Monday, April 17, 2017

Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial

Hello everyone! I hope you had a lovely weekend! We had weird weather here, with degrees suddenly falling way below zero, and even some snow. We had a nice and quiet Easter. On Saturday we went to town to look at, and photograph, the cherry trees which are flowering. We also picked some flowers from our garden and placed at the scene of last week's attack.


This week at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog we have a Splash theme - think water, or watercolor. One of my favourite things to do. Remember to check out our guest designer Amy Bethke's post.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with Tim Holtz Sea Life stamps.

I did a double interpretation of the Splash theme - watercolors and an under the sea theme, working on a 8 x 10 in watercolor canvas by Prima. I had fun doing a bunch of different techniques for creating texture on this watercolor piece, and I'll show you how easy they are below. Tim Holtz Sea Life stamp set was perfect for this canvas.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with gesso

I started by applying gesso at the base of the canvas, where the bottom of the sea would be. By pressing the palette knife into the gesso and pulling it up, I got the textures that you can see here.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with Tim Holtz Sea Life.

The images were stamped with Jet Black ink. I messed up the stamping on the octopus, but could luckily fix it with the help of a stamp positioner.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with Crackle Paste

Apply Opaque Crackle Paste through the Speckles stencil, where the top of the water will be.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with masking fluid

I used a Molotow Masking Marker to add bubbles to the background, and also did some through the Splatter stencil. This masking fluid is very easy to use.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

After testing that it wouldn't affect the ink, I applied masking fluid all over the stamped images, being careful not to go beyond them since I didn't want a while halo around the images.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with cling wrap

The water was painted with watercolors and I pressed cling wrap into the wet paint, shaping it to create texture. Leave until the paint is dry, no peeking!

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with salt

In the sky area, I sprinkled both fine and chunky salt. Leave until it is dry and then brush off.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Rub off the masking fluid from the images and dots.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Paint the images with watercolors, and add a dot to some of the bubbles.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Paint the gesso with watercolors - don't use too much water or the paint doesn't cover the gesso well.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

When dry, wipe off some of the paint from the texture.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Stamp the sea weed with Broken China and Jet Black, off stamping on a scrap paper first for the latter ink.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

To add even more texture, I glued some shells to the bottom of the sea and added Crystal Glass Beads. Smear some Matte Medium on the area first and sprinkle with beads.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

You can wipe off some of the paint from the crackled foam at the top of the sea. I also painted birds into the sky.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin a wonderful life

The sentiment was stamped on the background. Also paint shadows under the images.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin with cling wrap

The cling wrap leaves a very cool textured look. It is one of my favourite watercolor techniques.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

I also glued some drops to the background.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin Under the Sea

The yellow paint I used was a little too opaque and I should have picked a more transparent yellow instead. You can see that on the octopus.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

On the seahorse, I only used a tiny bit of the opaque yellow, and instead mainly used a transparent one.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

I also glued some seed beads to the background. Add a dot of matte medium with a tooth pick and place the bead into the glue.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

The beads at the bottom were a little hard to photograph.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Since the beads are transparent, they add texture, without being overwhelming and drawing too much attention to the bottom of the sea.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

Glue some beads on top of the shells too.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

I really like Prima's watercolor canvases and they give you a piece which is ready to hang on the wall immediately, without having to add a frame. I also really like to extend my scene onto the sides of the panel. You can also do the techniques on ordinary watercolor paper, of course.

Layers of ink - Textured Watercolor Canvas Tutorial by Anna-Karin

This is the other side, with bubbles. For more inspiration on both the cling wrap and salt technique, check out my Textured Watercolor Journal Page.

I really hope you will join us in our Splash challenge. As every week, you have a chance to win a $50 gift voucher from Simon Says Stamp. You have until Monday 8am Ohio time. 1pm UK time, 2 pm CET to join in.


Don't forget to follow Simon Says Stamp on Instagram, they post great stuff daily. 


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Do you use Instagram? If so please add #sssmchallenge so we can see your entries there too.





Thank you so much for visiting today! Have a lovely week!

Happy crafting!

Anna-Karin

Supplies:




23 comments:

  1. Great canvas with so many techniques. Thank you for the step by step. I forgot last week to express my condolences to everyone in Sweden for the horrible attack in Stockholm. My heart goes out to everyone that has suffered.

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    1. Thank you so much Marci! And for your kind words.

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  2. This is beautiful, Anna-Karin. I love your sea creatures, especially the octopus. The background with all the texture and fun with the Molotow pen is amazing!

    Cathie ♥

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  3. What a fantastic sea scene! Love it Anna-Karin!!!
    x

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  4. Dit is nou werklik pragtig Anna-Karin!

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  5. What a great underwater scene! I loved too see how you made this magic background! So creative. Hugs, Marzena.

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  6. What a fabulous canvas Anna-Karin, the textured and coloured water looks amazing and I am totally in love with the octopus and seahorse! Great step by step too. Anne x

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  7. Wonderful canvas. I love all of the details. Great colors and living in Washington state I love water. This is just beautiful.

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  8. Anna-Karin, your work is always amazing. I love all of the colour and texture you have added on this canvas. (I can see this hanging in a bathroom, it would be just beautiful!) Well done!

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  9. absolutely gorgeous canvas Ann-Karin!! The textures and layers are perfect for this scene. Thanks for sharing the step outs too-I didn't know there was such a thing as a masking fluid pen;)

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    1. Thank you Linda! The masking fluid pen is awesome, so much easier to use than ordinary masking fluid. :)

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  10. Stunning canvas, Anna-Karin! Love the layers of color and the textures :)

    *mwah*
    Steph
    Simon Says Stamp!

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  11. Gorgeous canvas Anna-Karin, I love the whole underwater scene, absolute fabulous 😍

    Luv
    Lols x x x

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  12. Awesome tutorial, terrific techniques, the details are fantastic!

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  13. Fantastic! Love the underwater scene you've created. Awesome technique with the wrap, and great mix of color, texture and images! It does sound like you had some very strange weather! hugs, Maura

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    1. Thank you Maura! Very weird weather! During our walk on Monday, we had heavy snowfall three times, and in between perfect (although chilly) spring weather. And this evening, Leo and I got a whole lot of hail on our walk.

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  14. Fabulous textured underwater scene. I may have to give in to that stamp set, just to get the Octopus for my nephew who's obsessed with them and squid! Brilliant splashy inspiration.
    Alison x

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  15. This is amazing Anna-Karin! I love all the wonderful texture! Thanks for the tutorial!

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  16. I was going to use these stamps on my project but decided on a different take at the last minute but I LOVE the canvas you've created using these, Anna-Karin and adore the scene you've made...fabulous work as always! :)

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  17. Gorgeous canvas, love all the techniques for building up textures. Lou x

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  18. beautiful canvas Anna-Karin..thank you for sharing how you created that amazing background...hugs kath xxx

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  19. This is such a cool and beautiful canvas, Anna-Karin. Love the fantastic colors and those step photos are awesome! :)

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  20. This is my favorite palette ! You are fantastic, this sea canvas is absolutely amazing, love you used Tim's stamps and all the techniques is fabulous! Thanks for sharing with us! Barbara

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment! Happy Crafting!