May - "Can't Resist it" - Sketchbook Challenge 2011

During the summer break I have been trying to catch up with my Sketchbook Challenge pages. 

The theme for May was "Can't Resist it", so I decided to work on how ink and paint can be resisted on the page.

I came across Aquacolour crayons when I was studying for my City and Guilds course and I have loved them ever since.  They last for ages and you can buy them in smaller tins than this.

For this page I used some PVA so created shapes and then let it dry over night.  Using the Aquacolour I coloured lightly over the pages and then spread it around using water.  Once this had also dried I highlighted sections with a black Sharpie marker.

A few words down the side to complete it.

I think that this page will need some more work on it but as it stands at the moment I used the Aquacolour and water to spread and mix the colour and to create quite a wet surface.

Then using salt I sprinkled onto the surface and watched what the colour would do.

I have done this before on fabric and it works really well, but maybe there was too much water or not enough salt but any resisting of the colour is not easy to see.  I think that I shall go over this with more wax crayon and perhaps some watercolours to add to this page.

This is another technique that I have used before, but not for ages!  Colour wash the page and leave to dry (I normally fit in the washing and ironing during these stages) and then using some of Sophie's wax crayons I melt them and carefully flick them on to the page.  I position myself in the kitchen by the sink, light a tea candle sat on a plate and carefully melt the crayon.  before it has time to drip or solidify again I carefully flick the melted wax on to the page.  You can layer up different colours. 

You must be carefully not to flick too much as you will get it everywhere, watch your fingers, this is not something for children to try and watch your surfaces.  I have also tried this on fabric too but it is obviously not washable but for backgrounds to stitching or sketchbook stuff it is a lot of fun.

I do have another resist sample but it is at home and I am not going home until Tuesday so I shall have to add this later.

I have also been adding to earlier themes as I like to go back to them.  Here are some interesting pictures from google for the "Opposites" theme back in February.

I hope to be up to date by the time I go back to work as I find that I need a decent length of time to come up with sketchbook pages and take an idea far enough to be pleased with it.  Snatching a few minutes here and there is not really helping with my progress, but such is life.

xx