Watercolor Technique #2

Here is another technique on how to use the ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy - Watercolor 1. This technique is shown here in PSE 3.0, Windows / PC.

Open up the watercolor paper template that you would like to color.

Create a new layer that is directly above your watercolor template.

While the new layer is selected in your layers palette change the blending mode from normal to color burn.

Select a brush from your brush menu. I chose to use Lori Cook's Grunge Brush Set. To be honest this is my favorite set. I use one of these brushes for literally everything - masking, erasing, brushing, etc. I could not live with out this brush.

Once your brush is selected at the top of your program on the options bar you will see the option to change the opacity of your brush. Drop it down to at least 56%. This way you can slowly build up your color by having lighter and darker areas.

Select the color you would like to paint your watercolor paper, and start brushing away on your new layer with the color. Here I chose a green color.

If you want to add a new color you could brush it on the same layer. This creates a problem though if you would like to erase one of the colors. It is best to create a new layer with the blending mode on color burn, so that you can easily erase a layer of a specific color if you decide you do not like it.

When you start overlapping them you start creating the blending effects that would actually happen when you use different hues of watercolor.

Tips: If it seems to have a lot of dark black areas and you don't want that, you can lower the intensity of your color you are brushing on.

You could also change the blending mode of the layer to something other than color burn.

If you want you could paint the whole paper leaving it dark and then at the very end, merge all the layers and adjust the levels to brighten or lighten it up after you are completely finished.

Here I've created a paper with various colors by simply brushing onto the layer.

Note: You will notice that I brushed all these colors on one layer. That is not the best idea. It works better to have each color on it's own layer. Plus you could have all the layers on different blending modes to create some really interesting effects. Have fun painting!


Supplies Used:

Grunge Brush Set

ScrapSimple Paper Templates: Artsy-Watercolor