Technique using graphite pencil??
 

I don't know if anyone has heard of this, but as I was going through old magazines, in the 2002 Aug/Sept issue of Stamper's Sampler, I found a cool looking technique using watercolors. The image somehow comes out with all the details of the stamp, but no black lines so you can watercolor it with only your watercolors, no black. She used a tulip stamp. Her instructions read to stamp image on paper, then rub reverse side with a graphite pencil. Then to transfer design onto watercolor paper. That's it for instructions, but HOW is the design transferred? I tried everything I could think of, with no luck at all. Knowing me, it is probably something so simple that I would feel like a dummy for not seeing it. Anyone out there who can help? I know nothing about graphite pencils or what they are supposed to do, but it is obviously the key to this project. Thanks for any suggestions or remarks. Kim

My guess would be that you stamp the image onto scrap paper, rub over the back side with graphite pencil to make home-made carbon paper, lay it stamped side up on the watercolor paper, and trace the stamped image to transfer the lines. This is a pretty common way to transfer designs for painting. It would be a lot quicker and easier, though, to just stamp the image in a light color ink directly onto the watercolor paper. If the paper is very textured, it may not register all the details, but it's worth a try.

Barb Coblentz

Thanks Barb. I tried what you said and got it, but I agree with you that your method is much easier. I think I was just getting angry because I could't figure it out, and I was going to find out somehow. Thanks again! Kim