Pen and Ink Masa Sunflower - part 1

 Masa paper is great fun for me. I usually don't do pen and ink on it, but I decided I wanted to do it with this sunflower.

For posts on masa paper see these blogs:

June 2, 2016 Basic Masa Paper instructions

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/1005441405994987198

Sep 8, and Sep 13 of 2019--Elephants mounted and wrapped on gallery board

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/7342402014232530927

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/4639615821270812424

Jan of 2019 (gluing it with YeS paste)

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/406675106774625507

Mar 5, 2021--wrecked boat

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/5268270820306387448

Mar 12 2020--Cocoa set

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/2792332619632550579

June 10, 2021 --using pastels with masa paper

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/2357452782375511562

Nov 15, 2021-sunset scene

https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/8812132386157895665/3614939673911587507

For a change, I penned in my sketch with a fine tipped sharpie, or any water-proof ink, before I wrinkled and wet the paper. Then I wrinkled the paper, crunching in into a ball, and got it wet. I set it on a puppy training pad (I call them doggie diapers) to absorb the water and to allow me to move the paper without tearing it.

Using a large, soft brush, I applied 3 primaries in a random way. My goal is a soft-edged wash that is a light value. I don't want it patchy, but I want the colors to run together so you can't tell where one begins and another ends. You apply the colors gently, because this paper is fragile while wet, and it will "pill" if rubbed to hard and too often. (See the link to Basic Masa instructions above if you have any questions)

Let your background dry. This may take a while. You want the colors to blend into the cracks in the paper. You can blow it with a blow dryer after the color has reacted as much as you like.

Some people like to adhere the paper to a support (watercolor paper, board, canvas, etc.) as soon as the first wash dries and before they begin to paint. I like to paint as much as I can with the paper crinkled, and save just the final details and inking for after I glue it down. (parts that I can't control until it's glued) That way I get as much effect from the crinkled paper as I can first. 

This is the point where we left it in class. Following are the next few steps, but I plan to do these in class. 

After it is completely dry, you can begin to paint the flower, again using gentle strokes. I want to take my time with this, taking advantage of the underpainting to add interest to the flower. I used hansa yellow and quin gold for the flower petals,  and quin gold, blue, and magenta in the stem. The reason I don't paint the stem with a green is that I enjoy the more subtle play of colors as the masa paper allows them to blend. I'm not concerned at this point with trying to put on the final layers, just playing with the paint.

You can get creative with the colors. Who says it needs to be yellow?

After this first part is painted, I let it dry, and go over it a little more. I painted in the dark center using quin burnt orange and ultramarine blue. 

So, it's not done yet. More next week.