Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Play Time! Testing New Waters!

                                                                             
One of the things I tried to do during the past few months is experiment with a few new materials I purchased or old materials I hadn't had a chance yet to try. Sometimes, as artists, (especially me anyway) we feel an urgency to "produce," to jump right into the process of creating art instead of exploring what the products we use can do. What are they capable of, how do they feel, what surfaces produce a look I like, what tools can I use, etc.   I have been guilty of this so many times, and yet, I feel "I don't have the time." So I plunge right into the planning, preparing and painting of a work of art and miss out on one of the most valuable learning experiences I could have. 

Many of you who use water media may be already very familiar with this product. I've been using primarily oil paints and pastels, so when I saw an ad for BRUSHO I thought perhaps I could use it for the underpaintings I do for pastel. Besides, I have always carried a secret desire to do some abstract watercolors and thought this product might be fun to try for effects.

I purchased these five containers of Brusho after reading a description on Dick Blick's website. They are watercolor ink crystals that you can sprinkle or brush onto paper, canvas or wood. The "crystals" are more like a powder to me, but once you put them on a wet surface they seem to blossom and create their own designs and patterns. They come in a multitude of colors (see them here) but I purchased the five you see above. Below, are some examples of some very unscientific results when I used it on regular watercolor paper (140 lb.) or Yupo paper.

Scarlet used on regular w/c paper

I left the paper white, wet it with a brush and sprinkled a relatively small amount of crystals.














                                                                                                                                                              


Gamboge and Burnt Sienna  on Yupo


I think when Brusho is used on Yupo you get a more detailed, clearer pattern.

(Julie, this might be fun to try on parts of the wonderful bird nests you paint.)









Leaf Green on Yupo


Again, a more detailed design. Each color seems to have a subtle combination of another color or two. Very subtle, yet it helps to make it more interesting.







         
Leaf Green and Yellow Ochre on regular W/C paper


Less detailed but an interesting marbled look.











A couple of other observations:

*You can use a spritzer with water to move the color around. Be careful. A little water goes a long way.

* Use a tissue or paper towel to dab up runs or to minimize amount of paint.

*When the water dries there may be some powder on the surface that escaped the dissolving effect of water. It can be brushed off fairly easily.

*A warning! There are two ways to open the canisters. Punch a small hole in the indentation on the lid, or pull the plastic "sealer" around the lid. HOWEVER, if you pull the sealer do it slowly and carefully. When my lid popped off my white slacks were sprinkled with about half a teaspoon of a bright, pretty Gamboge color. It was my fault, but I had to really work to clean it. I'm just saying...



30 comments:

  1. I think it is exciting that you are experimenting with new products and techniques. You made some wonderful surfaces here. I grinned when I saw my name because I was thinking of the nests before I read it... great minds...
    Do you have a favorite and are you going to make something out of any of these? Like - what is the next step?

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    1. I'm enjoying a chance to play with these products, Julie, and I love finding out the things that might work for me, or don't. These little 4" X 4" swatches are just testers to see how the product reacts. Some just sat after I sprinkled the powder and did their own thing. Some I tilted and swirled to see how motion affects it. I learned that it's best to just welcome all results rather than think it's going to do exactly what I wanted. One has to be open, right?
      I know I'll use the product for underpaintings for pastel sometimes or just to tone the paper. I think I might try it for certain subjects where texture would be warranted like in an atmospheric approach or things like rocks, water, trees, or animals. Thank you for your comment!

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  2. Thank you for all this great info Carol. I never tried Brusho , but heard about it. The effect you got on Yupo are fabulous and quite inspiring too :-)

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    1. It was fun, Jane! It can be a messy activity, but I think there's potential there for some interesting effects. I'd like to try it in several projects to add texture even if it's just a small portion. At the very least it would make some decorative papers to use for collage or card-making. Thank you for writing!

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  3. What marvelous effects and beautiful colors! Love especially the green.

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    1. Thank you so much, Sherry.. You know, the green was my favorite, also. It'll be fun to try some projects using this product. I hope I can see how others are working with it, also. Hang in there for your move. The process is always a challenge under the best of circumstances, but when you're settled and things are in place it'll feel good!

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  4. Very interesting! I am curious to know if some sort of salt is the ingredient with these paints. Seems that I remember something about sprinkling salt onto pools of watered down acrylic or watercolors to create similar effects. You got some very nice results. Any plans with what you might do?

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    1. You know, Libby, perhaps it is. When you buy the little individual bottles like I did they don't send a brochure with them. If you buy a set, you get a brochure. I'll bet their website though has the technical specifications somewhere. I thought about future possibilities with Brusho, and wrote some possibilities up in Julie's reply.
      We will see.

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  5. What a beautiful effect this produces Carol! I don't use watercolor but I imagine this would look awesome in a landscape especially the Burnt Sienna on yupo. I can't wait to see what you do next ...

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    1. Thank you, Hilda! I really haven't used watercolor too many times yet, but I'd like to do more in the future. I agree with you about the landscape idea and perhaps animal fur, etc. I'm open for ideas if something comes to mind. :)

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  6. Thank you for being brave. I will share your blog with my GET YOUR ART OUT THERE group on FB.

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    1. You made me smile, Sea. :) Thank you for taking the time to write. I appreciate your sharing. Thank you for being an administrator of that group.
      I read your latest post on your blog and was so impressed with your LCAG work. How excited the boy must have been, and you were so kind to mentor him that day. You never know what he'll do in the future.

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  7. What fun, so . many possibilities, so little time. I will share one of my experiments with Color Briques. These little samples of yours make me want to jump into more tests with products I have but haven't used.

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    1. Boy, isn't that the truth, Jean...so little time and so many possibilities!! I'd love to see your Color Briques experiment! I just looked at the Brusho page on Pinterest, and there are many ideas there that go way beyond what I described here.

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  8. Wonderful, informative post. Good for you, Carol. I have many of the same feelings but you acted on it. Fun results.

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    1. Thank you very much, Helen. It makes me feel good to hear that others might feel some of the same things I do. I think we give ourselves a gift by taking time to check out other possibilities. You never know what you might find, right? I loved your latest abstract painting. Full of activity and and marvelous shapes!

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  9. Thanks for sharing! These look so fun and the results are so vivid-nice post!

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    1. Mary, I enjoyed experimenting and had some interesting results and some that showed me they didn't work so well. I did discover that if I would venture into a watermedia project I certainly would consider using this project is some way. I like the grainy, textural effects it gets.

      By the way, your latest post with the two fisherman in the river was outstanding. I loved the dense forest behind them and the way you depict a rushing river is amazing. Plus, their body language looks like they were stopped mid-action.So well done!! Do you currently live in Oregon or Washington? The rivers you depict look so much like northwest rivers.

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    2. Ooooops! "project" should be "product."

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  10. Dear. Carol- I have been reading about Brusho. This sounds like such fun to try. It is nice to know others enjoy experimenting also. Thanks for sharing how this product works. Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Hi Debbie,
      I hope you do get an opportunity to use it sometime. You just never know quite what it's going to do result-wise.I like most of what it produces, but it's always a mystery as to what will turn out. Of course, that's part of the fun!!

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  11. These are so striking, Carol! I imagine you excited and lost in thought as you drop the powder and mist and move the colors. They're beautiful! So great you took the time to play!

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    1. Yep! That's how I was...like a kid doing a science experiment. It was fun, and I do think there are opportunities to incorporate this in a painting. I know you're busy with preparation for your new show, so I'm just so delighted you took the time to comment.

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  13. This Brusho looks like a lot of fun, I noticed them recently in an art catalogue and was sorely tempted until I noticed all my un-used art supplies, (don't let me loose in an art supply shop!!) I could imagine them also used for background textures too. Looking forward to seeing what else you do with them.

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    1. I agree with you that there are probably many clever uses for this product. I also whole-heartedly know about materials on the shelf just waiting to be used. I have some of those, too. Thank you for commenting, Diana!!

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  14. Wow these look very interesting Carol. I love the effects you got from them!

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    1. I think they would add interest in some situations, Helen. It was fun to "play" with them and see what they do.

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  15. Wow I love all the different textures and patterns you got! Inspiring work.

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    1. Thank you, Shelley. I'm hoping that I can try some abstract art and use these crystals in the process. I think it would add some interesting effects. Thanks for writing!!

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