Yupo Part I

WORKING WITH YUPO

Yupo is a compelling and unique alternative to traditional art papers. It's a syntheticpaper, machine-made in the USA of 100% polypropylene. It is waterproof, stain-resistant, and extremely strong and durable.

There are a number of plusses in working with yupo. The paint stays on the surface of the plastic, so it doesn't lose it's richness because it is not soaking into the fibers. If you don't like what you painted, you can remove it with water or alcohol. (Even though some colors will leave a "ghost" because they are more staining.) You can easily make changes to part or all of your painting.

The downside is that it picks up oils and dust from your fingers and the air. So before you paint with watercolor, you need to clean it with soap and water or alcohol to remove oils spots. 

Here is what you will need for painting with FLUID ACRYLIC and watercolor:

fluid acrylics

brushes (don't use your watercolor brushes)

alcohol

spray bottle

cottons swabs

stiff small brushes to remove paint

sharp wooden tool (bamboo stick, toothpick, etc.) to remove small edges.

Pictured here are the yupo paper, two bottles of fluid acrylic, and a doggie training pad, used to absorb the paint and protect your table.

In this picture, I lightly sprayed the yupo paper before putting on any paint, only because I was working in the heat with a fan over me. I used manganese blue, magenta, quin burnt orange, and yellow in the mix. You are striving for an overall medium tone. You want texture and smooth blends of color, without too many hard edges. 

Let it dry completely overnight before going to the next step. 

In class I handed out a very small piece of yupo that had already been painted with fluid acrylic. We used a turtle pattern to practice the next steps. We 

STEP ONE: Remove everything that will be white or a light value with alcohol on a stiff brush, cotton swab, or other tool. 

STEP TWO: Paint in the darkest darks with watercolors. You can also use watercolor pencils or fluid acrylic if the area stubbornly resists the watercolor paint. 

STEP THREE: Refine colors and shapes to make the design you are after.

More on this next time.