Watercoloring Tips...

I've been asked many times how I color images, so I thought I would put together a little visual guide, along with some thoughts I have on coloring stamped images. The techniques I use most often are watercoloring, and Prismacolor pencil with Gamsol (sometimes referred to as "magic pencil"). This post is specific to watercoloring, but I'll do another post all about Prismacolors soon!

Watercoloring is my favorite way to color stamped images. I prefer to watercolor on really good watercolor paper and not ordinary cardstock. I think the end result is rich looking, and I think it's easier to control the water and colors when good watercolor paper is used. I buy watercolor paper tablets at artist supply stores or online at dickblick.com, and cut the pages down to the sizes I want to use on my projects. I also use a good water brush (aka Aquapainter). Stampin' Up sells a great quality brush set (2 per package), but you can also find other brands just as easily which are typically sold individually in various sizes. I prefer the medium size for most card-sized projects. I bought one of my water brushes at an artist supply store in Oregon, and I purchased my other water brushes from dickblick.com.

I stamp my images on the watercolor paper with Black Stazon ink. Stazon is an acid free, archival, fast drying solvent-based waterproof ink and can be ordered through Stampin' Up, found in local craft stores, and lots of online stores. Once the image is stamped, I put a dot of Stampin' Up re-inker color in the lid of my Stampin' UP stamp pad. While I use the lids of my ink pads, you could just as easily use a small plastic watercolor palette, an old CD, or even a plastic lid. But a little ink goes a LONG way, so I use the lids of my ink pads. The drop of ink will remain useable for months and months in the closed ink pad lid. With just a damp water brush (it should not be dripping wet, or dry) I pick color from the lid and begin filling in the stamped image, starting at the place color would be the darkest - usually the edge. Allowing colors to dry completely before adding colors next to one another helps keep the colors from flowing together. But, if you'd like a blended look, add additional colors while the base colors are still damp. I use both techniques, depending on the look I'd like the finished art to have.

It's important when coloring to determine a light source direction and paint your entire image using that light source as the direction light touches your subject. It doesn't matter which direction you choose for your light, as long as you're consistent in your coloring throughout the entire project. In this image, I wanted the light to look as though it were coming through a window to the left of the vase, and fade into the color of the wall as it got closer to the vase. I almost always paint the focus image first, before painting in the background. This helps me determine what colors to use, and where to place saturated color areas on the background once the main image is dry (while always keeping my light source in mind).

My last step is to add darker shades of color to places I want to emphasize shadow (or lack of light - in this example, less light from the window), which also gives a more three dimensional look to the colored piece.

For this colored image I used the following Stampin' Up re-inker colors: Old Olive (stems and leaves); Cool Caribbean, Not Quite Navy, Buckaroo Blue (vase); More Mustard, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa (flowers); So Saffron, More Mustard, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (background). Flower stamp by Whipper Snapper Designs, designed by me!

The best advice I can give to someone looking to improve watercolor skills is practice. Find examples you like, and figure out what it is about them that makes the image interesting to you. I think you'll find that it's usually light and color and how they're used that makes an image really stand out. And my last bit of advice is don't be afraid to use color! How you use color gives images life.

I hope you find these tips helpful! I'd love to know if this has helped you, and would love even more to see some of your work while you try out some of these ideas.

Prismacolor pencil and Gamsol tips coming soon!

Comments

[sherri]

I was looking through for a post on how to use the gamisol & pencils, but couldn't find it...HELP? Thanks.

Hope your 2010 holidays are wonderful too.

[Melinda]

Thank you for the wonderful tutorial. I admire your work so much; it's absolutely beautiful! For some reason, the thing I find most difficult about watercoloring is imagining the light source and determining where the shaded areas should be. Sounds like common sense, but this is very difficult for me! Maybe this will come with looking at others' work as well as paying attention to shades and shadows IRL. I'm looking forward to watercoloring and I think I will invest in some aquapainters!

[Cathy Bomgardner]

When you say you use Prismacolor pencils, are you referring to Prismacolor Watercolor pencils, or just Prismacolor pencils? I have both, and find a difference between the two.
Thanks

[Cheryl (Cherylannie)]

Thank you for such a wonderful tutorial. I am new to card making and really wanted tips on achieving all of the beautiful design colors I have seen on stampcoasters.
Thanks again.

[Alison Solven]

WOW - what a great tutorial with the watercolour pencils - thanks so much for sharing.
Alison

[Jessica (Jessrose21)]

Thank you for the beautiful tutorial. I'm going to study it some more to try achieve your richness and depth of color. I love how you were able to make the light look faded on the left. Do you have any art books to recommend for further study on light and color?

[Deborah]

Thank you so much for your tutorial~!! I can't wait to try it out.

I've been in a bit of a need for some coloring help for a while now. So it's super nice of you to walk us through it all.

I just have to go shopping for some re-inkers. LOL. :) Then I can play, play, play. I mean, paint, paint, paint. :)

Can't wait for your Prismacolors and Gamsol tutorial too. :)

Thank you. :)

[Ana]

Great tutorial!! I think this is my next venture now that I know how to watercolor correctly. Love your blog. Ana

[Samantha]

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing!!!

[Julie]

Anna you are awesome. To think that you would take the time to give us a tutorial like this is just, just, awesome. Ok enough of sounding stupid. Thanks so much.
You are my all time fave!! and I love to see your work. I like to say I try to do it like you but the big word here is try. lol Thanks again.

[Juanita(Toni173)]

Thanks for this greeeeeeat tutorial and the photos. You did a wonderful job as always, your work is so magical to me.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[doris]

Thank you so much for sharing your watercoloring tips!!! I can't wait to try your technique! I hope Santa is good to you and yours!
Happy Holidays!
Doris

[Tracye]

Thank you so very much for such great details (and pictures) on how you create such beautiful images. I've got a LOT of practicing to do. Merry Christmas.

[Janet]

Thanks so much Anna for a look into your coloring process. Great pictures and your explanations were really clear. Merry Christmas to you! Ho Ho Ho.

[Diane McVey]

Thanks so much for the GREAT tutorial!!! It was so good of you to do this for us.
Have a WONDERFUL Christmas! I hope Santa is good to you!