Watercolor with Dawn

Welcome!  We are all missing face to face classes and I thought it would be fun to continue our art together here on the Blog!  Each week I will be posting a watercolor lesson that you can try at home.  All of the materials can be ordered at Stampfeverstore@gmail.com.  I will give you a list, provide pictures and instructions, AND, we can chat about our projects on the Blog.  Please join me in trying out this new way of working together until we can meet face to face again!

Container Basics - Red Clay Pots

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

This week's lesson is learning to paint red clay pots with flowers.  We explore how to get a 3D look with the use of shading. 

This project was created with Art Impressions stamps #4052, Foliage Set 4 #5126, and #4869 Small container Set.  I used Marvy Marker in Pine Green #72, African Violet # 86, Brown #6, Sepia #45, Wisteria #62. The sample was painted on Canson Cold Press watercolor size 4x6 inches.

Putting it All Together - English Cottage Garden Mini

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

This project was created with Art Impressions stamps  #4051, #4052, and #5121 WC Garden Shed set.  I used Marvy Marker in Pine Green #72, Magenta #20, Brilliant Yellow #43, African Violet # 86, Victorian Rose #80, Red #2, Jungle Green #96, and Sky Blue #75. The Mini was painted on Canson Cold Press watercolor size 5x7 inches.

Watercolor Stamping - Basic Stamped Flowers

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

This project was created with Art Impressions stamps #4052.  I used Marvy Marker in Pine Green #72, Magenta #20, Brilliant Yellow #43, African Violet # 86, Victorian Rose #80, Red #2. but any green will work for this activity. The  swatch card was created on Canson Cold Press watercolor size 4x6 inches.

The mini painting at the end will begin another lesson!  

Watercolor Stamping - Techniques for Bushes and Shrubs

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

Same as last week! This project was created with Art Impressions stamps #4051.  I used Marvy Marker in Bottle Green, but any green will work for this activity. The  swatch card was created on Canson Cold Press watercolor size 4x6 inches.

The mini painting at the end will begin another lesson!  The colors used are in the video.

Watercolor Stamping - Adding Tall and Short Grasses to a Scene

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

This project was created with Art Impressions stamps #4051.  I used Marvy Marker in Bottle Green, but any green will work for this activity. The  swatch card was created on Canson Cold Press watercolor size 4x6 inches.

Spring Wreath with Ai Stamps

The instructions for this project are on YouTube at Click Here. If you like the video and want more, please subscribe and give me a thumbs up.  Also,  reach out and let me know what topics you are interested in.

This project was created with Art Impressions stamps #4051 and #4052, but any foliage and flowers will work.  I used Marvy Markers in Pine Green, Jungle Green, and Victorian Rose.  The card was created on Canson Cold Press watercolor paper and mounted to Lawn Fawn Cardstock in Pencil Eraser.

Creating Distance in a Landscape

Ai Watercolor Video

The video that you just watched gives you the basics of creating spring trees in a landscape.  I have another tip that will create even more distance to make the landscape even more realistic.

Here are two rules to remember.  First, objects get smaller as they fade into the distance.  Second, objects tend to get less bright and cooler in color.

Let's practice!  From the Branches set, select three sizes of branches.  Think of the Three Bears, a Papa Tree, Mama Tree and a Baby Tree.  Start by stamping the largest tree on the left of the card front. Notice that I put a mask over some of the center branches so that I will have a clean area for flowers.

Next, stamp the middle sized tree, slightly higher and to the right.  Last, stamp the smaller trees just a little higher and to the left.  Do you notice that these small trees are lighter in value that the front and middle trees?  I was able to get this effect by stamping off once and then stamping the next trees without reinking my stamp.

Finally, I finished my scene following the instructions from the video.  

Mine turned out different and that makes me happy!  All of us have our own style and we should embrace that idea.  I also always look at what I might change the next time.  It was tempting to do it over and show you the new version, but this is a teaching opportunity!  It is better to share and talk about changes in case you feel that way also.  Next time, I would decrease the amount of water to soften the color in the front tree.  It got a bit muddy from too much water and having red and green on the same stamp.  Maybe next time I would stamp flowers and leaves with separate stamps. What would you try?  Let us know in the Blog comments below.

                

Wet on Wet Wash for Skies, Shadows and Backgrounds

Today I will be demonstrating how to use a wet on wet watercolor technique to provide backgrounds for your cards.  This is a great technique for creating a sky, shadow, or even open water.

Start with a scrap a cold press watercolor paper for practice.  Stamp any building, flower or subject in the center.  You can use any color as this is just a place holder for our practice.

I am using the barn from the Art Impressions Truck Mini Set # 5011 and a Sepia Marvy marker.

Here is my stamped image.  I would usually pull the color from the image with a damp brush, but for today only, I just want to focus on the background.

On your palette, make a swipe of color using the brush side of the marker.  I am using Marvy Sky Blue.

Use a clean brush, and pick up clean water, DO NOT pinch or tap on paper towel.  We want the brush to carry water to the card front.  Paint the sky area with plain water.  The surface will look shiny as the picture below shows.  You can see the reflection of my light on the surface. Be careful to keep the water away from any stamped images.  Think of creating a halo of white space around stamped images.

Now dip the wet brush into the swipe of blue color on the palette.  Create a wet puddle of blue watercolor.

Place the wet brush with the blue watercolor onto the surface of the wet sky.  If the paper is wet enough, the color will be pulled into the sky and want to run into wet areas.  Gently move the color with your brush as needed.  Pick up more color to intensify if you want.  Remember, the color will change when it dries.  You can always go back and add more color, but it is more difficult to remove pigment once it is dry.  

This final picture of my practice shows that I used the same technique to create the ground in front of the barn.  In this case, I used Marvy Burnt Umber.  It has a nice granulating pigment similar to the Sepia, but warmer tones. This is not a finished piece because the barn has not been painted, but I wanted you to see the contrast of the stamped lines next to the soft wash of the sky.

Thank you for following along! Yes, Stamp Fever is working to get more Marvy Markers into the store and we will let you know as soon as they arrive. Thank you for your patience.

Container Basics Lesson

I am often asked about the best way to make a vase, pot or container look rounded and have a shape, so I decided to do a mini lesson this week.  Read to the end for extension practice for those who have some experience!
Here are the materials that I used for this lesson.  You can select any container, I used the Decorative Jar Set from Art Impressions.  My favorite workspace is the new small Make Art Station from Wendy Vecchi.  You will need an acrylic block, a Marvy Sepia marker, small water container and a #4 round watercolor brush. (All of these materials are available at Stamp Fever for purchase.) Cut a card front size of cold press watercolor paper.

Begin by mounting your stamp to an acrylic block.  Add watercolor pigment from the Sepia marker by using the brush end on the side to apply pigment to all areas of the container.  Stamp on the watercolor paper.

The next step is to pull the color from the stamped lines with a damp brush.  There are many descriptions for "damp" depending on the instructor, but I like to get my brush very wet and then tap it gently on paper towel, or my favorite, my Lawn Fawn shammy. You may need to practice a bit to see to get the feel for the right amount. Pull the color from the stamped lines into the container.

Think about where the light might be hitting the side of a container.  If you need to see an example, put a vase on the table and hold a flashlight from the side where you want the light to be coming from.  In the case of my example below, the light is coming from the upper right as you look at the container.  Notice how I have left an area without any pigment and darkened areas that might be in shadow.  If the stamped line does not provide enough pigment to make an area dark enough, swipe the marker across your palette, touch the color with your damp brush and then add color to the container.

This method works for any size or type of container.  I'm adding some examples of some that I have done.  The Sepia marker creates a warm, vintage feel to the color scheme.  If you want a brighter, more contemporary feel, try blue or violet for the stamping.  Another method would be to stamp in Sepia, pull the color, but then add cool shadows by adding blue color from your palette with a damp brush. The blue toned container below uses this last method.
Thank you for joining the fun!  Let me know you have questions or requests.  Leave comments in the blog post and good news, I now know how to answer them!! 

Happy Creating, 

Dawn

Hello Sunshine Card

The card this week is the Hello Sunshine Card.

Basic Supplies:

• #4 Short Handle Watercolor Brush (synthetic bristles)
• Canson 140lb Cold Press Watercolor Paper 
• Acrylic Blocks
• Watercolor Palette
• Sticky notes
• Scissors
• Ai Subject Stamps  #4966 Bird Bath, #4964 Branches, #4051 Foliage, #4052 Flower Set, #5018 Cobblestones, #5136 Sentiments
• Watercolor Brush Markers (Tombow Dual Brush or Marvy Le Plume II, I used Marvy: #96 Jungle Green or #15 Olive Green, #45 Sepia, #86 African Violet, #75 Sky Blue, #54 Burnt Umber,  #6 Brown
• Stamp positioning tool. (This is now a Misti style tool, but a positioner.  The Ai or Wendy Vecchi tool both work well.
• Paper towels, wet wipes
• Pencil or #2 Micron Marker for signing
• Versafine or other permanent ink for sentiment
• Cardstock to match. I used Lawn Fawn Blue Jay.
• Glue dots or tape runner

The Method:

• Position a sticky note where you want the door opening on a piece of 3 3/4 x 5 inch cold press watercolor paper.  Plan space for cobblestones on the lower edge.
• Stamp Foliage and Branches, and foliage around the sticky note.  I used Olive Green, brown and African violet. Pull color with a damp brush, but be careful not to let water move under the edge of the sticky note.  This will maintain a crisp edge around your door.
• Carefully outline the door on the top and both sides of the sticky note with the fine tip of the Sepia marker, but not the lower edge. Remove the sticky note and using a straight edge, Create another line slightly inside of the first line to create a frame.  Pull the color toward the open space between the two lines with a damp brush.
• Using the Stamp Positioning Tool, stamp the cobblestones at the lower edge in Sepia. The larger stones are closer to you!  Pull color, avoiding the top of the stones. When dry, shade the lower edge with African Violet.
• Add more grasses and foliage inside the door and add flower stems in African Violet. Pull color.
• Using your Stamp Positioning Tool, stamp a bird on the top edge.
• Place the card in a Misti and stamp an image if desired.  I used Versafine black ink.

Please ask questions, comment, etc. as I try out this new way of communicating and teaching.  Please have patience as I learn these new tools!  Enjoy and stay safe.

• Dawn   dbgfineart@gmail.com feel free to email!