Hi everyone, today I would like to show you one way that you can combine different mediums with each other. There are tons of other options but today I’m showing you how you can combine Spectrum Noir AquaBlend pencils (which are watercolour pencils) and Spectrum Noir ColourTint pencils (which are water-soluble tinted graphite pencils)! Let’s get started!
Step 1:
I started my project by stamping the Penny Black stamp called “Rose Bowl” onto Crafter’s Companion “Watercolour Card” using Spectrum Noir Water-Proof Ink in “Noir Black”.
Next I added my first colour to the paper: this is my AquaBlend pencil in the colour “Julep”, adding more colour to the shadowed parts and using a lighter hand where I thought the sun would hit more.
Than I added my ColourTint pencil in the colour “Ocean” over the Julep colour in the shadowed parts.
Followed with a layer of Julep and another layer of Ocean. Don’t use a heavy hand on your first layers because then the paper will not take any more colour in your next layers.
Now that I have added four layers of colours I can use a Spectrum Noir Water Brush to activate the colours and let the paper dry. Work from light to dark otherwise you will transport the darker colour with your water brush to the lighter area’s and also clean your brush regularly on a piece of paper kitchen towel.
Step 2:
Colour all the leaves this way. If you feel your colour is not dark enough you can add more colour over the dried layers, you don’t have to add water over this pigment if you like the results you have!
With my water brush I also added some of the leaf colour around the image instead of cleaning the brush on my kitchen towel, it will create a form of dimension and depth to your image.
For the water I used mostly the Ocean colour that I used before, but I also added in some of the red and yellow colours (from the flowers, as a reflection in the water) later on. Do whatever you like and experiment! Find your own style!
Another technique that you can use is to first add some colour like we did before, the water in the bowl is translucent, so don’t add as much as we did with the leaves, but then after using the water brush and the paper is still wet use the Ocean colour carefully on the wet paper, it will create an instant vibrant colour (that is hard to completely wash out, that is why you should be careful)!
This same way I worked on the ground area underneath the bowl using my ColourTint pencil in “Deep Mauve”
Step 3:
Next I started working on the flower petals. First I added a layer of my AquaBlend pencil in “Strawberry” followed with my ColourTint pencil in “Deep Mauve”. Adding more layers of Strawberry and Deep Mauve to pronounce the shadow area’s. Don’t colour in the complete petals, you will loose all depth!
Wet the colour with your water brush and let dry. Add more layers where you feel they are needed. Do you see how different the Deep Mauve colour looks on it’s own, underneath the bowl and in the combination with the Strawberry colour? This way you can play with what you want your colour to look like.
Because these pencils are activated with water you can also use other water-based mediums instead of your water brush, for example the Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pen, here I used the Clear one for a subtle shimmer.
Step 4:
For the heart of the flower I used my AquaBlend pencil in “Papaya” and the ColourTint pencil in “Maize”. I also added some of these yellow colours into the petals and around the image. Work on the image and around the image until you are happy with the way it looks!
The AquaBlend pencils that I used on today’s project are from the following sets: Florals and Vivid Hues.
All of today’s ColourTint pencils are from this set: Primary.
When all of the colouring is done I went over some of the lines that I lost while colouring with a black Spectrum Noir ArtLiner (01), and also added some highlights using a white gel pen.
Step 5:
I die cut a square panel around the coloured image and fussy cut the remaining leaves leaving a small border.
For the background of my card I die cut a rectangle panel one size smaller than my card base from black card stock. On this panel I first used an anti-static powder tool and stamped one of the sentiments from the Clearly Besotted “Many Mini Messages” stamp set using Spectrum Noir “Watermark” ink and heat embossed using Opaque Bright White embossing powder. When the powder has cooled of you can wipe away the white hue on the paper from the anti-static powder tool using your hand or a soft cloth.
Step 6:
Time to put my card together: adhere the black rectangle panel to a white card base using one millimetre thick foam tape. Than adhere the square panel on top also using one millimetre thick foam tape and finish the card by adhering the two leaf pieces on both sides using regular glue.
Detail picture:
And that is it for today’s project! I wish you a creative day!
