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I cannot tell you how many times I have stamped an image on watercolor paper and decided "this is the day that I actually master watercoloring!"...and how many times the "said" project has wound up in the garbage. I see others work and it looks so blended and smooth with just the right amount of shading, mine, not so much. Maybe I am just too @nal about the look that I created but it makes me crazy!
I won't even try to blame it on the quality of supplies I am using although the ColdPress paper is just what you buy at M's. I also use a good quality watercolor crayon. Just wondering if I am the only one that struggles with this?
Do you have water based markers (SU!, Tombow, LePlumes)? If so, give watercoloring a try with a blender pen. Tombow and LePlume both make them and it's a bit easier with them. You just lay down the color on an acrylic block or other such 'palette' pick up a bit of color with the blending pen and color your image like that. You don't have to worry about too much/too little water. There is also a book available from Sunshine Designs in Canada that has a fantastic book on watercoloring with markers. That might help. Don't give up!
I know exactly how you feel. Here is what I am doing.
If you have watercolor paper, water, paint and a brush, just practice. Get some books out of the library on beginning painting and don't bother with stamps. Just practice laying down color, letting it dry, and laying down some more.
Practice figuring out your light source direction and all that stuff. None of it comes naturally to me. Some folks just "get it" and some of us have to practice and hope for the best.
Yes, you will use up a bunch of paper but if you are throwing it out anyway, why not?
BTW, anything with mica, like Twinkling H20s is much harder to blend, so sticking to reinkers, ink pads, or even a $2 set of watercolors will be easier.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
Get an inexpensive pad of watercolor paper from your local craft store and just practice. I actually love SU crayons. I also enjoy watercolor pencils and reinkers. (One day, I will experiment with other mediums.) Just remember, it isn't supposed to look the same as markers or magic colored pencils. And, you will get different results with pencils, crayons, etc. And, really, if you just never feel like it's for you, it's really okay. ;) If it's too light, add another layer or color.
It's harder to move color on paper other than watercolor and you might like hot press because it's smooth. My Michael's has a pad from Strathmore, I believe, that has a variety of different watercolor papers. Hot press is my personal favorite.
I too had problem w/getting my watercoloring to look blended, etc. One of the classes at an art retreat last weekend was "Watercoloring". Yeah, I learned the techniques & now feel great about my finished image! There are books by "Art Impressions" that have the clear stamps to match the workbooks. They also have a DVD walking you thru the techniques. Once you learn the basics, you can apply them to any stamp - rubber, mounted or unmounted and/or clear! SU markers and/or inkpads work well too! I do use brushes but you only need 3 of them - #1, #3 & #5. Apply the markers to a palette & draw off a little color w/the brush & then add water for shade desired. I found using the brushes allows the blending that I was looking for.
Art Impressions has a website where you can find the books ($6 ea) and the stamp sets that match the workbooks. We used the 2nd Watercoloring book in class & was told it explained techniques better than the 1st one. Good Luck & Happy Watercoloring!
It's harder to move color on paper other than watercolor and you might like hot press because it's smooth. My Michael's has a pad from Strathmore, I believe, that has a variety of different watercolor papers. Hot press is my personal favorite
Interesting...I thought I have always heard in the past that ColdPress is better but honestly, I don't remember the reason why. It is even hard for me to get a good stamped image with roughness of this paper. Maybe I will have to try the pad you talked about with the variety!
I've watercolored a little but still need to practice. So far I've only used the Crayola watercolor paints from the kids dept. Anyway, the technique that KatarinaM mentions can be seen on a this new video that I just saw this morning done by Kristina, aka Starofmay here at SCS. She shows how to water using a blender pen, ink pad and acrylic block. It's pretty cool. Here's a link:
I'm AWFUL at watercoloring. I've tried water color crayons, pencils, an aquapainter and ink, and I just can't get the hang of it. I even use Fabriano Watercolor paper and have practiced until my hand hurt. I would love to be able to watercolor, but I figure its just not my "thing". :(
So of course I had to run to M's looking for the hot press paper...the only one they had was in the tablet that Mungojerry spoke of but it only had 2 sheets of this paper and the rest was cold press. It was about $16 so I opted to wait until I could just find hot press alone. In the meantime I guess I will just continue to practice with what I have!
I never got the effect I wanted until I started using watercolor paper. I use watercolor pencils or my SU markers with a water pen I got at Michaels.
Now everything I color turns out exactly the way I expect it to.
No one has mentioned that watercolor paper works best when it has been sized.
Simply put, wet the whole thing first and let it mostly dry before using...first it buckles, then it flattens back out, then you can use it.
Also, I only use D'arches paper, either the pad or I buy a large sheet and cut it up into smaller more manageable pieces.
Hot pressed is probably easier to use for stamping because it has less "tooth" or roughness, although I have always liked the texture of Cold pressed myself.
So of course I had to run to M's looking for the hot press paper...the only one they had was in the tablet that Mungojerry spoke of but it only had 2 sheets of this paper and the rest was cold press. It was about $16 so I opted to wait until I could just find hot press alone. In the meantime I guess I will just continue to practice with what I have!
You know, Dick Blick's has 5 x 7 blocks of Fabriano watercolor paper. I think the shipping would be more than the block of paper :rolleyes: but if you need some other things, it's a nice size. They have bigger blocks as well. Wow, that pad is costly at your Michael's. I don't remember paying that much. Eek.
Interesting...I thought I have always heard in the past that ColdPress is better but honestly, I don't remember the reason why. It is even hard for me to get a good stamped image with roughness of this paper. Maybe I will have to try the pad you talked about with the variety!
I have read posts about cold press being better. I think it's because of the texture but, as you say, the actual stamped image isn't as good. I prefer the smooth surface for that reason.
I too have issues with watercoloring and I adore the look of it. Thank you to the link for KwernerDesignBlog. Her tutorial was so helpful. :mrgreen: I will continue to practice. PS I love starofmay's blog - KwernerDesignBlog and will be visiting it daily.
Lots of good advice- for my two cents worth, I suggest wetting a page and then just lay down some complimentary colors and play with it. Don't try to make a picture, just sort of experience how it re-acts, try different brush strokes or color combos. You might have to do many tries to get the feel of it. AND you can use your practice pages for really cool background papers or use as scraps for punches. Win/win situation
I love to watercolor.....I use the pencils (Derwent brand), and they are so portable and versatile. I don't know if it would be helpful, but I have a sort-of tutorial on my blog, at least it shows my step-by-step process in watercoloring an image. Here's the link, and feel free to look around at other entries too - you'll find lots of examples of watercoloring there:
I am also "challenged" when it comes to watercolouring. I found it easier to use watercolour pencils as opposed to markers. I stamp my image onto watercolour paper. Then I get my pencils and colour onto the paper. The sections I want darker I colour in darker and the sections I want light I just lightly colour. I then het my aquash pen and belnd it as best I can.
Julie has a watercolor tutorial here on SCS resourses. Check it out!
Her tutorial is awsome!
Now SU's watercolor paper is 140 lbs. and is 100% cotton, don't know if it is hot or cold press. Anybody know more on cotton paper?
What M's watercolor paper would be the closest to SU"s...just trying to save a few bucks SU's is Sooo expensive, and I'm a Demo! lol
Julie has a watercolor tutorial here on SCS resourses. Check it out!
Her tutorial is awsome!
Now SU's watercolor paper is 140 lbs. and is 100% cotton, don't know if it is hot or cold press. Anybody know more on cotton paper?
What M's watercolor paper would be the closest to SU"s...just trying to save a few bucks SU's is Sooo expensive, and I'm a Demo! lol
SU's is cold press 140 lb.
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
Just wanted to say that "misery LOVES company" and it is nice to know that I am not the ONLY one having a problem. LOL! I still haven't found "hot press" paper locally and refuse to pay some rediculous shipping price buying it online. I have looked at all the tutorials recommended and picked up some great tips! I wonder if I should try pencils instead of the crayons.
I will say that I prefer a regular paintbrush (of good quality) as opposed to the "aquapainters"...I just feel like I have more control over the them!
Any other tutorials or tips welcome!
Thanks for everything so far!
Do you have water based markers (SU!, Tombow, LePlumes)? If so, give watercoloring a try with a blender pen. Tombow and LePlume both make them and it's a bit easier with them. You just lay down the color on an acrylic block or other such 'palette' pick up a bit of color with the blending pen and color your image like that. You don't have to worry about too much/too little water. There is also a book available from Sunshine Designs in Canada that has a fantastic book on watercoloring with markers. That might help. Don't give up!
I tried bringing up Sunshine Designs but couldn't find it. Could you tell me please if that's the name of the company or part of another company or name of the book? Thank you.
A lot times I will print off hints that I've gotten from SCS and this is one I found from 2006.
"Stamp your image (any kind of ink) on a piece of cardstock (doesn't have to be watercolor paper), spray with Krylon Matte Spray (in paint section of stores and art supply stores). Then watercolor with any type (tube, twinks, pencils, crayons, etc.) & voila - works beautifully.
Just remember to use the spray in a well vented room, it smells strong."
I just found the hint & read it again so haven't tried it, but am going to. HTH
__________________ Keep what is worth keeping
and with the breath of kindness
blow the rest away.
If you have a Michael's close by, they should have the hot press WC paper in a large sheet that you just have to cut down. Seems like it was around $9-$10 the last time I bought it (I used a 40% coupon, so it was much less).
I got a really good tip from someone on this web site. Spray your card stock with Matte fixatve spray before water coloring. It prevents the paper from pilling and the water colors flow smoothly. I have used watercolor paper too
and have not been as pleased with the result as I am with the cardstock and spray. Thank you to the Person who orginally provided the info I wish I could remember who it was or where I saw it so I could give full credit.
__________________ Bev
Organized People are just too lazy to hunt for things!!!
Anyone else "watercolor challenged"...seriously!
