If you saw yesterday's post, you saw my latest attempt at watercoloring florals with Zig clean color brush pens. I was way too heavy-handed and not happy with the result. I figured it was time to try, try again. So I googled. And came across this video gem from Kristina W. Oh to know where to put which colors to get such amazing results, which I admit may not be realistic, but oh so pleasing to my eye.
I happen to have NBUS Tim Holtz Flower Garden stamps too, so after I heat embossed some blooms onto watercolor paper I basically colored along with Kristina! So nice of her not to mind when I kept making her back up and color that middle flower just ONE MORE TIME ;)
Here's my finished card.
The center flower is exactly like Kristina's, colored with Yellow and Light Carmine. This is a great image to practice on cuz 1) the petals are large and 2) you can totally copy Kristina's method. On the left peony I used only Pink, using a second layer of it in some areas. On the right one I used Pink, Purple and a few touches of Wine Red. I actually used Light Blue and Pale Green on the stems.
To hint at a sky I inked up sentiments from STAMPlorations Vignette: Artful Flutters (top half with Tumbled Glass, bottom with Broken China) and stamped them over the flower which I masked. Added a hint of edgy Scrapbook Werkstatt So ist das Leben PP to tie in with the blue tone.
What I learned about watercoloring with Zigs? Don't start with a tiny image to practice this technique. Don't work on the entire flower at one time; only on smaller areas. Use a light hand - multiple light layers is the key. Let layers dry. Use a rag to dab up wet color if you feel you've been too heavy handed.
I did even more playing with my Zigs after this project, making a whole set of cards. You'll be seeing them soon. Just keep watching!
I'm going over to the playhouse to play with Darnell's NBUS #8. She's got lots to celebrate and is actually challenging us to give colored pencils on kraft a try, but I'm translating that to watercolors on watercolor paper ;)
Oh, and one more question for you. Don't worry, it's an easy one today ;) Anyone ever had a Pentel Aquash waterbrush that leaks where the tank screws into the barrel? I get a blob of water on the outside of the brush when I squeeze the tank. The blob eventually drips onto my project. Not good. (I had had to take mine apart to unclog it - which worked - but after putting it back together I ran into this problem.) I did my watercoloring of these flowers with a number 4 brush and water!
Enjoy your weekend.
