Diana Trout's blog

How to Paint on Japanese Paper

I'm a paper addict. I love the stuff. I've never held a paper that didn't immediately ask me to bring it home. Japanese papers hold a special place in my heart for its paradox of light as a feather, strong as an ox. Sumi-e paper, aka "rice" paper, is a long fiber very thin paper that is used in Japanese calligraphy and painting. It's fragile when wet but very durable when dry. I use it as a spine reinforcement in bookbinding. 

If you read/watched theblogpost on Etegami cards (Part 1 and Part 2), the techniques used are the same as techniques I used in today's video. 

The amount of paint to water determines the value in watercolor. More paint, deeper value. More water: lighter value. When you use a lot of water on Sumi-e paper, the color spreads mercilessly. There is no controlling it. It's a tidal wave.

 

In today's video, you'll see a bit more about working with this magical paper while I paint patterns to be used in a card project. I matched the paint colors to a few ink pad colors to tie everything in together when I made the cards. 

As usual, 

These are affiliate links. I get a percentage of the sale with no extra cost to you. By using my links you help me support my channel and blog.

 

Art Journal in Layers

Are you having trouble getting that layered look in your art journal? I get alot of questions about this! Let talk layers using a template. Bear in mind throughout that your layers need to be translucent or spotty. In other words, don't cover the entire page with acrylic paint or gessso. 

Layer 1 can be writing or a splash of color with stenciling or stamping. These textural type of stamps or pattern stencils work very well. Work in three colors on the same side of the color wheel: Warm OR Cool, to avoid making mud where you don't want it. 

I like to go a little heavy with the color and then tone things down with gesso. A thin coat of gesso will be see through and unify things. Choose three to five areas on your page spread and try using brush strokes that are light and feathery. I used a stencil with texture paste on this page too. 

If you are using collage, paint, sand or gesso around it to "bury" it in the page. Hard edges will call too much attention to the collage piece when you want it to become a organic part of the page.

Keeping with the translucency, use tissue papers to continue building pattern and color. In the picture above, Tim Holtz paper is acting like gesso by subduing the background while letting the pattern come through. I could have found some central imagery for this page but instead, I just did some writing and drawing. With black pens and gel pens. 

Working in layers takes time and thought. It's fun and unpredictable to work intuitively. Sometimes it's a challenge because things don't go as expected so you may need to put your critic in the other room. Let us know in the comments if you have any tips on layering. I'll put some of the products I used in the links below. As usual, they are affiliate links and I get a little cash back if you buy from me. Use.What.You.Have.

 

Artist of the Month: Mary Wheeler

Happy June gang! It's a pleasure to share Mary's journal pages with you today. Mary is a dog-lovin' scientist and a wonderful artist to boot. I'm honored to have her as a friend and student. Very few words needed here today. 

And speaking of Joy ... 

 

 

Seamless use of collage. 

This one may be my favorite. 

Mary uses collage in such a personal way. She makes it her own. I LOVE her color! She drives a cadmium yellow car and that makes me smile. I hope you've enjoyed this show. Let's show her some love! 

Thanks Mary! 

All photos c.Mary Wheeler, 2016

Spontaneous Journal Spill

Fridays's Live Stream was a success! Yay! I had great help. I hope that this video will inspire you and give you an easy way to work in your journal. You can apply this drawing game technique anywhere and with any media. I've done it with Crayolas with little kids and paint brushes on canvas with adults. It's just fun to take your pen for a wander and then doodle, color and add patterns inside the shapes. Go ahead and color outside the lines too! 

I've provided links for most of the products I've used. Many thanks to JetPens for providing me with some new supplies to introduce. The Deleter Neopiko pens are very nice to use; similar in quality to the Zig Clean Color. The colors are different so they are an expansion to your palette.

All of these dye-based brush markers, including Tombow and Distress work very well together. Children's markers work too! 

As a general note, you'll find that most art supplies at similar prices are similar. I like the color range of the Neopiko 4's and will probably pick up a few more. 

 

Deleter Neopiko 4 Watercolor Brushes: http://to.jetpens.com/1TanP0f
Global Art Fluid Watercolor Blocks: http://to.jetpens.com/1SDmnnz
Caran d'Ache Technalo Graphite Pencils: http://to.jetpens.com/1O0LQ8G
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors: http://to.jetpens.com/1WyWAAe
I just started practicing with brush lettering. It does take practice! I am using Creative Lettering and Beyond. There are some great tips, a few fonts and space in the book to practice. I also love Jenny Doh's Creative Lettering. 

Here are some brush pens that I enjoy. 

Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9
Sailor Fude Nagomi Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9

Here's the live stream recording. See below for more affiilate link supplies.

 

Journal Spilling: Layering

At Saturday's MeetUp we worked in layers. Personally, I like thin layers so that the feel of the paper remains. But some folks don't worry about that. 

Most of my students have been with me for a bit so they go confidently into that dark night :). Because really, the best way of journaling is when you just Start. No plan. Allow the path reveal itself. One of my students had a revelation when we got to the collage part. And I did too. I had a feeling there was somewhere I was going with that page so I kept working it till I got there. I don't always do that though; some things are meant to be simple and playful.

The progression of layers was

Spill writing with an Inktense pencil
Brush over with water to "erase" the words
Stenciling with Spray Inks
Stamping with textured background stamps and Archival Inks
Collage
Adding black and white if needed for contrast
Borders

Barbara played with the idea of a surrealist parlor game, Exquisite Corpse

I love her layers and the playful imagery. 

Here are some of the materials we used. Use what you have and apply a playful attitude! (Affiliate Links).

 

Circle Journal Online, Open Registration

Circle Journal is a reformated class from last year's work-along class. An independent study class that you can work at your own pace. The material will be permanently accessible.

This is a LOT of information: a painting primer, a mixed media primer, art journaling primer: much more than I could cover in 2-3 full day workshops. And you always have me on the other end of your computer! 

Here's an overview: 

Sign up and begin anytime you'd like. A total of 22 videos and a bunch of pdfs: one for each of the four lessons, plus symbol drawing, words to transfer and a tiny maze book zine. 

Lesson 1:  Painting & Markmaking. Using thinned acrylic paints, let the spilling begin. Brushstrokes, color mixing, markmaking with stamps, stencils, alternative items.  (5 videos, 2 pdf's) 

Lesson 2: Folding & Stitching your Maze Book. The possibilities are endless with this type of book. Make a mistake? No problem: stitch, cut, tape your way to a new bookform. Handstitching, machine stitching techniques and ideas are included (2 videos, 2 pdf's). 

Lesson 3: Line, Collage, Gesso & Paint. (8 videos, 1 pdf). Loads of spilling in this lesson in lines and images. Get the low down on using paint, gesso and portfolios. Creating your own stamps is simple if you've done the brainstormng on symbols. Includes creating foam stamps and symbol drawing. 

Lesson 4: Embellishments. (7 videos, and a bunch of pdf's). Includes tabs, blender pen transfers, simple lettering,  and other embellishments).

 

$60/Join Anytime, Permanent Access
After you have paid for the class, you will receive the blog URL and password from me 

Suggested supplies are linked below (Affiliate Links)2-3 Parent sized sheets smooth, heavy printmaking or watercolor paper
bottle of ink(s) or reinkers
small spray bottle(s)
straw, Eyedropper
craft foam (available in the children’s area at the craft store)
Stamp pad(s)
craft knife, scissors
glue stick
pens, pencils
masking tape
collage papers
Chartpak Blender Pen for photocopy transfers. 
Portfolios or Caran d’Ache watersoluble crayons

 

Art Journal With Me: Paint & Lace

Hello my friends. I had my second live stream yesterday. If you happened upon it, thank you! If not, it is linked below. I had my Dylusions journal, paint pens, gesso. You'll see in the video how to fill a blank marker with Hi Flow paints. 

Here's a kind of progression from when I stop the live stream to finishing the page up.

I went over the flowers with more paint marker, mixing the colors. Working wet in wet with paint markers may not be the best way to treat these tools but I really like to mix my paints.

I love the connection with lace and math. The writing is about the arts and the sciences being the purest forms of language. 

The little bit of lace collage was the impetus for this journal entry. My son does his calculus on tracing paper and sometimes gives me a hand full. I love the look of them and this was one of those "seat of the pants" moments that keeps me journaling.

The top photo is a detail from the finished page. Here's the video. Start watching at about 7 minutes. Before that it is just me looking confused. 

Enjoy! The supplies are listed below (affiliate links). 

To my loyal blog followers, thank you for hanging in with me throughout this winter. I'm spreading myself very thin between making business changes and the unexpected surgeries. My aunt was recently very ill and in the hospital with pneumonia. I'm her main caregiver with lots of help. It's been challenging to keep up. My own health is improving now with three steps forward, one back. I treasure you folks and my work.

 

ArtSnacks Unboxing & YouTube Live Stream

Hey Gang, My ArtSnacks subscription box came in the other day and I waited to open it with YOU. These items will be used in my Live Streaming on Thursday March 24 at 7PM EST. The rest of the supplies are linked below the video. 

Included in the kit: (all items linked below)

A paper sample from RendR which features no bleed through paper, UniPosca .7 black paint pen, Liquitex lime green paint pen (chisel nib), Koh-i-Nor Light Vermillion Progresso colored pencil, Irojiten (Tombow) colored pencil and Kum Pencil Sharpener. 

Plus the lapel pin and bubble gum (against better judgement I ate it and my hair got stuck in it. I didn't lose much).  

The live streaming will be run like a casual class. If you'd like to follow along you'll want paper (journal, sketchbook), paint pens or paint of any kind, a black marker or thick pen and colored pencils. I'll give you some guidelines, then we experiment, and have fun. Use what you have or all materials are linked below in my affiliate links. 

Here's the video 

And the links

 

Art Journal Process: Button Hill

Intuitive Art Journaling

Most of the time when I play in my art journal, I have no idea where I'm heading but this page still surprised me. Does that ever happen to you?

Intuitive art journaling is not easy. It takes time to develop that trust within yourself. There is a non-verbal reaction to what is gong on. You may not be thinking at all. But then something else occurs to you and you have to trust that instinct and act on it.

I was going to do some writing on this page but decided to let it stand on its own. There was no need really. I know exactly what it means. Never underestimate the power of art as therapy. Here is the video where I explain the techniques and the supplies are listed below. I'd love to hear from you about working this way. 

Journal Jump with Midori Traveler's Notebook

Midori Traveler's Notebooks are very cool. I've always loved the dimensions of 2:1 (Height:Width). THE Drawing Notebook has a thick paper in it, I'd say about 80#'s. It has perforated pages so you can remove the pages. I started in on this notebook by painting the front cover.

I'm looking forward to using this little book for sketches with a little color. I want to freshen up my drawing and watercolor skills this year. Push them forward. Take some chances. 

I've linked my basic watercolor supply list and the JetPens (non-affiliate) links below the video. I'm enjoying the Molotow Masking pen but am finding it a bit fussy. I'll work with it more and do a resists video soon. In the meantime, enjoy the video. Don't forget to comment. I love feedback. 

JetPens.com
Pilot Futayaku Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9
Sailor Fude Nagomi Double-Sided Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlyaL9
Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolors: http://to.jetpens.com/1WyWAAe
Uni-ball Signo UM-151 Gel Pens: http://to.jetpens.com/1PrB4I1
Sakura Ballsign Fuchidoru Outline Gel Pens: http://to.jetpens.com/1RWXx6A
Uniball Signo Broad, White: http://to.jetpens.com/1PlHvAH
Uniball Signo Sparkling, Gold, Silver: http://to.jetpens.com/1Tqg8qL
Midori Traveler’s Notebook Drawing Paper: http://to.jetpens.com/1QHLeJP
Field Notes Notebooks: http://to.jetpens.com/1PIKsxf
Pilot Opt 0.5 Shaker Mechanical Pencil: http://to.jetpens.com/1UtEVbN
Pentel Pocket Brush Pen: http://to.jetpens.com/1PDuyhm

Basic Watercolor Affiliate Links