IsabeauxStudio

This month's watercolor class had us working on Yupo instead of watercolor paper.  Yupo is a synthetic paper made from polypropelyne.  Initially it was used by printers but this amazing sheet of plastic accepts watercolor and and water media and is pretty amazing.  The effect and technique is totally different.  I cut my teeth in oils, and this is the closest that I have been to it in a long time.

With watercolor paper, the paint seeps into the paper. When the paint dries, the color will lighten about 20%.  With Yupo,  the paint can't seep in, and lays on the surface.  The bold rich color is retained.  Working with Yupo you use your materials differently.  Instead of using a variety of brushes, you use mostly your "flats" in conjuction with small foam 3 " paint rollers, and of all things a squeegee.   Here are some examples of how it handles.

Notice the difference in the vibrancy of color, and the ability to add amazing texture.  I was in heaven.  I really like using this as I was able to get the bold rich color that  had been struggling to achieve in previous paintings.  I had been trying to utilize watercolors like oils, and well,  now I can!

These two abstract "tests" were done in about an hour in the workshop.  Enough time to test the technique and play a bit.  I really look forward to test driving Yupo a bit to really see what it can do.