Tuesday's Tips and Techniques for Watercolor Painting

Cool Effects with Waxed Paper

Enjoy creating abstracts? Want to try your hand at an abstract watercolor but don't know where to start? Grab a roll of waxed paper, tear off a few strips. Trim it into whatever shapes you feel like creating.

Start by creating a wet into wet watercolor background. While the paint is still wet, lay down pieces of waxed paper. Allow to dry. Peel off the waxed paper to reveal the cool texture left behind.

Use this as a base for your abstract painting. I added a few circles and a rectangle using lost and found edges. Experiment and have fun with it!

Use your imagination ... I'd love to see how your experiment turns out.

Cupid's Footprint

Christmas has come and gone and pretty soon we will be celebrating New Year's Eve.  I had a very quiet Christmas home alone, sick with the flu.  I did have the company of two kitties and a slew of old black and white movies.  Audrey Hepburn is one of my favorite actresses.  I'm hoping all remnants of the flu will be gone by New Year's Eve, I don't want to miss out on any champagne celebrations.  

As I was trying to decide what to blog about today, I began flipping through images in iPhoto on my computer.  I came across this painting and in the comment section I had typed Cupid's Footprint.  This abstract painting was painted on Valentine's Day 2008.  I used the wet into wet technique to create an interesting background.  Then I applied strips of waxed paper while the paint was still wet.  I allowed everything to dry completely, then peeled away the wax paper to reveal a pretty cool texture.  I drew three circles and a rectangle.  I used the lost and found edges technique, varying lights and darks to create this pretty cool abstract painting now titled Cupid's Footprint.  I think this will be the inspiration for a new series of ACEOs.  I'll keep you posted!