Painting with Pearl Ex

Today I wanted to share a couple techniques that allow you to paint with Pearl Ex pigment powders. 

You will need the following supplies:

Pearl Ex in desired colors
Gum Arabic (I am using the powdered variety)
Water
Niji Waterbrush
Heat Tool
Cardstock
Archival or other waterproof ink
Rubber Stamp ( Just For Fun Rubber Stamps)

Instructions:

1. Squirt a bit of water onto your work surface.

2. Add a small amount of the Gum Arabic to the water and mix until it is dissolved. 

NOTE: We are using the Gum Arabic mixture as a binder for the Pearl Ex.  Once the painted Pearl Ex dries it will be permanent on the paper and won't rub off.  No additional sealer is necessary.

Here is where you can proceed with one of two different techniques depending on the color and look you wish to achieve.

NOTE: I am showing you these techniques off the image just so you can get an idea of how the two different techniques will yield and what they look like.

Technique #1 - Watercolor Painting

Pick up a bit of the Gum Arabic Water and paint it onto your image/cardstock. 

Next, dip your brush (which is coated with the GA Water) into the Pearl Ex Powder and paint it over the wet GA.    As you can see this thins the Pearl Ex and gives you a transparent watercolor look.

Technique #2 - Intense Painting

Simply dip your waterbrush into the Gum Arabic water mixture then directly into the Pearl Ex.  Paint this directly onto dry cardstock.  As you can see this technique yields an extremely intense, opaque color.    By using a mix of these two techniques you can color virtually any stamped or drawn image.

On this example I am using a combination of both of the techniques.  I am starting out with the intense colors on the dress, shoes and flowers.  For the hair and skin I am using the watercolor technique. 

One thing to keep in mind is that after you have painted an area with the Pearl Ex you still have time to go back and re-work it.  As you can see in this photo the dress is basically one color.  After the entire dress was painted I dipped my brush into just the Gum Arabic using NO additional Pearl Ex Powder.  I worked my brush over the various areas that I wanted a lighter shade and pulled the color from that area moving it to other areas which I wanted to darken up.   (see the finished example below).

And here is the finished sample.....

For the skin I applied an initial watercolor coat of pigment, dried it with the heat tool then went back in and added a second coat to various areas to create the shaded contrast as you would with markers or colored pencils. This is most notable on the upper arm, back and upper leg by the hem of the dress.   This is the same technique I used for the hair but instead of adding a second coat of the same color I first applied my light color (gold) and went back in with a darker color (mink) to add low lights.

A second look using the flash just to show the amazing shine that can't be seen by the cameras eye.

Tomorrow I will share a couple finished cards using these techniques.