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Search the archive, three years of Inklings.
Ask the Artist
Our Artist in Residence, Dina Kowal, answers your questions
December 20, 2023
Q: Louise asks: "I recently purchased the Distress Watercolor crayons. However, I have no clue how to sharpen them when it comes time. Can you help?"
A: I would avoid a traditional sharpener because everything you cut away from a watercolor crayon is usable product! I'd use a method that would preserve the product so I could use it in a palette. A craft knife could be used to shave the crayon to a point - save the shavings in a small container or paint palette and activate them with water to use like traditional watercolor paints. Another option is to scribble with the crayon at an angle, rotating it to wear it down into a point. You can use a wet brush to lift the pigment and paint as usual. (Have more ideas? You can share them HERE.)
December 13, 2023
Q: Barbara wants to know: "I'm trying to find a product that will cover metal. I'm trying to steampunk a metal snowman I have. I've used black gesso, but it chips off both the snowman and the gears."
A: The first coat on metal should be a metal primer, and then gesso can be used over that... gesso doesn't like to adhere to certain metals. Sanding the metal lightly can also help with adhesion if you don't want to buy another product - I would try that first. If it doesn't help, for a dimensional object like your snowman an aerosol primer would work best to get quick coverage in all the nooks and crannies. Rustoleum has a metal primer that can be used on clean (not rusty) metal.
December 6, 2023
Q: Karen asks: "The scoring tool that came with my scoring board often jumps out of the groove when I use it on heavy cardstock. Do you have a bone folder or tool that works better?"
A: I use a 3mm ball stylus with my scoring board. I bought a set of inexpensive ones on Amazon in different sizes - they're often marketed as dotting tools for painting or nail art.
November 29, 2023
Q: Robin asks: "What is your preferred method of applying paint through a stencil for crafting?"
A: The key to stenciling with paint is having very little paint on your applicator. A local sign-stenciling business uses cheap makeup wedges and taps off almost all the paint before applying it to the project. I have dedicated a couple of my blending brushes to acrylic paint, and I have been pleased with how well they work - again, the key is using as little paint as possible. I usually squeeze out a little paint onto a craft mat and tap the brush into it, then blend in a circular motion on the mat first to even it out before applying it through a stencil. The brushes have synthetic bristles that clean very easily with a prompt rinse in warm water.
November 22, 2023
Q: Kristi asks: "I unearthed an empty syringe that I asked my RN husband for but now I can’t remember what technique I saw that I wanted to try using it. I’m thinking maybe something with glycerine or water or alcohol inks? Any ideas?"
A: You reminded me of a Mix-ability challenge I hosted a few years ago where we used a syringe to create an ink or watercolor splat for a background. You can find that post HERE with a link to the video.
