardstock, canvas, matboard, or other textiles. Inchies are often collected or traded. We have a special section in our gallery for Inchies - click HERE to take a peek!
November 26, 2014
Q: Dolores asks: "Which is the best card to use with cutting dies? I use a 150gsm and find that the die cuts are not crisp."
A: My favorite paper for cutting dies is actually watercolor paper. The ones with around 25% cotton content have a little more give and really show the embossing well. Heavier cardstock (110# or 200gsm) works well too.
November 19, 2014
Q: Loralee says: " I have some Twinkling H2Os watercolor paints and am not sure how to use them for the best effect. Have you used them much?"
A: I have quite a few! I usually pull out the colors I want to use and add a few drops of water to each pot, then let them sit for a few minutes. The longer they sit to activate, the more vibrant and shimmery the colors will be. Stir up the color into a liquid paint with your brush, and then put it to your watercolor paper. They're wonderful to use as a wash over other coloring done with alcohol marker or pencil as well. The mica and other minerals used in the paints reflect light so beautifully. Click here for a tutorial in our Resources section for making a shimmery painted background.
November 12, 2014
Q: Crystal wants to know: "What is OMS?"
A: OMS stands for Odorless Mineral Spirits. In everyday terms it's a paint thinner. Artists use a purer grade of OMS as a solvent or blending agent. It has the chemical ability to dissolve the binder in colored pencil - the 'glue' that holds the pigment together - so that the pigment can be moved and blended on a page. It is typically applied to a colored area using a paper stump or a paintbrush. Here's a tutorial on pencil blending using OMS.
