PaperTraders Art: Intuitive Watercolor Technique

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Sunday, May 19, 2013

Intuitive Watercolor Technique

A few years ago, I experimented with Bernie Berlin's intuitive watercolor technique as outlined in her book Artist Trading Card Workshop. Recently a few people asked me about this so I thought it might be fun to try it again. This is an easy process that also allows you to be really free creatively. Let's get started...

Step 1: On watercolor paper, start with some all over watercolor in various colors. Don't think, just spread it around everywhere.

Step 1 - all over watercolor

Step 2: Splash some great big wet drips of watercolor paint onto your paper and use your heat gun to push the water around as it dries. Again, no thinking!! Just do it!

Step 2 - add large drops and push around with heat gun

Use several colors until your paper is well covered.

continue adding color until your paper is covered

Step 3: Cut your paper into ATC-sized pieces. (Assuming you want to make ATCs. I suppose you could start with an ATC size piece, too.)

Step 3 - cut into ATCs

Step 4: Try to visualize images in your paint blotches. Turn your card in all directions. I took my glasses off and held the cards away from me so they were blurry to try to see what stood out. This is the really fun part... just clear your mind and see what you can find.

Step 4 - look for images in your color blotches

Step 5: Once you've found your image, use permanent drawing pens to outline the images. I used my Micron pens in varying sizes for this step.

Step 5: use permanent drawing pens to accent your found images

Step 6: Show off your results! Please do share with us your creations.
We'd love to see them! Just add a link to your specific post in
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