Hello, creative souls! Welcome to my creative space in Lindy’s!
It’s Priss BlaFu (@artful.layers), and I’m absolutely thrilled to share my passion for autumn with you! Today, I’m super excited to showcase this gorgeous mixed-media pumpkin with a certain watercolor style, and the best part is, it’s incredibly easy to paint!
I have several Art Journal books; each one has a different format and style. At first, these journals were chaotic and random, but now I like that the entire book has some kind of connection, whether with the style, colors, or elements I’m using. This watercolor album has come into my hands, and I intend with this new Art Journal to focus on a simpler exploration of Mixed Media, using watercolor techniques as a base. My goal is to create pieces combining drawing and painting with mixed media techniques while maintaining a cleaner and flatter style, without gathering so many layers or overlapping elements as is usually my style. So come with me to explore my first page.
Supplies you’ll need:
- Watercolor paper as support (I took a page from my watercolor book)
- Rice paper or book pages
- Background stamps and permanent ink
- A pumpkin design (you can download mine here)
- Your favorite Lindy’s Magicals in orange, green, and brown tones (at the end of the post you have the links to the ones I used)
- A paste with texture or chunky Embossing Powder
- Colored or watercolor pencils
Now, I will share some interesting details about the creation process, step by step. Be sure to check out the video on our YouTube channel to see everything in action. You’ll love it!
Step 1: Creating the Base Layer
Start by gluing pieces of rice paper with autumn designs or old book pages (both in my case) to your page. Leave some free space in the top right corner, as this is a crucial element in your composition. This area will serve as a visual break for the viewer’s eye, allowing it to rest and absorb the visual elements without feeling overwhelmed. By intentionally creating this negative space, you not only enhance the overall aesthetic but also draw attention to the details of your artwork.
Also, I stamped some of my favorite background stamps with brown permanent ink here and there to add more visual interest to the drawing area, as they contain small textual elements.
To unify the background and protect the paper, cover everything with a thin layer of white gesso diluted with water. This allows the paper texture and print to show through while giving you a primed surface to work on.
Step 2: Sketch or Transfer the Pumpkin
Now is the time for the star of the show: the pumpkin!
Here are a few options for transferring the pumpkin design to the prepared surface. If you enjoy drawing, you can sketch a simple pumpkin in the desired size in the lower left area. However, if you prefer not to draw, you can transfer my pumpkin drawing by using tracing paper underneath or by carefully tracing each line after scratching the entire back of the drawing with graphite.
Step 3: Adding Texture to the Pumpkin
To create bumps and texture on your pumpkin, spread some texture paste. Go for a paste with tiny beads. It’s like the pumpkin has a bad case of acne, but it makes your pumpkin look so cool!
Remember, this is the time to get wild and whimsical with different texture mediums; after all, your pumpkin deserves to stand out like a rock star at a talent show!
Step 4: Bring in Lindy’s Colors
It’s time to add all the magic possible with our most autumnal Lindy’s Magicals! Paint the pumpkin in intense orange tones and use greens and browns for the stem. Make sure to leave that negative space mostly intact. Don’t forget to have fun with lots of splashes to give it that fun and artistic touch!
I used Hag’s Wart Orange from the Haunted Halloween set for the pumpkin. For the stem, I used Ponderosa Pines Olive and Cattail Copper Brown from the Autumn Leaves set.
To enhance the colors, I applied a second coat of Red Hot Poker Orange from the Autumn Leaves set near the folds and on top of the pumpkin.
Step 5: Add Depth with Colored Pencils and Gelatos
Bring some joy to that pumpkin by adding some shadows and highlights with colored pencils and Gelatos! You don’t need to be a pro to make it pop. Just layer those materials, and you’ll create some awesome contrast that really makes your piece stand out.
Try using darker shades in the folds of the pumpkin to shape it better, and hit the lighter spots where the light hits naturally, like on the raised curves. Mixing in some subtle color variations will give your artwork a warmer vibe, perfect for that cozy autumn feel!
Step 6: Highlight with a White Marker and Final Touches
To make our pumpkin a little more whimsical, use a white acrylic marker to lightly highlight the bumps. Don’t worry, in the end, they won’t look completely white since they will mix with the Lindy’s, but this will make them stand out more.
Add splashes with white acrylic to give the page a special touch and add some dotted lines near the edges. Personally, I enjoy these details whether they are white, black, or colored, but both are part of my style and are completely optional.
Remember, we have an absolutely incredible Color Challenge this month featuring one of the sets I used for my page. If you’re eager for a burst of inspiration check it out, and don’t forget to share your awesome projects with us in our Facebook group.
Until next, happy creating time!
Hugs, Priss
Lindy’s Products
- Shimmer Magicals Sets: Haunted Halloween, Autumn Leaves