Watercolor Leather

[KatieG]

Messed up flap for a hip purse so I decided to use it for color test.

I really love playing with washes and gradients in color... and this tutorial ( [link] ) on DeviantArt really inspired me.

Rose by Al Stohlman, flair in carving by me... I'm not traditional, I'm not realistic.. so I'm trying to combine my style... with existing designs, until I get used to how more realistic things work.

Rose: several wash layers of red and water. Towards the end I mixed in some purple.

Stem and Leaves: several washes of various mixes of green, yellow, and light brown. I don't know the ratio, I go by looks. I went in variants of layers to get depth.

I used white as a highlight, like light or dew... I love how this works, and can't wait to run amuck with it some more!!! <3

Left to go: Spray seal of leather sheen then an antique with Sheridan Brown

Work time: about 2.25hours. ^,^.v

Hope you like it!! <3

[MADMAX22]

Thats really good and I would not have thought to use water colors on leather. I guess you gotta remember its just a medium to use.

Nicely done.

I do wonder how well the water colors will stand up for something that is used. I know alot of them are water proof once dried and they should soak into the leather pretty good. Hmmm

[KatieG]

Actually my method has been to use Leather Sheen to seal to seal the color, then I can color over it with a perfect resist. ^_~.

[maddhatter]

great coloring, i like how looks, nice job

maddhatter

[KatieG]

Thank you very much.

[whinewine]

I have questions, assuming you are talking about artists watercolors...:

1) How will this hold up as far as fading in light? (Most artwork, water color included, is recommended to be kept out of direct sunlight or away from strong lights- leather, however, is routinely exposed to strong light, especially purses & cycle seats.)

2) How will watercolors react to the leather:

[a] in the short term, and, more importantly,

over the long term ? (Remember, leather is more acidic than most papers, and artwork watercolor paper is archival {pH neutral??})

The reason I pose these questions is that, in my experimentation with various paints, dyes & coloring agents not specifically developed for leather, I have found several substances that, over time, (actually in a relatively short time) reacted with the leather & discolored to the point of unuseability.

You don't want to color something & then months later, find, to your dismay, that the item is ruined because the coloring agent had a bad and irreversible reaction/interaction with the leather's tannins. (Ask me how I know.) Just something to think about.

russ

Edited May 27, 2009 by whinewine

[KatieG]

Well, for the watercolors, I'm actually just washing out the EcoFlo paints from Tandy, since they are already water-based. I have items that I've used them on that are over a year old and are still holding true. Im still coloring with them as if they were watercolors, and using the techniques used in watercolor paintings. (I think I was just redundant there, I'm sorry.)

And, of course, sealing helps.

Probably should have mentioned to start which paints I was using, but since people seem to prefer to pooh-pooh Tandy's stuff, I kept quiet about it. I'd rather be judged on my work and not my supplies.