Watercolor Backgrounds PreClass

Welcome to the PreClass session for this class! This lesson includes information about supplies both needed and recommended for class.

In this lesson are links to the supplies I am using in class videos. Compensated affiliate links are used, which means if you make a purchase I receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. I truly appreciate your support toward the costs of this class!  Read more.

Note that you can likely try out the supplies you already have for this class. You can also use whatever colors you desire – change it up from the colors used in the examples. A little about the colors used in this class

• Daniel Smith Watercolor tubes are what I use. Here’s a bit on the colors in my palette, but you can use what colors YOU like:
  • Dot Card —- has dot-sized samples of my favorite colors
  • 6 Essentials Set — two reds, two yellows, two blues
  • Yellows: Lemon Yellow, Permanent Yellow Deep
  • Reds: Transparent Pyrrol Orange, Quinacridone Coral 
  • Pink: Quinacridone Pink 
  • Greens: Green Apatite (has texture), Sap Green (a nice olive), Phthalo Green – Blue Shade (brighter)
  • Blues: Ultramarine Turquoise, Indanthrone Blue (navy), Phthalo Blue – Red Shade (similar to Green Shade which is in the 6 Essentials set), Manganese (sky)
  • Purple: Imperial Violet 
  • Pearlescent Shimmer (can be added to anything)
  • Natural colors: Quinacridone Burnt Orange, Quinacridone Gold, Sepia, Lunar Blac
  • If you wish to create a palette, the palette and pans are listed below; scroll to the bottom of this lesson to see the video on how to create a palette like I did.

Tube colors in my palette, by Daniel Smith (I repeat, you don’t need my colors!)

• Nickel Azo EH | Blick
• New Gamboge EH | Blick
• Aussie Red Gold EH | Blick
• Yellow Ochre EH | Blick
• Burnt Sienna EH | Blick
• Burnt Umber EH | Blick
• Perylene Maroon EH | Blick
• Anthraquinoid Scarlet EH | Blick
• Pyrrol Scarlet EH | Blick
• Quinacridone Rose EH | Blick
• Imperial Purple EH | Blick
• Moonglow EH | Blick
• Cobalt Teal Blue EH | Blick
• Iridescent Electric Blue EH | Blick
• Cobalt Blue EH | Blick
• French Ultramarine Blue EH | Blick
• Phthalo Blue GS EH | Blick
• Indanthrone Blue EH | Blick
• Serpentine Genuine EH | Blick
• Sap Green EH | Blick
• Green Apatite Genuine EH | Blick
• Perylene Green EH | Blick
• Payne’s Blue Gray EH | Blick
• Neutral Tint EH | Blick

• Also totally okay to use:  Koi Sketchbox, Gansai Tambi (these are both a little more like guache so they don’t layer as nicely as the Daniel Smith paints)

Palette

If you’d like to create a palette like mine, here’s more on how I set it up (see the blog post HERE in 2017) – pdf is HERE.

Watch the video below or click HERE to view on YouTube.

Making cards

This class does not cover the creation of cards in the videos. The backgrounds are taught, then below each video, finished cards are shown and a description is provided with basic tips. You can use these backgrounds along with any of the card design videos you find on YouTube!

TIP: Once you complete some practice pieces, start a stash of backgrounds to grab when making cards at a later time, OR find some stamps to use and create a card as soon as your paper is dry!

All backgrounds created in videos for this class were mounted onto black cardstock as they were completed. Then all in one day, they were turned into cards using these stamps in the Essentials by Ellen collection below to finish them all off. You can use stamps you already have to make cards – flowers, hearts, sentiments, etc. Or if you really love just that background, put a sentiment on the inside, and send the card out as a small piece of art! (This can work REALLY well for sympathy cards that are so hard to make already.)

These stamps are the ones in this class still available; others have been discontinued:

Other supply notes for cardmaking

• Adhesive: Watercolor paper is textured – so I recommend using a really strong adhesive. I use either Be Creative Tape or ATG tape in generous quantity –  and the Be Creative tape is by far stickier and more permanent. For extra flattening, adhere watercolor paper onto a base piece of cardstock, then attach that cardstock with any of your favorite regular adhesives. Both foam tape and Xtreme tabs are sticky enough for watercolor paper.
• Ink: If you’re just stamping on top of pre-painted paper and don’t need to add water, use any ink. But below are some ink options if you want to be able to watercolor stamped images.
• Embossing: Be sure to use a powder tool to prepare your watercolor paper for embossing. This removes the static from the paper so when you shake on the powder, it’s less likely to stick. (Use Versamark for embossing.)
• Stamping: A MISTI stamping tool can really be helpful when stamping on watercolor paper because it allows for repeated stamping. Watercolor paper is textured and can require some extra attention.
• Glossy Accents: Throughout this class, Glossy Accents is used as an adhesive and as an embellishment!

Please share your art! Linking back to this site or mentioning the class name so others can take the class is appreciated – if you enjoyed it, your friends probably will too! You can share homework and ask questions in our Student Facebook Group for all classes here at Art-Classes…please do join in and share your work with other students!

I retain the copyright to all the content you are learning in class. That means you cannot sell or give away the concepts from my classes – the instruction, or anything contained or created within these lessons, to others. (Yes you can gift your cards made with these techniques, this stipulation is about not giving away my ideas taught here.) You may not post a video tutorial of your own showing your redraw of my content. But please DO make your own designs and develop your own style – then rock on! I love to see students making strides and taking this content and personalizing it with your own skills.