Friday 15 January 2016

Watercolour playtime

Well my poor blog has been so neglected and at last I've had time to have a little play. I have other workshop things to be shown but I can't put them up until a little later.

These little postcards are the experiments of playing with brushos, bisters that my sister bought me for Christmas, watercolours and stamps.


The background was started first using distress inks before stamping this gorgeous bee by Wendy Vecchi which was stamped twice, once with sandstone brusho and again over the top with black archival which helped to get me a watercolour shadow. Water was used to be;each out some of the colour in the wings and watercolours painted in. Bisters were add and spritzed over the background and the hexagons stamped (also Wendy's) to finish it off.


The leaf gave me quite a bit of a headache. It's one of Tim's blueprint stamps which I masked and stamped over with another of Tim's old stamps to create a background, but it was far too busy and the leaf was completely lost. But I added brushos and bisters and spritzed to get the watercolour background, then using water bleached some of it out around the leaf trying to make it come to the front and show up more. It didn't!! After a while I took my watercolours and painted white around the edges and let it dry, this was beginning to look better and I repeated the process about 3 times. Now the leaf pops out more and the background looks quite misty and ethereal. Yep I am quite happy with that.


This last one is one of Tim's landscape stamps and you can guess where (even if the main buildings are all in the wrong place lol). Again I used the brushos and bisters to get the watery looking background and used bleach spray to create the clouds and to take out some colour from the buildings, painting them back in using the powders. I used just a little grey on the clouds.

Although I studied three years of oil painting at college I am not a watercolour artist, but the powders help create those lovely indistinct backgrounds and can be manipulated and changed. I just enjoy the processes which is the main thing.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

hugs Brenda xxx





15 comments:

Corrie Herriman said...

All three are perfect, Brenda !
Corrie x

Paper Profusion said...

A gorgeous set Brenda - beautifully light and delicate. Nicola x

Words and Pictures said...

They're so pretty, Brenda - especially that wonderful sky over the cityscape at the end - what a perfect combination of stamp and inks. I've got some Brushos, but really haven't taken them out for a proper run... the time I tried them I hated the results, so with limited time at the craft table they're not my first choice. I do like the look of the Bister colours better when I've looked at them - they seem altogether earthier.
Alison xx

Jenny Marples said...

Beautiful backgrounds perfectly finished Brenda. The trick is in knowing what to do with each one and clearly you know that! Loving your playtime. Jenny x

Patty O'Malley said...

Beautiful projects, Brenda!

Julia Aston said...

What wonderful backgrounds you created Brenda - love them all! Julia xx

experiments in paper said...

Lovely pieces, Brenda..... I've not given these powders a real go yet..... but you've inspired me to do so! I love the different effects you've reached on each one, with some of my favorite stamps (also unused still - I apparently have some work ahead of me, lol!) xxx Lynn

Monika Gulyas said...

Beautiful watercolour backgrounds!!! Fabulous cards!!!

Karin said...

They are beautiful, love the colors!
Groetjes Karin

Unknown said...

What a great TREAT Brenda. GORGEOUS art work. How in the world could I pick a favorite. I love the bee - it's intricate and so perfectly done. It awes me. But, I love fall and I love leaves so in most cases - I would choose the second one. However, the skyline landscape is stunning - the colors and blending so intriguing. NOPE... they are all three just to MARVELOUS to choose a favorite. All are HOME RUNS to my thinking. BEST blog visit of the day for me!!! j.

Barbara said...

Wow! Amazing works, perfect mix stamping and watercoloring! I love all ! Barbarayaya

Almo said...

gorgeous artwork Brenda, glad you found a little 'play' time to enjoy. I like Queen Bee best but they are all lovely. I only have 3 colours in brushos that a friend gave me to try but not used them yet you have inspired me to get them out and have a go. Mo xx

Terry said...

I hope this does not sound badly, but I think you could experiment with mud and it would be gorgeous! Brenda, your play time is spectacular and there is nothing those artsy hands could touch and not be amazing! Love these! Hugs!

Deb said...

Beautiful work Brenda, I especially love the cityscape, fabulous watercolour effect! Now I have to go research what Bisters are as I've never heard of them! Thanks for sharing your lovely creations, Deb xo

Candy C said...

Hi Brenda!! I wanted to thank you so much for the very kind comments you have recently left on my blog. You are always such a positive, encouraging voice. I also wanted to tell you that I happened on these very cool watercolor effect postcards and love them! They are all so different yet have that common thread of the lovely splotchy colorful backgrounds. The bee is awesome. The leaf is breathtaking. The cityscape is also very appealing. I think maybe the leaf is my favorite because I love how the white in the background plays off of all of the color. The leaf is so striking.