Weekly Challenge #147: "UMT v. XXIII - Boo*Kee"

This weeks Tangle comes from the Diva herself. You can find her step outs HERE. Boo*Kee* was fun to draw and very easy first time around.  My contribution this week will be added to the deck of ATC's I am desperately trying to finish on time. This is #21.

Boo*Kee, Patena, on rubber cement resist, watercolor wash

Weekly Challenge #133: Tipple

"Tipple" is a grouping of different sized orbs with spaces between filled in with black or left open. It can be monotonous to draw a lot of but, it is really satisfying to look at once done. I love orbs/circles in general and this was really fun to use the pattern of a rubber cement resist colored with a turmeric stain. I found the process pleasing as well as the end result.

Tipple

"Stained" Tutorial

After posting my coffee stained piece I was asked to do a tutorial on rubber cement resist.  I really love that people love learning new things and this one is so much fun and rewarding.

First off, let me say I am staining with left over coffee. You can color your piece with just about anything as long as the paper you are using will stand up to a bit of water.  So you can you use watercolors of any type, paint, tea, wine, even turmeric made into a paste and brushed on.

I have two pieces here. One is a Zentangle® Tile and the other larger on is a piece of Canson watercolor cold press 140 lb paper.

*First step is to get the rubber cement onto the paper.  This can be accomplished by dripping the rubber cement from the brush onto the paper.  I have found if you remove the brush from the tin and immediately turn the brush upside down to sort of collect the cement onto the brush you will have a good amount to drip or *trail* onto your paper. You can also brush it on for larger negative spaces or use other appliances like a chopstick, fork, smaller painting brush etc. Once it is on the paper, let it dry completely.

*Now you are ready to color or stain your paper. I have used a little left over coffee and a paint brush to apply.  Brush evenly over paper. The paper may tend to curl.  Manipulate the paper, bend side to side or end to end or simply rotate the paper to get the stain where you want it. Some areas will have a heavier stain than others.

You can even go back once it has dried a bit and add some more color to areas you would like darker.

*When this has dried completely you are ready to remove the rubber cement. You should be slow and deliberate with this step as paper is fragile and can rip. Although, it can add a "distressed" look to your piece if you desire. Two ways of going about this. One is to rub the cement off, although I have experienced more tears this way. The other is to start and edge and slowly pull the rubber cement off the tile.

Here the dried papers and then the papers minus the rubber cement.

You can choose to use the negative space as a string or the space where you tangle or, as I did earlier, just tangle over the top.

I will be back to post what I have done with these in a couple of days or so. Tangle on!

Inspiration

I was inspired to try some new techniques out this week and the inspiration came from some left over iced coffee in the bottom of a jug.

My husband and I invited some friends to visit us in Maine for a weekend to celebrate birthdays, catch up with one another and engage in some shenanigans.  All was accomplished!  One of our guests owns the  1369 Coffee House in Inman Square Cambridge MA, awarded the Best of Boston Coffee House 2013 (among other past awards), and he brought his very delicious iced coffee with him!  It comes in this incredible jug:

We imbibed all weekend but there was a bit left in the bottom of the jug so.................

The techniques I wanted to try out were rubber cement resist, coffee staining, tangled numbers, and framing or bordering.  I have managed to get them all into this project which highlights 1369 Coffee House.  I took about 10 hours, off and on, and I find the end result worth it.

I may have to start a "Stained" series. Hmmmm