watercolor look on flowers

[tluvs2create]

I am trying to get that wispy watercolor look on my flowers. I must admit, I have only tried one idea that I had once. I was not thrilled with the results, but wondering if I am on the right track or not. I made a twistie out of 3 transparent colors (red, ameythst and amber). I then made my bead as usual, made my flowers by putting down 5 dots in a circle, partially melting them in etc... then instead of just placing a pure transparent on top (as I usually do), I put a dot of my triple transparent twistie and then melted them flat. I just isn't very wispy or watercolorish looking. Maybe it is just the combo of colors? Should I try mixing transparent colors together rather than making a twistie? How about using an opaque with transparents? Or adding clear to transparents, but I'm afraid that might dilute the color too much? I just don't want to waste too much glass making twisties that I won't use. Any tips or suggestions are appreciated, in the meantime I will go and experiment some more. Thanks

[Angela Schoonen]

I'm not sure I've got it quite right - but I made a stringer by layering transparent over white and it turned out quite nice. Etching the bead made a huge difference, too.

[tluvs2create]

Thanks, Angela, I have tried that as well and that does give an interesting painterly look, but not the wispy and watercolorish look that I am going for.

[tluvs2create]

No one has any suggestions? I know I've seen the look before maybe on Kaye's beads or kybeadmaker. I don't want to steal any secret recipes and I don't sell on ebay nor do I have plans to. But, this is driving me crazy though (I think I might have even posted this same question quite a while ago on the wet canvas forum with no luck). I ljust love watercolors (I used to paint with them) and I love the soft wispy look. I tried a few more things today with no luck. I tried hand mixing various transparents (light and darks), I tried twisties with transparents, some with clear. I tried encasing transparents with clear and encasing opaques with clear and other transparents. No success just a ton of not so great(some really ugly) stringer. I was wondering if maybe I can pull the gaffer cane into stringers and apply them to the white dots (or are they too diluted when used in small amounts)? I've not used it yet but am curious to give it a try. Again any help is much appreciated.

[fyrebeadz*]

I'd like to know too, not to copy or sell any on ebay but I'd love to make a set for myself.............

[makitmama]

I'm kinda in the same boat.....I like to use a combo frit over white as the base, then petals that contrast. I have had better results with a couple of colors I got from Monique that are clear and transparent combined...one is a hot salmon color that does well over a white petal.
I have coveted Caliente glass, but all the pinks are always sold out. They, and Gail's Gaffer glass, are wispy from the get-go.
If I come up with any great results, I'll PM ya![-o<

[InsanityBeader]

Just reading these now, I came up with an idea that I might try tomorrow. I, too, really like that painterly look. An idea I am going to try is taking verto-opal white and coating it with a transparent. Not sure if it will work. I know that the opal white (vetro) can produce a veiny/whispy appearance, However, it is a lot like anice white in that it can be a real shocky pain to work with. Anyway, I wanted to share that since this discussion kind of turned on that particular light bulb. Good Luck and if I manage it, I'll try to post a pic :)

[chrissij]

Enamels kinda sorta work if you don't let them get so hot they boil...like if you take a white stringer, heat it a tad, and then dip it in blue enamel and then place your dot. I've made some cool lookin' flowers that way; I've made some completely horrific lookin' flowers that way.

[maddog1050]

I've made stringer with a light opaque core, such as periwinkle and cased with a darker opaque, such as cobalt. When I make my flowers I make a white dot, melt flat then put a dot of the stringer. Then I take a clear stringer and pull each petal into a point or a razor and crease and pull each petal. The result is mottled-- a painterly effect of the two blues. I've tried it with yellow/red and it works the same.

Not sure if this is what you are after, but give it a try. I like how it turns out.

I always start with a white dot because I think it sort of 'anchors' any colors layered on top, even opaque ones.

Hope this helps.

[jaylee78]

Are you talking about beads kind of like Gina DeStevens?

[MaureenKennedy]

I have found if mix clear transparent with opaque it will give a wispy look to the petals. I believe I read that if you sprinkle like white enamel ontop of your opaque base and then your regular opaque, the enamels will cause the petals to wisp out.

[bluhealer]

How "wispy" do you want?

Something I like is opalino white instead of opaque white, under several layers of transparent color.

Example: clear or colored trans core/thin layer white or pale pink opalino/layer of ink violet/stripes of white opalino/case with amber rose, pink, whatever...and pull into approx 2mm stringers.

Somewhere in the archives over on WC is an old tutorial I wrote that gave a "painted" look, though it may not be what you're after.

Hope that helps!
:)
Carolyn

[suzanne]

try bm

[larrybrickman]

If you get a chance take a Lisa St. Martin's class. She has a nice class where she teaches technic on her "Landscape" bead which is a type of watercolor technic. I know she's teaching it at Bead & Button.
Cheers, Larry

[Carolyn M]

Not sure, but is this the look you are looking for?

If so, its layers of opaque and transparent on top of hand mixed frit combination, on a base of white. Oh and then etched - that makes a big difference

[jessie]

try bm
What's bm?

[VickiK]

Yes, I'd also like to know what a bm is.

I posted a question, not to long ago in Tips and Techniques about working with enamels and someone was kind enough to direct me to this http://www.sgb-midatlantic.org/how-t...#Using Enamels. One article is on achieving a watercolor effect.

This may not be exactly what you're looking for, the link has some great info about working with enamels.

[InsanityBeader]

well Vicki's little ole link didn't work for me.. anyone else?

[VickiK]

Sorry Susan :???: Try this:

http://www.lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=10685

It's the link to the thread. The link to the page about enamels is in a post made by JanMD. Sorry about that.

[jessie]

http://www.wetcanvas.com/Articles2/10208/209/
Here's a link to the article on Wet Canvas that Carolyn (bluhealer) wrote. I may just have to pull out my enamels and respirator tomorrow.

[Dasi]

Is this the watercolor look you want???????

13116

I think enamels give you a watercolor look.......

[Steph'sBeadCorner]

http://www.cankeep.glasser.com/flowers.html

Lezlie has some beautiful watercolor designs... but I don't know how she does it... look for "watercolor" in the description..but I know you'll recognize them when you see them.

[Firelilly]

Kybeadmaker, whom I have never spoken with at all, so I hope she doesn't mind that I'm dropping her name here and that I lust after her beads...makes some of the most gorgeous beads that remind me of an impressionist painting or water colors. Maybe if you speak with her she can give you some tips. Can't hurt to try!

Use the advanced search and look for her posts...hit the show and tell links...your jaw is gonna drop. And shhhh...maybe if we're really quiet she won't know that we're stalking her. :-$ :cool: :-\" :lol:

Lil

[hummingbird3172]

I love her (KYbeadmaker's) beads too...they really do look watercolored. Her beads always have this incredible glow.

Heather and Carolyn, those are gorgeous!

I have been playing with enamels too...and I think that is the key to getting kind of a Monet look.

[PaulaD]

Lisa showed her technique at the Gathering last year and she makes gorgeous beads with it! She is teaching here in March and I am sure would be happy to show that technique!! Lisa doesn't post much onthe forum but she has been around along time, does great work, and has a lot of technical knowledge. Paula

[dragonfly designs 56]

So We Are In Agreement, You Have To Use Enamels To Get The Watercolor Effect?

[lmorganc]

Hi All!

Any new info or ideas for these watercolor effects?

Thx!

Leda:love:

[jw2]

Hi!

Something I have done that gives a "watercolor effect" is to use a transparent rod, melt a gather, dip into a frit blend that is a mix of transparents and pull into a stringer. Once you get the frit melted onto your ball of trans. don't moosh it together, just pull a stringer from it. Make your petals with an opaque, melt down, then dot with the stringer,melt in, put a dot of trans on top of that. Not sure if that is the effect you are talking about!!

Kristy :grin:

[PattyK]

Teresa Laliberte (LavenderCreek) wrote a really nice illustrated tutorial for watercolor florals a while back - you can find the link here:
http://lampworketc.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56643

[lmorganc]

Hi Kristy! That sounds like a great idea! I will try that tomorrow! I have been trying to figure out how to achieve this effect for about a year now! Thank you so much; I'll let you know how it turns out! Do you have any pics of beads that were made with your technique? If so, it would be awesome to see! Thx again!

Leda

[Bluejeangirlnc]

Something like this maybe? http://krissybeads.com/pages/watercolorfloraltutorial.php

[2kids&atorch]

Lydia Muell is exceptional at making glass look like watercolors! She made a tutorial about it. I don't have a link but it is posted here in the tutorial section.

[dragonfly designs 56]

Is this the type of watercolor you mean? Here is Anne rickets tutorial of a chintz bead. To me, it looks like watercolors
http://www.amrglassworks.net/Chintzpage.html

also this http://www.lavendercreek.de/Tutorial-watercolorflorals.html

[lmorganc]

Hi Kelly! The look is similar to Anne's chintz beads, but I'm envisioning a more defined petal shape with a strong color, but at the same time, a thin and subtle gradient of color in the petals. I had also thought about Anne's beads; they are close! Thanks so much! I have also looked at Lydia M.'s, the Krissy Beads tut and Lavender Creek's tut. They are close, but not exactly what I am trying for. It just seems like I can't achieve the strength or intensity I want on the flower petals. Any more ideas from anyone I would greatly appreciate your help and ideas!

Thanks!

Leda :0)

[lmorganc]

Yes, I have seen that article as well, it is very good. It is still not exactly the look I am going for...still wondering!

Leda:smile:

[glassactcc]

You can use frit blends. Take a clear rod, and dip it several times in the frit blend and pull out a thick stringer. Apply to an opaque base. I use Glass Diversions frit blends. I learned this from Fran Carrico when I was teaching in Indiana. Yep, I was teaching and I learned a new trick too, and it works.

[lmorganc]

Thanks for the idea! I will try it tomorrow, hopefully!

:0)

Leda

[lmorganc]

I'm not sure I've got it quite right - but I made a stringer by layering transparent over white and it turned out quite nice. Etching the bead made a huge difference, too.
Angela, do you have a picture of what you are describing? Thanks!

Leda

[lmorganc]

Hi Glassacctt, do you have a picture of a bead you made with the technique you are describing? That would be great..thanks!

Leda

[lmorganc]

I'm not sure I've got it quite right - but I made a stringer by layering transparent over white and it turned out quite nice. Etching the bead made a huge difference, too.
Angela, do you have a picture you can show us? thx!

Leda

[lmorganc]

I'm kinda in the same boat.....I like to use a combo frit over white as the base, then petals that contrast. I have had better results with a couple of colors I got from Monique that are clear and transparent combined...one is a hot salmon color that does well over a white petal.
I have coveted Caliente glass, but all the pinks are always sold out. They, and Gail's Gaffer glass, are wispy from the get-go.
If I come up with any great results, I'll PM ya![-o<
Makitmama,

Do you have any pics of the results you have come up with when using your ideas that you are describing? Thanks!

Leda

[lmorganc]

Just reading these now, I came up with an idea that I might try tomorrow. I, too, really like that painterly look. An idea I am going to try is taking verto-opal white and coating it with a transparent. Not sure if it will work. I know that the opal white (vetro) can produce a veiny/whispy appearance, However, it is a lot like anice white in that it can be a real shocky pain to work with. Anyway, I wanted to share that since this discussion kind of turned on that particular light bulb. Good Luck and if I manage it, I'll try to post a pic :)
Susan, did you have any luck when you tried your idea? Can you show us a picture?

Thx!

Leda

[lmorganc]

Enamels kinda sorta work if you don't let them get so hot they boil...like if you take a white stringer, heat it a tad, and then dip it in blue enamel and then place your dot. I've made some cool lookin' flowers that way; I've made some completely horrific lookin' flowers that way.
Chrissij,
Did you have any pics to show us? Thx!

Leda

[lmorganc]

I've made stringer with a light opaque core, such as periwinkle and cased with a darker opaque, such as cobalt. When I make my flowers I make a white dot, melt flat then put a dot of the stringer. Then I take a clear stringer and pull each petal into a point or a razor and crease and pull each petal. The result is mottled-- a painterly effect of the two blues. I've tried it with yellow/red and it works the same.

Not sure if this is what you are after, but give it a try. I like how it turns out.

I always start with a white dot because I think it sort of 'anchors' any colors layered on top, even opaque ones.

Hope this helps.
Hi Maddog,

Can you show us a picture? thanks!

Leda

[lmorganc]

I have found if mix clear transparent with opaque it will give a wispy look to the petals. I believe I read that if you sprinkle like white enamel ontop of your opaque base and then your regular opaque, the enamels will cause the petals to wisp out.
Hi Maureen,

Do you have a pic you could show us? thx!

Leda

[lmorganc]

How "wispy" do you want?

Something I like is opalino white instead of opaque white, under several layers of transparent color.

Example: clear or colored trans core/thin layer white or pale pink opalino/layer of ink violet/stripes of white opalino/case with amber rose, pink, whatever...and pull into approx 2mm stringers.

Somewhere in the archives over on WC is an old tutorial I wrote that gave a "painted" look, though it may not be what you're after.

Hope that helps!
:)
Carolyn
Hi Bluhealer, Do you have any pics you could show us?

Thx!

Leda

[lmorganc]

Not sure, but is this the look you are looking for?

If so, its layers of opaque and transparent on top of hand mixed frit combination, on a base of white. Oh and then etched - that makes a big difference
Hi Carolyn M.
Do you have a pic you could show us? Thanks!

Leda

[lmorganc]

Hi!

Something I have done that gives a "watercolor effect" is to use a transparent rod, melt a gather, dip into a frit blend that is a mix of transparents and pull into a stringer. Once you get the frit melted onto your ball of trans. don't moosh it together, just pull a stringer from it. Make your petals with an opaque, melt down, then dot with the stringer,melt in, put a dot of trans on top of that. Not sure if that is the effect you are talking about!!

Kristy :grin:
Hi Kristy! Do you have any pics you could post for us of the beads that you made with your technique idea?

Thanks so much!

Leda