Yippeee for Yupo

I belong to the Miami Watercolor Society and it was during one of their monthly demonstrations that I was introduced to Yupo. You may be wondering. "What is Yupo?" Same thing I said that day so I will tell you. Yupo paper is actually not paper, but plastic. Don't get all excited, yupo is a "green" product. It does not take cutting down trees to create it and it is 100% recycable. Feel better now? I know I did when I got the facts. The beauty of this paper is that the paint is not absorbed. The watercolors move and allow the artist to manipulate them for a longer period of time. The result is spectacular. I love using this paper for colorful abstracts and for wonderful water and underwater scenes. The durability is a plus too because it does not tear like watercolor paper can. The best part is that if you start out creating a masterpiece and the end result looks like something your grandchild created, you can run it under the faucet and watch the masterpiece go down the drain. It allows you a second chance on the same piece of paper which is very appreciated by "starving artists". How can something that is washable be permanent? Permanency is achieved once you are happy with the result by spraying it with a fixative. It is then matted and framed just as you would a typical watercolor. Yupo takes away the fear and allows your creative juices to flow just like the watercolors on the paper. If you have any questions or want to share your experiences, I welcome your comments.

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart

I Have A New Love...........Watercolor Batiks!

If you read my previous entry regarding my upcoming batik workshop, I truly felt it would be interesting and fun, but not for me. I felt the set up of melting the wax and using tools, other than brushes and the texture of the paper would be too much trouble. How wrong I was! I find myself looking at my regular 140lb. cold press paper and thinking, "Where are those pretty little lines of texture and softness of the rice paper?". Once I start the process, I get lost in creating. As I wax the paper and then start the color layers, I am intrigued and excited. At the end of the process, I actually plug the iron with excitement instead of dreading the chore. The removal of the wax with the iron reveals the final product. Although, I put the wax and did the color layers, I am still surprised and amazed at the final product. Yes, I am in love and what a great feeling it is. Enjoy!

www.artistamunco.com/rosiesart

Painting Frenzy

A friend of mine recently commented that I seem to be on a "painting frenzy". I thought about it for a minute and had to agree. I started the summer with more pictures to paint than time. Once I added a new technique, I could not help but paint. I have found that I like the watercolor batik technique for certain images and just straight watercolor for others. When I visit a garden, mine or a public one, I photograph lots of things, including leaves for their shapes, colors and shadows. This watercolor batik is of a leaf and the lights and shadows created by the sun.

With upcoming possibilities to exhibit this fall and winter, I am motivated to paint daily and thus the painting frenzy. It almost seems that I am making up for the years that I didn't paint while concentrating on my career and family.

www.artistamundo.com/rosiesart