An Ai Cafe

I decided to paint a little Cafe scene for this week's Watercolour Weekend post on the Art Impressions blog.  This is the 5260 - WC Large ShopsSet:

I coloured my Shop with Tombows #969/565 and stamped it onto my Canson XL Watercolour Paper.  To set up my scene, I masked the edge of the building, and stamped the tree trunks from 5373 - WC Large Tree Set in #969, and added the foliage to it using the leafy stamp from 5372 - WC Mini Foliage in #177/126 - I like using two colours to make the leaves look more realistic.  I used a damp brush to soften the foliage, and painted in the trunks in #947 and 969, and added the same two colours to the door.  I used #526 for the building, and #993 on the roof, with a few streaks of #947 to suggest the shingles.  For the flower boxes, I used the two tiny florals in 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, with #933 and #885, then tucked in the tiny foliage from the set in #126 around the flowers - everything was touched with a damp brush.  The awning was painted a paler shade of #526, and I added stripes in the Bleed-proof white paint.  The sign also had touches of #947 streaked on it to add a rustic look.

I sketched in the patio and walkway stones, then painted them in with #N55.  The tiny grass stamp from 5372 - WC Mini Foliage was used to add grass in #126 around the building, and then the colour was used to add a green wash as the grass.  #493 was washed in as the sky.  The Espresso sign and the table and chairs from 5265 - WC Wrought Iron Set were stamped in using #N55.  The image was cut out with one of the 5063 - Stitched A2 Rectangle Dies, then mounted onto the card base with 3D foam adhesive.

Be sure to check out the Ai blog on Saturday, to see what Tricia & Diane have created.

Another Retro Shops Card

Hello Ai Watercolour fans!

A few weeks ago, I posted a softer retro-feel look using 5260 - WC Large Shops Set, and I have another one to share with you today, using the other shop image.  *The Ai Design Team is participating in the Cards for Kindness initiative put on by Scrapbook.com - scroll down to see what I'm sending in!

 I inked up the shop with my Tombow Dual Brush Marker in #879 Brown, and softened the lines with my damp #4 paintbrush - I love the smudgy/hazy feeling it gives to my scene!  I pulled out the brown colour to add a light wash to the roof, and painted in the door handle hardware with my brown.  Since I was aiming for a soft & pretty effect, I chose #772 Blush - coloured on the tiny dotted flower image from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set, which I stamped repeatedly in the window boxes.  After softening them with my paintbrush, I stamped them a second time to get some darker colour onto the flowers.  It was also painted on the door, and I added darker lines to suggest that it is painted wood.  I scribbled #991 Light Ochre onto my palette, and painted it in bold stripes on the awning, and a soft wash on the sign and door cover.  With #526 True Blue, I added pale colour to the shop, and a darker version of it to the window boxes.  Using #312 Holly Green, and the small leafy image from 5009, I stamped foliage on either side of the shop, and then painted it in to suggest the grass, keeping an unpainted area for the walkway and a circular patio.  I used the marker directly on the paper to add foliage to the window boxes.

I coloured the table and two of the chairs from 5265 - WC Wrought Iron Set in #879, and used my Stamp Positioner to place them on my little patio.  A little of #493 Reflex Blue was painted in for the sky, and #565 Deep Blue was painted into the windows and as shadows where needed.  I die cut my scene with a stitched square die, matted it with chocolate cardstock and adhered it to my polkadot card base.  I stamped the sentiment from 5136 WC Sentiment Set 2 in Versafine Onyx Black ink, then cut it out with 5064 Circle Double Stitched Dies.  After matting it with chocolate cardstock, I adhered it to the base with 3D foam adhesive.

Here are the ten cards that I am sending to Cards for Kindness - these will be given out to nursing homes, hospital patients and front line workers all who might need a lift.  Check out the Scrapbook.com website to find out how you can participate.  Scroll down to see each card:

Retro Shop for Watercolor Weekend

It's time for Watercolour Weekend with Art Impressions!  I was aiming for a bit of a 'retro' feel with today's project - using a softer, muted palette for my scene:

I stamped my Cafe image from 5260 - WC Large Shops Set in Tombow Dual Brush marker #969 Chocolate on my Canson XL watercolor paper.  I used my damp #4 paintbrush to soften the lines, and primarily pulled the colour out and away from the image, which gave a soft brownish halo to the shop - like a 'sepia-toned vintage photo' appearance.  I almost left it that way, but this is when I decided to use a very muted, pale colour palette.  I chose #076 Green Ochre (despite the name, it's a golden yellow shade) and painted a soft wash of it as the shop colour, and stamped it with the tiny dotted flower image from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set to fill my flower boxes.  A stronger shade of it was used to paint in the door.

I chose #772 Blush to paint in the sign, and add the stripes to the awning.  A very watered-down version of #526 True blue was used for the window boxes and painted in as the sky.  The flowers needed to stand out a little more, so using the finer tip of my #312 Holly Green - I added the tiny little bits of foliage directly on my paper.  I painted it in as a suggestion of the grass, and some shrubbery, then used the marker to draw in a few blades of grass.  With #992 Sand, I painted in the walkway, and added a little colour to the roof.  I picked up a very watered down version of #565 Deep Blue from my palette, and used it to paint shadows on the chimney, under the eaves, stairs and planter boxes - and also painted shadows into the windows.  I made sure to leave plenty of white space on the windows to imitate the reflections in the glass.    

Lastly, I stamped the Cafe sign using #969, then used Memento Rich Cocoa ink to stamp in the sentiment from 5136 - WC Sentiment Set 2.  The scene was diecut with the 5063 - Rectangle Double Stitched Dies, mounted on a soft kraft cardstock and added to the background I'd chosen of some muted/retro papers.  I am always drawn to strong, bright colours - so this was very out of my comfort zone!  I recommend trying something new whenever you can (it's a great way to get yourself out of a rut, and off in a new direction!).  

Be sure to check out the Art Impressions blog this Saturday, to see what Dot & Tricia have to share.

New for 2020 Art Impressions Watercolor Stamps

It's always fun when new product shows up at my door... and the new Art Impressions Watercolor release for 2020 did not disappoint!  There are four new sets making their debut on the Ai blog today (and they are available through the website, too!)  You'll be seeing lots of projects from me using the new sets in the coming weeks.  Here's what I have to share today:

 I am featuring one of the two images from 5260 - WC Large Shops Set.  I started by colouring my stamp with Tombow Dual Brush Marker #565 Deep Blue, stamped it on scrap paper, then coloured it again with #969 Chocolate before stamping it onto some Bristol Smooth Cardstock.  I loved the crisp look of the image on the smoother paper, so I didn't soften the lines, and decided not to add any kind of a background to it either.   I stuck mainly with primary colours, using #856 Chinese Red on the tiny floral image from 5009 - WC Mini Flower Set that looks like little hearts (love them!), and using my #1 Paintbrush, I softened the colours, then stamped again to add back the deeper tones.

Using my palette, I scribbled #991 Light Ochre, and picked it up with a damp brush, adding it as the main shop colour.  I used #476 Cyan for the sign and door, and painted stripes on the awning.  I added a lot of water to #969 Chocolate to make a taupe shade for the roof and window boxes.  I used #N57 Warm Grey 5 for the stone chimney.  I picked up #565, adding it to the windows, keeping some white areas as reflections, and then used it to add shadows under the eaves and canopy, and on the stairs.  I used the fine point of my #177 Dark Jade marker directly on the paper to add in the suggestion of leaves.  And that was it!  A very quick image to paint up.

I used 5061 Square Double Stitched Dies to cut out my image, mounted in on some red cardstock and adhered it onto my patterned paper base with 3D pop dots.

Head over to the Ai blog to see what Tricia & Dot have to share, and you'll see the other 3 sets that are being released *and check back next Thursday to see 4 more!