Melt Your Colored Pencils Into...Watercolors?!!

   If you follow my YouTube channel, you know that in the past year I had the joy of trying the Holbein Artists' Colored Pencils for the first time. Along with the pencils I was also given the Holbein Meltz Colored Pencil Blender (thanks Holbein!)

   I usually use Gamsol Odorless Mineral Spirits (OMS) to blend my colored pencils. However, OMS is poisonous, so I was really intrigued to find out that Holbein Meltz is a water-based formula that does not give off any harmful fumes!

   While using the Meltz, I also discovered a trick that I could not do previously with OMS! I could make my pencils act like watercolor! That is, I could scrape pigment off my colored pencil onto a different surface, dip a brush into my Meltz, then pick up the pigment and paint it onto my surface! This is something that is not as easy to do with OMS because of the way it stains the paper. Typically speaking, you need a lot of layers of colored pencil down on your paper before blending with OMS because it will sink into the paper and cause some blotchiness. I did not have this issue with the Meltz! Only smooth and light color coverage, perfect for an under-painting to help speed the colored pencil process along a bit.


 

   I tried this technique sparingly in a few pieces just to get a feel before I decided it was time to do an exercise dedicated to this technique and to share it with the world!! 


 

 If you would like to see my full process watch the video below!! 


 Please note: Product links used in this blog are often affiliate links, this means I earn a small profit when someone uses my link to purchase a product. However, there is no additional charge to the person who is purchasing the product. This blog post is not sponsored by any of the companies mentioned.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

My Experience with Blick Studio Artists' Colored Pencils

Image
 " Nature's Confetti " in Blick Studio Artists' Colored Pencils- "Nature's Confetti" 8"x10" Blick Studio Artist's and Black Derwent Drawing Colored Pencils on Canson Mi Teintes (Pearl) Paper. My own reference photo. © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2016 Before reading- please note that I am in no way sponsored by Blick, nor did they ask me to review their product. This is just my personal experience with these colored pencils. First Impressions: Pencils come in a tin case and are organized by color (They also offer a wooden cased set that costs a bit more.) Pencils have wood casing that are color coated to match lead Come pre-sharpened The butt end of the pencil is open which is great for checking if the lead is centered. Good range of blues, greens, grays and browns (These are the first colors I check for) Wax based 72 count set (largest set they offer at this time) From Blick’s Website- “Blick Artis
Read more

My First Gallery Experience!!

Image
  Last night I attended my first gallery opening! The show that I am in is "PLAY" at Harlow Gallery in Hallowell Maine. The object of the show is to Celebrate the Spirit of Play. Artwork that is inspired by children or childhood that is whimsical or humorous. The artwork was chosen by a jury to be placed in the show and the exhibition will be running through April 27th. "Here Kitty Kitty Kitty!!" © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2012  Click for Prints   I arrived at 5:00 pm when the opening started and stayed until 7:00, the opening ran until 8:00. We were encouraged to bring food for a pot luck style opening, I brought one of my favorite pasta salads and it was a hit, over a pound and I barely brought home left overs. The food spread was wonderful, fruits, pastries and dips, I tried new things I hadn't tried before. They also offered wine and sparkling water.   Click for Prints of this Painting   The turn out was awesome. The place was packed!! There were
Read more

What does it mean to be an Artist?

Image
      “The artist is a receptacle for the emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, fro m the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider's web.” -Pablo Picasso    Funny question I know. Surely it means different things to different people. Many say you are an artist if you are able to create, be it architecture, cooking, crocheting, singing etc. Then there are those who say anybody can be an artist. Others say you are only an artist if you are good at what you create. That's where things get so confusing. Who decides what is good and what isn't? Art is so subjective. What is Art? That question is one that may never have an answer that will satisfy everybody. "My Life as a Painter" Oil © Shana L Rowe Jackson 2013    An easier way to answer is to narrow it down. Art is very personal, so forget what others think makes you an artist, why do you think you are an artist? I asked myself today, what does being an arti
Read more