Hands down, taking a couple of Sandy Allnock’s classes this weekend is the most SUMMER FUN I’ve had yet (I told Sandy that too!). Today I spent 4+ hours learning various techniques to use with Ken Oliver Color Bursts. We practiced a whole bunch on small tags cut from student-grade Canson XL watercolor paper.  I know I’ll be able to use at least some of these on card fronts but I might just keep them on a ring as a kind of reference. 🙂
Anyway, after a lot of practice (see the photo at left of 6 of the 12 tags I colored up in class), I really fell in love with the magic and mystery that are in those tiny granules of pigment in the Ken Oliver Color Bursts.
My favorite technique was: (1) stamping an image with VersaMark ink, (2) heat embossing it with Hero Arts white embossing powder, (3) laying down water around the image (or in the image, but not both at once or you’ll get pigment everywhere), (4) lightly sprinkling on a bit of powder (never squeeze those bottles or you’ll end up with a hot dark mess), and then (5) moving the pigment crystals around with a paint brush or going WILD just spraying on water to move the pigment around in the ultimate crazy loose way (I can’t believe it since I’m usually all about control, but I did this a lot)!
We had the opportunity to try out one of our favorite techniques on a larger format. Sandy also provided a matte so that we could frame this “work of art,” but I had to finish up my piece when I got home to add the background soft greens. I wanted to try my hand at using some complementary colors (which if you’re not careful can turn very muddy) so I thought about vintage pansies and WILD roses as I painted this picture of a cluster of flowers (I did a bit of masking as I stamped the image to eliminate most of the stems and overlapping areas) that I stamped using the Hero Arts Antique Rose and the Hero Arts Antique Rose Stem stamps. The Ken Oliver Color Bursts I used were Violet, Lemon Yellow, Yellow Ochre, and Terre Verte. Even though this is a single layer treatment, there is so much visual movement and interest that comes from the Color Bursts. I’ll definitely be playing more with these!
By the way, the BIGGEST THRILL for me was that Sandy actually took a picture of my final floral project! She said she had never seen the purple and yellow worked together to achieve such a pretty natural color combo and she wanted to use my piece as a reference! I was humbled and absolutely floored!
The large floral watercolor is being entered into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Monday Summer Fun Challenge
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Let’s Go Wild Challenge
CAS-ual Fridays Time to Color Challenge
Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge
Through the Craft Room Door Anything Goes Challenge
613 Avenue Create Anything Goes Challenge
Penny Black and More Anything Goes with a Stamp Challenge
Craft Your Passion Anything Goes Challenge
Addicted to Stamps and More Anything Goes Challenge
MFT Camp Create Farewell Bonfire Single Layer Challenge
WOW!! Your results with your color bursts are breathtaking!! Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!!
Oh thank you so much Channin! I am loving these Color Bursts now–finally. TFStopping by and taking the time to leave crafty love! I really appreciate it and all of you at CAS=ual Fridays! xoxo, Kristina
This is so beautiful (and thanks for sharing your other little pieces!)
Awww thanks so much Mimi! I really had so much fun with these Color Bursts. I’ll definitely be using them more now. 😀
WOW! those look amazing! Thank you so much for joining us for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge!
Thank you so very much! I had so much fun in this Color Burst water coloring class. I’ll definitely be doing more. 😀
A pretty collection of artwork for our challenge this month, many thanks for joining us at Penny Black and More challenge.
B x
Thank you so very much Brenda! TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Wow! Beautiful cards. Thanks for playing along at ATSM and good luck.
Thank you so very much Rema! tfstopping by! Hugs, Kristina
Wow amazing card and love love all those others you have done as well. You are really getting into those Burst colours. Brilliant
Awww thank you so much Aileen! I really am feeling like the Color Bursts are going to become a go-to crafty yummy. 🙂
These are all just stunning. I’ve not yet done a resist with powder paints but it’s on my list 😉 Hope mine turn out as beautiful as yours did.
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Penny Black & More.
Lynn x
Awww thanks so much Lynn! I really had so much fun playing with these. I know you’ll love it with resist embossing too. TFStopping by! Hugs, Kristina
WOW!!! This is beyond amazing! I am in love!
Thank you so much for playing along with us over Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!
Hugs x
Zoey
Awww that’s such a sweet comment, Zoey! Thanks so much! I really enjoyed playing with these color bursts to try some watercoloring. 🙂 Big hugs, Kristina
Gorgeous!! I just love this look. Could you do a process or tutorial on how you got this effect? I have these but this is just so stunning! Also, could you please private message me sometime or email me? signace@yahoo.com I’d like to talk blogs with you!! Yours is amazing! xoxo Jen
Awww thanks so much! I will definitely be doing a YT process video with these color bursts. They are so much fun to play with. I am on vacation right now for the next two weeks, but I would love to connect with you when I return after September 4th (or before if you don’t mind delays in replies). 🙂 Big hugs, Kristina
I love the way the flowers look. The antique roses are gorgeous! I can see why Sandy was so impressed.
Awww thanks so much Viki! I don’t know if Sandy was impressed with my actual watercoloring (LOL), but rather just the happy circumstance of the color combination I came up with (hehehe), but I appreciate your sweet comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Awww thanks so much Viki! I don’t know if Sandy was impressed with my actual watercoloring (LOL), but rather just the happy circumstance of the color combination I came up with (hehehe), but I appreciate your sweet comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Beautiful! Lovely flowers and I’m not at all surprised sandy took a picture of that final one,it’s stunning!
Awww thanks so much Ann! I was so humbled and honored I still can’t believe it. 😀 tfstopping by and leaving such a kind comment! Big hugs, Kristina
Absolutely stunning. I follow you and Sandy. so glad you were able to enjoy a wonderful class.
Thanks oodles Vicki! I absolutely LOVED the class! 🙂 Wish Sandy lived closer so I could take classes from her all the time! lol
These are absolutely amazing! I can imagine how much fun it was to learn these fun techniques!
Thanks so much for playing along with us at Penny Black and More!
Awww thanks so much Ellie! It was such a blast to learn from Sandy! I know I’ll be putting a lot of these techniques to good use often! 🙂 TFStopping by and taking the time to leave a sweet comment! I love playing along with Penny Black and More! Big hugs, Kristina
Beautifully done! I can see that you have put your class training to good use! Thanks for sharing with us at 613 Avenue Create!
Hugz,
Chana, Owner