We have a special treat in store today! Our Creative Arts Manager, Karen Pedersen, is showing us a few creative and easy watercolor techniques using our small round and medium round waterbrushes!
Unlike a traditional paintbrush, the handle of a waterbrush is made up of a water reservoir, eliminating the need for a water cup. The light colored bristles allow the painter to easily determine their color load and paint concentration, and the included cap protects the bristles and brush head while also sealing the water inside.
If you are accustomed to using traditional paintbrushes, you will notice that controlling a waterbrush is quite different. With a little practice, however, you too will find your groove and discovery why we love them!
Follow along with Karen, below, and pick up a few tips and tricks for making a waterbrush work for you!
Here’s a closer look at the artwork examples from the video:
The first watercolor technique you saw teaches how to create a colorful background like the one on this page. Using a medium round waterbrush, lay down watercolor paint onto an all-purpose mat. Then, lay the paper you want to add the color to facedown onto the paint and allow it to soak up for a few seconds. Turn your paper right side up and let it dry before continuing with your project.
If you look closely, you’ll see that in this Welcome card, we have two different watercolor techniques to talk through. The first, is the stenciled background. Using a stencil we created out of a stencil sheet and a Cricut® shape, we were able to paint a beautiful watercolor textured background with a medium round waterbrush. The second technique Karen talks through is how to achieve the detail and color variation seen in the plants of this card using the small round waterbrush.
The last technique we share can easily make any of us look like watercolor experts! Instead of ink, add watercolor paint to a raised stamp and use it to create the image on your artwork! Look how beautiful those leaves turned out on this card! Make sure not to add too much water to avoid ending up with a blobby image. (In the video above, Karen shows you how!)
If you’re a fan of waterbrushes, please leave us a comment below and tell us why! AND…if you’ve got any tips or tricks you’ve picked up along the way, please share those with all of us, too!
Happy painting!
I love using waterbrushes – and it’s what I use to seal my card envelopes too!
Use black ink to stamp your image that you are painting. It is easy then to go over the finished painted image with a black fine tip marker to bring back the outlines of the stamped image again. Of course I use CTMH black or Intense black ink with the journaling markers. 😀
That looks like so much fun. Do you need to use watercolour paper Or is cardstock ok? What ink is best to use for stamping the outer image to prevent bleeding?
If you apply too much watercolor to the cardstock, it could warp. We suggest to use watercolor paper if you have it, especially for that first technique.
Great video lots of information for me to try.
I love the watercolors. The video was one of the best I have seen from CTMH. Keep up the great work with videos.
Awesome video & tips! Thank you!
I love the water-colour video!
Is it better to have the design on water-colour paper?
I used white daisy Cardstock and my image smudged after sitting for a few days in the open air. Did I use too much paint for the smudge to occur?
We would certainly suggest to use watercolor paper for painting if you have it. What part of your image smudged? To avoid smearing when adding watercolors, we recommend stamping with our Intense Black ink.
I love these brushes – one use I find is when I stamp and if a solid stamp that doesn’t quite come out completely solid I can use a brush to touch up with ink from the ink pad
I’ve wanted to try watercolors for some time and you’ve provided me with good information about how to do it! Thanks…good tips and great presentation!
Lots of great information given, well delivered also, thanks.🌸
Love these tips! Even though I often use watercolors, I learned something new! The stencil and watercolors is amazing!!
This is so lovely. Thank you for the extra info on how to do it!
I’ve never ventured into watercolors but this makes me think that I’d be able to do it! I adore the look of watercolor art and this video has inspired me to try it out! Thank you so much!
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Great informative video, Karen! I can’t wait to try watercoloring stamps, what a fun idea!! Thank you!