Lesson 2: Paint
As mentioned
in Lesson 1, it is important to use a paper that can stand up to wet media if
you intend to apply colour. I typically
use a 140 lb. (300 gsm) watercolour paper if I am applying watercolour or
acrylic paint to my base layer. If you
are using lighter weight paper, you need to take appropriate measures (taping
the paper to a hard surface while
drying) to ensure your paper does not buckle while applying colour if changes
in paper texture bother you.
My first
foray began with circles. I have a
fascination with circles – always have.
They have appeared in my stitching in the past and will probably
continue to appear in the future. They
have appeared in my journals and in my collage work. No surprise then when it seemed natural to
use them as a beginning point in a painted background.
I began by
using watercolour to paint circles in two colours on 5.5” x 7.5” pieces of
watercolour paper that I had torn down from a larger sheet. They were leftover pieces from strips I
hadn’t used in a book project. I painted 2, 3, and 4 circles randomly on the
page and then decided how I was going to stitch on them. There was no preplanning, just circles placed
randomly using colours that I liked. I
used a spool of button thread to trace my circle and #12 perle cotton to stitch
with. I decided my circles would be a
solid colour and that I would connect circles of the same colour. I would keep everything in straight lines
(because it was easy, because lines and circles appealed to me, and because it
came to me that I could weave where threads crossed).
Eventually,
I attempted a less structured form of watercolour and stitch, but I found I
liked Alicia Godwin’s stitching style more than mine. I was keeping to hard edges, and she followed
the soft edges of her watercolours which gave her work a more organic look that
I think looks better.
Water colour
led to acrylic paint – I really enjoy this medium. I don’t paint anything specific, just splash
colour on the page and when dry, stitch into it in any way I wish. (Which led to
holes but that’s another topic)
Acrylic paints and inks can also be
used for mono printing. If you have used a Gelli plate you know what I
mean. Gelli plate printing is a lot of
fun but can be an entire course on its own.
I’ve included a link to some videos on Gelli plate printing for those
who would like to see what it’s like for future experimentation.
The Basics: What
You Need To Know When You Start Gel Printing by Birgit Koopsen - YouTube
Making Multi
Layered Gel Prints in One Pull - YouTube
Another way to get somewhat similar
effects is to use acrylic paint and stencils.
The stencils can be purchased or made.
Creating your own designs gives you complete creative control. –
Cover a piece of paper (both sides) in packing tape. This will make it moisture resistance so you
can reuse it. Cut out a shape from the paper.
If you can, keep the shape you’ve cut. This will be a mask. The paper with the hole is the stencil. You can apply acrylic paint over the stencil
(lightly daub paint using a stubby brush or a sponge) making sure the paint is
not too runny or it will go under the edges of the stencil. If you daub paint over the mask (the shape
you cut out) you will get the silhouette of the shape. This can be an interesting effect for foliage
shapes. You can get positive and
negative spaces.
If you need to get more mileage out
of your acrylic paints, these videos on acrylic mediums and gels are excellent.
2015 Topic 15: Acrylic Mediums {on the paperArtsy Blog} - YouTube
2015 Topic 15: Acrylic Gels {on the PaperArtsy Blog} - YouTube
If you like
working with inks, either alcohol or acrylic, they can be a great way to colour
a surface in preparation for stitching.
With alcohol inks, you want to have a surface that isn’t immediately
absorbent so that you have time to move the colour around. Yupo paper is a perfect example. It is a polypropylene based sheet, 100%
recyclable that comes in white or translucent. Any art store will carry it. It will accept ink and should be sealed with
Krylon Kamar Varnish (several light coats) before stitching if you are planning
more than just a practice piece. I’ve
watched artists do incredible things, but I have to admit, my experiments are
just that – experiments. I haven’t
really created anything I’ve really loved even though I’ve had a lot of fun
doing it.
Alcohol Ink Tutorial For Beginners -
YouTube it’s long but thorough
Creating Tissue Fabric - Paint, Cut
and Stitch Using Acrylic Ink on Tissue Paper – Susan
Purney Mark (Canadian Textile Artist)
Ink can come
in a different form as well. If you’ve
used Derwent Inktense pencils or blocks on fabric than you have an idea of how
to use them on paper. You don’t need
fabric medium or aloe vera gel, you just need water, and the ink will be set
once it’s dry.
Inky Papers for my Stash -
Inktense Blocks and Pencils with Stencils & Mark Making - YouTube
Top 10 Tips for using Derwent Inktense Blocks
& Pencils 😱 - YouTube
Don’t forget
tea and coffee staining paper to add colour.
If you like working with neutrals or an antique look. This technique is a standby.
Tutorial: Tea Dyeing and Baking Paper
with Mrs. Cog - YouTube
How To Coffee Stain Your Paper Using
Plastic Doilies - YouTube
How to create your own pattern paper
COFFEE EDITION - YouTube
Those are just
some ways to add colour to a sheet of paper and there are definitely more. The idea you need to take from this is – you
aren’t limited to the original colour of the paper.
What appeals
to you as a method of adding colour to your base paper? Do you prefer a random
or planned approach? Watercolour, acrylic or ink? Pick one method (or more, the choice is yours)
to add colour to your base paper, and stitch into it. Keep it simple this week, just one layer of
paper, as our inspiration artists have done– we’ll be looking at
layers/collage in a future lesson.
Realism
VS Abstract
As you will
see when you take a look at the inspiration artists below, you have a choice between using colour to
create a realistic background or an abstract one. The choice is yours and is probably based on
your preference (and in my case, ability).
Several of our inspiration artists created realistic backgrounds –
landscapes, water and sky, windows, gardens etc. and used those as backdrops
for their embroidery. Others simply used
splotches of colour or geometric shapes as the basis for their embroidered
designs.
Whatever
your choice, and whatever your medium, you will undoubtedly find a combination
(or several) that allow you the freedom to explore and enjoy adding colour to
your paper and then adding stitches.
While you
have your paints, inks and dyes out – and are making a bit of a mess anyway –
take a moment and add some colour to paper that you can use later on when we
get to Class 3 : Layers. We will be
looking and working with some of those papers that came in your kit but while
you have your colours out you could be making some custom collage papers if you
are thinking ahead.
Painted Background – demo video
Artist Links
Alicia Godwin (@painted_lady_studio)
• Instagram photos and videos
AyakaMP on Instagram: watercolour and stitch
