Because it's a LEAP year, this week's topic for IF is LEAP. I've been thinking about trying a portrait of an inspiring woman I met last weekend at my church's women's retreat. Her name is Marilyn Laszlo. One thing she shared is how we demonstrate our faith by taking that first step toward where we are led. Marilyn followed her calling to be a missionary which led her to Papau New Guinea where she lived with a primitive, Stone Age tribe for 24 years. In my opinion, her step of faith was more like a LEAP of faith. Go to her web site for fascinating accounts of her inspiring stories. Her book is wonderful! I was on the committee for the retreat. In a future post I will share how I made colorful name tags for the attendees using alcohol based ink, and solvent based ink.Well, my time is limited this week, so I put the portrait on hold & decided to take a LEAP that is more familiar.... experimenting with media. I purchased a package of Ampersand textured clayboard which has been renamed "Aquabord". I used my Caran D'Ache Neocolor II watercolor crayons exclusively for the image of a sunflower that I interpretted in a loose manor. Last summer I tried the crayons on smooth clayboard. The results were interesting, but I prefer the texture of this board. I built up layers of color. The initial layers were blended by brushing them with a damp brush. I prefer to use a Sakura water reservoir brush for its convenience. I love the brilliance of color using this method & plan to explore more in the future.
Here are 2 generous artists, Catherine & Fannie, who have shared much info about watercolor crayons on their blogs. Take a LEAP and try this wonderful product.
It's always a LEAP to invest in new product and hope for the best. If any of you have ever used this process, let me know. I'm thinking I should seal this to protect it from smearing. Any advice?
4 comments:
Definitely a leap! I don't think those crayons could be used tentatively :)
I haven't used the process (more a watercolour pencil girl) but it's almost always worth sealing things.
Re photoshop colouring (your comment on mine) I think I have photoshop elements, or a similarly low-scale version of the program. It's a bit of an adventure learning to colour in it, but pretty easy and a lot of fun - also, no need for fixative and you can undo!
You have a great sense of color. I love this illustration.
Thanks! I think of my self as a blue/violet/green side of the color wheel person, but I notice that I keep choosing the hot colors over & over again for my art.
I will have to try coloring with PS Elements, but I think I'll wait til the tendonitis in my hands settles down.
Regina, I spray my colored pencil artwork with fixatives to protect it. You may want to try one of the many that are available. Here are some of my faves:
Claybord Fixative, matte finish. This is a workable fixative.
Lascaux Fixativ is a high gloss fixative which changes the colors slightly making it more brilliant.
Krylon Workable Fixatif, #1306
Reworkable Blue Label Fixatif for Drawings by Martin F. Weber Co. Designed for use on pastel, chalk, pencil and charcoal drawing.
Enjoy!
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