Copics on Gesso (lets you erase!!!)

This Copic colouring was crazy fun & so fast! I can't share the card yet, since it's for an upcoming thingy... but I just couldn't wait to share this new (weird--but kind of nifty) Copic technique.

This seems ideal for beginner Copic colouring (despite the fact that it's not the *real* way to copic colour at all) because it lets you erase (<--uh huh! erase!)

(It's Gesso again, my super hero. MUhaha!)

Copic markers on Gesso Cardstock:

A little background: When I first started playing with gesso cardstock last summer, I didn't know a Copic from a hole in the ground. (I still have a lot to learn, and I use them in strange unsanctioned ways--but strange is more fun, to me anyhow.) Back then, I used one Copic colour (turquoise, the only one I had, ROFL) & I decided Copics were not for gesso. Hah! Now that I know a wee something about them, I had another kick at the Copics, and it turns out...

Copics on Gesso give you LOADs of playability. It involves pushing around of the colour (rather than the usual colouring in circles & saturating the paper.) Which means:

--->Gesso lets you achieve brush lines (cool for hair)

--->Copics on gesso start off a teeny bit tacky to the touch (like when you colour metal with them) but they'll dry really nicely in a minute.

--->You can erase mistakes right away or when the copics are dry (!!!!!) Lift off colour even the day after you've coloured it. SQUEAL! :O) On Miss Anya up there, I had coloured the basket way too darkly, but the next morning I just used a lighter colour Copic to remove the overly dark ink. You can't do that without gesso. ;O)

--->It saves Copic ink too (since the paper doesn't suck it up because the gesso resists.)

--->You can get really quick interesting textures with that resist effect by leaving some of your paper with no gesso in spots. (More about that texture below)

(gesso cardstock)

• Cardstock or any paper (I like the back of glossy cardstock)
  
• Gesso (art primer that is usually acrylic based)
  
• Copic markers
  
• Ink (may need embossing powder & heat gun)
  
• Stamp (I used a Miss Anya Stamp from here)
  

Step 1) Just paint gesso onto any cardstock or paper...

...even onto patterned paper or digital paper. (I like gesso on the back of glossy cardstock, since it curls less, but you can always stick it under a book to flatten.) The gesso brand I truly prefer is made by Kroma, but most brands seem to be comparable. You can make your gesso cardstock smooth & consistent. I like a bit of texture.

Step 2) Stamp with the ink you use with Copics or print an image out (some inks may need heat setting or embossing with clear embossing powder, since the gesso resists) Which can be a neat feature since you can emboss even dye-based inks this way!

Step 3) Colour.

Texture for resist:

The textured gesso cardstock used for this Miss Anya
was made using the method detailed in this post:


It was really quickly coloured with
one Copic marker (a Warm Gray no1):

Where some of the paper has no gesso, you can get darker areas of colour (like at the bottom of the background on this image) since the blank spots with no gesso don't resist the copic ink.

No Copics? This works with any markers (Stampin' up ones need embossing or they can smudge but that is cool too. You can also emboss Tombow markers.) Close to my Heart markers dry really quickly & nicely on the gesso, but can be manipulated with water for cool effects.

Layers:

You can paint gesso over stamped or printed images/text

OR over patterned papers...book pages...fabrics...so that you can layer over those designs with stamping (or printing on your computer and embossing it) and then colour with Copic markers.

;o)

*Please know that gesso needs prep & prompt clean up; however, I find that it is worth it for the amazing things it can do. Protecting your work areas and cleaning tools right away is a really good idea. It's an acrylic primer so it has lots of staying power. It will clean off of most nonporous things though :O) A dedicated gesso brush is a cool thing (so your best brushes stay nice.) Gesso will stay on some surfaces if left to dry.

ETA: Some gesso may come off on your Copics, so maybe test some if you're concerned about that?

*Printing on gesso may not be for expensive printers. Mine was $45.00 so I go wild.

I'm just looking at Miss Anya's face
& thinking she looks a little sunburnt...

But that's okay, because I can go erase that pink! :O) *GRIN*

Haven't gotten sick of my past gesso rambling? Curious maybe?
more gesso talk here
(I think I'm trying to start a gesso cult, bwahahaaaa)


Edited to Add:Tutorial for the armoire gift box
that this turned into here:

& link to dress template is there too

Happy Thurday! Hope this gesso fanaticism hasn't bored you silly, :O)

(today the ol' blog should be called: Gesso shut up about already!)

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