Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Yupo Fish


We played with Yupo again in Pat's class today. I was really excited, because I've been watching Mark Mahaffey's video on doing watercolor on Yupo. I've even ordered some Yupo paper, so that I can make the amazing abstracts "just like his"! Oh yeah, in my dreams!! Anyway, it was fun to make the background all swirly like his, but then I couldn't come up with what to do next! So, I decided that it needed fish. But, it was great fun, and I'm still looking forward to my Yupo papers to get here.
Now, I have a question for you -- I've been making lots of bookmarks (see last post), and I've been spraying them with fixatives (I've tried 2 different ones) - and even 3 days later, they still smell like the spray! Does anyone know of a good fixative for watercolor paper that won't continue to smell? I used this stuff on my acrylic canvases, and no smell. I'm hoping that the smell will go away before the art shows! Help!

6 comments:

Melanie Statnick said...

this is fantastic..I have been looking to try things new and exciting things this year.

Ginny Stiles said...

You need to spray them with an acrylic fixative.
There are many brands but one of my favorite is Krylon Kamar Varnish. (non yellowing finish for oil, acrylic and watercolor. You can find them in many hardware stores or craft stores or at Cheap Joe's.

Check out my blog as I am working in Yupo too. Well, I am teaching a class on Monday and so am getting ready. I love yupo but have not heard of Mike Mahaffey at all. Do take a look at George James...I put a link to him on my blog. http://ginnystiles.blogspot.com

Autumn Leaves said...

I like this one, Nancy. There is a sense of being underwater, seaweeds, bubbles (or is that a little school of plankton?)...No ideas on the fixatives. I don't use them on watercolors. When I do use the fixatives, they do usually take a couple of days for the smell to die away, but then I always layer so much of it on a piece when I'm using it.

Joyfulartist said...

I use low odor clear matte by Krylon. Seems to work for me. I bought it a long time ago, I assume it's still being made.

Michael Wurm Jr said...

cute painting...

but i have no advise on the spray. :( sorry.

hmuxo said...

Unfortunately, I work strictly with pastels, so I can't help you there..BUT, I can tell you that I really love this piece. Its so unique with the colors all in swirls..just beautifully done.! adding the fish made it even better.