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Saturday, March 16, 2013

Printing and watercolor learning curve

Original Linocut with Watercolor Cat Bird Bath Mini DelPesco
Cat in a Birdbath by Belinda Del Pesco
Belinda's Etsy shop
Belinda's blog


Isn't this a great image? Belinda Del Pesco's 'Cat in a Birdbath' prompted me to have a go at making a print block and coloring with watercolors.

Did I have a printing press/etching press? Nope.
Did I have inks? Nope.
Did I have lino to cut? Nope

But I did have a chunk of Speedball Speedy-Cut carving block and a set of Speedball lino cutters leftover from efforts made years ago. (not affiliate links - solely to provide reference for folks who are unfamiliar with the tools)



And as I mentioned in my last post an hour or so later I had a dog stamp block.

Now to experiment with watercolors. I have NO background in them - so it's all about fun and play from this point. I had a stack of watercolor paper in postcard size to start with.


First go round I've stamped the image with Ranger walnut ink - it's not waterproof and you can see where the watercolors made it run. I'm timidly playing with neutral colors at this point - and the background - pure fear!


Next go round I'm mucking about with color - again the walnut ink is running with the watercolors - still too much coloring in the lines and overthinking!!


These last efforts are stamped with waterproof ink in black and coffee color.

Now to go try another 100 or so to get better at controlling the watercolors!

Thank you to Belinda Del Pesco for permission to use her print in this post! Go check out her great prints and watercolors, too.

Thanks for stopping by!


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5 comments:

  1. Excellent post, Jackie - happy to see your learning curve efforts.

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  2. I love your colorful dogs, very eye catching. I am just learning how to use watercolors too and it sure is fun. Check out my first attempt here: http://threedogsathome.blogspot.com/2013/02/my-first-ever-watercolor-protrait.html
    Thanks for sharing.
    Traci

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  3. To my novice eye, your dog prints are lovely! I particularly like the one with the blue face in the last photo. Good for you!

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  4. Hi Jackie,
    Thanks for your compliments and for finding inspiration in one of my little prints. I think your first attempts are all wonderful, and I hope you keep at it. Printmaking is inherently loaded with surprises, and no matter how careful you are with carving, inking and printing - the medium is bossy, and it will have it's way. But those moments of getting something other than what you expected usually turn out to be lovely after a good night's sleep and a fresh eye/open mind. Keep at it and please continue to share your results!

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  5. Thank you, everyone, for your encouraging comments!

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Thanks for stopping by!! Love to read your comments - whether on vintage thrifting or creative stitching!! (Comments are moderated due to high spam lately - sorry!)

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