2018 #3 Watercolours with ESN {by Debs Wainwright}

2018 Topic 3: Watercolour

Beautiful splashes of bold watercolours splashed onto watercolour paper creates an awesome background for Sara's stamps. Debs shows us how so effortlessly, and in the process makes beautiful cards into a gift set. Fabulous!

Hi everyone, Debs joining you today, and I'm sharing this little card/notelet set I created using some of Sara Newman’s new stamps which were perfect for what I had in mind. I used ESN 23 &24 . (Stockists list at the foot of this post)

I have always loved those writing sets which were popular when I was a teenager, you know, pretty cards which you would write your letter on with matching envelopes, all kept together in a box which usually matched the cards (... maybe that's me showing my age). There was something sophisticated and grown up about them; remembering them was my inspiration for today's project.

I love using watercolours as the results are often unpredictable which suits my personality, they also lend themselves to spontaneity and freedom which I love to incorporate into my art, the set I used were Gansai Tambi by Kuretake, which are currently my favourite mainly because of the beautiful golds they have which are unusually opaque.

I loved how the colours bled into each other and blended so well. Having wet the surface first with clean water I couldn't predict the outcome, of where the paint would move to on the card, which adds so much fun, and does away with the worry that it might go wrong.

I have a passion at the moment for using gold in my art and these cards were no exception, again it's impossible to predict where the paint will land when you flick it from the brush which just adds to the enjoyment. I also loved how edging the cards in gold worked, I used my non-dominant hand for this, to keep the freshness of uncontrolled colour.

As mentioned earlier Sara's new stamps have a loose style which works so well for me, and were perfect for keeping the uncomplicated look which I sought to achieve. I didn't want anything that looked over worked or too contrived I wanted something anyone could look at and know they could achieve the same look.

Although I used watercolours, you can achieve a similar look with Infusions, by adding water to them in a palette and using them as a paint in the same way, just remember you will get a more vintage look.

The great thing about watercolours is their translucent properties which make them perfect for all kinds of art, whether you want to create a one layer piece or want to build up your layers, or use them in your journals. using them more neat gives a more intensified colour or add more water to increase the translucent properties. Sara’s stamps work perfectly with this style, as there are elements which can be painted and shade added for depth as well as others that can stand alone as part of mixed media or even CAS. 

I hope I have inspired you to have a go with watercolours, there is nothing to be afraid of as the medium is so forgiving, and they work so well with any stamp you want to use with them.

Take care everyone

Hugs

Debs xx

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I'm teaching a mixed Media Project in Tullie House, Gallery and Museum on April 21st 

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