yupo example

 Last post I referred to previous posts for examples and instructions on using fluid acrylics on yupo with watercolors. I am just posting a step by step example. This is sort of the kindergarten version of the process, extremely simplified to its basics.

1. Beginning with your background of poured fluid acrylics, draw on your pattern. This background should be of a medium value overall. You can draw it on with pencil or colored watercolor pencils. Also, If you use Saral or another graphite transfer paper, you might consider a colored transfer paper to trace your picture/pattern. It may show up better on your color than gray.

2. Using a brush or tool dipped in 91% alcohol, rub off anything that will be white or very pale in value. In the picture below, you can see that I have rubbed off all the whites in the flowers. Now I have 2 values, white and a medium value.

Pattern with some of the whites removed.

TOOLS TO RUB OFF THE WHITES: bamboo sticks or skewers for thin lines and small detail; bristle brushes, small, like those used as scrub brushes; cotton swabs; tissue; cotton balls, and more. Do NOT use your good watercolor brushes in the alcohol.

Pattern with all of the whites removed. Note that the alcohol can also remove some of the pencil lines.

Begin to add your darker values, as in the leaves. You do this with watercolor, slightly diluted from the tube instead of dried paint on your palette. You CAN use watercolor pencil for finer detail. Some enjoy inking with pen. Some like to use more fluid acrylic on spots that just won't take color any more. The advantage of using watercolor is that you can wash it off with a damp brush and blot it if you don't like it.

Then you can add in some pale color, such as the pink on the far right lily.