Just a Scrap Dork

Growing in Unity Day 2:

Welcome Unity peeps!  Did we survive Monday with a limp or a gallop?  Did any of you need a little Unity Retail therapy to get you through the day?! If so, I'd love to hear what you bought!

Today's comparison centers around supplies you use more for mix media techniques than card for coloring!  Chalk Pastels, Oil Pastels, and Gelatos.

Unity Stamp:
Beginnings & Growth 

Paper: 
Kraft cardstock-  I wanted to use a type of paper that had a bit of a "tooth" to it.  To make sure this creamy style pigment would grab onto the paper.

Color Mediums-

• Chalk Pastel- Chalk is an easy way to add pigment onto colored cardstalk.  It blends colors together smoothly.   The softness in appearance is similar to the watercolor looks we went after yesterday, but the opacity makes the coloring stand out on the darker background.  Chalk is easy to apply.  I just used a q-tip.  Sure you could use your finger, but if you color with orange you may mistake the residue on your finger for Cheeto dust.  And trust me, been there.. done that.... Does NOT taste like Cheeto dust!  Let me say also, mistakes are very easy to rub away with a simple eraser.  The downside to using chalk is that you can only add so many layers of pigment before the paper looses its grip and it will no longer add any more color. Mixing colors to create new hues is not possible, unless you crush the pigments together and blend by regrinding the chalk. You can layer colors one on top of the other, but you cant recreate new colors and apply.  (I would love to name new colors for finger nail polish wouldn't you?  What color do you think "Day Old Hangover" would be?)
  
  
• Oil Pastel- This is also fun medium to color images with. Similar to the Chalk, but the pigment is much richer. Standard Oil Pastels do not react with water.  Adding pigments to smaller spaces is a bit of a challenge, but is possible with a small brush or a fine tipped applicator. You can create smooth textures and shadows by just blending colors together.  The downside to using Oil pastel crayons is the colors can smear out of place if you are not careful.  Oil is non reactive with water, so any texture you achieve is based on how much pigment you initially apply.  A simple gentle swipe of the pastel will give you a dry brush effect.  Whereas adding a heavy layer will give the color a solid appearance. The biggest negative quality to the oil pastel, is permanency.  Once you lay down pigment, it's there. No erasing mistakes. And girls, let me say. I make enough mistakes that will live on FOR- EVER.  I need to eliminate all the little ones I can!
  
  
• Gelatos /watercolor crayons /or water reactive oil pastels - Most watercolor crayons are water reactive, says so right in their name.  However, for this demonstration, I only used the pigment dry.  I smudged the color on selectively, and filled the image in using a Q-tip. Similar to the oil based pastels, the application can be a bit tricky in small spaces, but the pigment is easy to move around.  If you use Gelatos and add water, the luminosity onto straight kraft cardstock does diminish considerably, that is why I like this technique in its dry form. One plus to this medium is you can erase mistakes by diluting with water.  (*Pay attention, some brands are more glittery, while you can "erase the pigment' the glitter remains.)  In a dry application, backgrounds are more challenging.  I'm sure it's user error for me.  But, I found the dry use of the pigment to be splotchy.  

Final results- Can you tell which medium I used on which card?  

Top- Chalk pastel

Middle- Gelatos

Bottom- Oil pastel.

Do you think this was a fair assessment?    What is your experience with these supplies?  I'd love to hear your thoughts.  Unless you disagree with me, and then, you know..go lick some chalk pastels, and keep your opinions to yourself!  LOL.

Don't forget to comment to be entered into the drawing on Saturday for a Unity prize! 2 people will be selected to received some yummy Unity goodness!  

See you tomorrow!
-A