PEP tangles - my Zentangle Inspired Art blog

Friday 22 July 2011

MCC Colouring 101 Wk 1 - Groundwork

Links: Previous Post, Glenda Waterworth, My Creative Classroom (MCC)

I finally managed to buy some Hot Pressed Watercolour paper & recently obtained some Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock, Ryman's Coated Card & some cardstock specifically designed for use with alcohol markers. So, these were what I used with my favourite inkpads for the purposes of testing:

  •  the clarity of the stamped impression;
  •  the combined response of ink & paper to water;
  •  the ability to manipulate the ink if/when it migrates.

Nick Bantock Dye Inkpad - Lamp Black
A good detailed stamped impression retained whilst allowing the manipulation of ink with a wet paintbrush.

Tim Holtz Distress Dye Inkpad - Black Soot
A good detailed stamped impression becoming less defined whilst allowing ink manipulation with a wet paintbrush on watercolour paper. It is designed to react with water but refuses to on the Ryman's, Premium & Whisper White.

Memento Dye Inkpad - Tuxedo Black
Very good detailed stamped impression which is retained whilst allowing a little manipulation of ink with a wet paintbrush. Supposedly water resistant it does "ghost" as above.

Memories Dye Inkpad - Black
An amazingly reliable clearly defined & detailed stamped impression which is completely water resistant.

Brilliance Pigment Inkpad - Graphite Black
A softer less clearly defined but detailed stamped impression completely water reistant.

VersaFine Pigment Inkpad - Onyx Black
With a reputation for clear detailed water resistant stamped impressions I find it less defined than the Memories.


Conclusions
The surfaces of the  Ryman's, Premium & Whisper White cardstocks were all affected by contact with water leaving a residual furriness to the touch as opposed to the smooth finish where there had been no contact. It really is a matter of using the appropriate ink & cardstock for the medium with which I wish to colour & the technique I want to use, so these are my current preferences.

  • A Memento inkpad on one of the glass smooth or coated cardstocks (I've yet to decide which of those I prefer) when colouring with alcohol markers. 
  • The Memories inkpad on watercolour paper for any colouring technique where I want a crisp defined stamped imprint with no ink migration upon the application of water. I personally prefer the lighter weight (90lbs/190gsm) Cotman Cold Pressed /NOT*GRAIN FIN watercolour paper to the above Langton as it is easily obtainable (in the UK it can even be obtained at a Hight Street W H Smith  & sometimes at a considerable discount) & has fractionally more tooth allowing easier blending/layering of coloured pencils. The other advantage of using the 190gsm is that it is "scissor friendly" & can be used where detailed (fussy) cutting out of images is required.
  • The Distress or Nick Bantock inkpad on watercolour paper where I wish to utilize the water soluble migration properties of the ink for colouring.

Recipe
Stamp Elusive Images (now Chocolate Baroque) UA5SP0328 Mermaid Queen.
Cardstock Langton - Daler-Rowney The Langton Extra Smooth Hot Pressed Watercolour Paper 140lb 300gsm; Ryman - Ryman Bright White Coated Card 200gsm; Premium - Southfield Premium Pure White Glass Smooth Bleed Resistant 200gsm; Whisper White - Stampin' Up! Whisper White Smooth Cardstock.

8 comments:

Unknown said...

Yay-- you're back:)!! I'm so glad to hear that your situation has improved. That must be an awful feeling, being plagued by terrible migraines! I'm happy you are able to post again:)

What interesting comparisons here. I'm sure people enjoy you doing this dirty work for them-- trying out all the different variables, learning how to use and understand stamping and inks...and papers! You are a gem! I'm sure lots of girls are learning from your posts. It's very interesting to see. And useful!

Have a great weekend! Enjoy your projects...and hopefully you are headache free! And thank you for all your precious comments on my blog. They always stand out! Even my husband enjoys your thoughts. He calls you PEP:):)

xoxo

Claire said...

Hope you're managing to keep clear of the migraines Paula. Great job on our homework, I'm hoping to have a play tonight. I'll have to try the Cotman watercolour paper, thanks for the tip
hugs
Claire xx

Aquarius said...

Well that is certainly a very detailed and comprehensive test of inks with various papers and card. I've done mine but afraid they aren't as neat as yours.

Annie said...

Hi Paula! it's horses for courses as they say! for water colouring stick with the hot pressed and Versafine to stamp. For copics go for the Rymans and Momento. You can't get a one fits all! Interesting home work for you and I guess you learnt something from it, but I would hate to waste the ink and paper!
enjoy your weekend.
hugs, annie x

Pink Dandelion said...

Hiya, glad to see you posting again. Hope you are keeping well. I use the Rymans with Memento for my promarker colouring but have just bought a set of Prismacolor pencils with blending oil and stumps so will have to try out the different cardstock with these. Any tips gratefully received!! Debs xx

GinaA said...

Hi Paula, so pleased to see you posting again. Thank you so much for sharing your experiments with ink and paper.
Enjoy your class.

Lorraine said...

hi huni missed you heaps i hope your ok and this is a fab post thanks so much for sharing these fab tips i bet i refer back to this one time and time again xx

xxxtglxxx said...

Really great to see you back Paula! :) Glad you are posting again.

Was very interested to see your experiments, I usually just grab what I have to hand, and swap between versafine and memento (for my PM's obviously).(just like me eh? lol!) And my cardstock varies too - I am currently using neenah solar white, but swap about quite a bit and am more than capable of losing track!! :D

My biggest problem is finding cardstock for digi images as my printer just doesnt like setting properly at all. This is quite testing, as being on a few DT I get to work with sponsor images which are all digital, and unless I can print them out 3 weeks before and then still have to set with heat gun and Giant spray I get into a right pickle.

It seems to be my printer, as I have tried loads of suggestions and nothing really works that well, time seems to be the key.

Have a great week,

hugs

xxalisonxx