Jump to content
Sign in to follow this  
KatieG

Watercolor Leather

Recommended Posts

Leather_83___hip_purse_2_by_SchuldigTheRed.jpg

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

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

post-8671-1243393812_thumb.jpg

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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. ^_~.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

great coloring, i like how looks, nice job

maddhatter

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you very much. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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

1) :dunno: 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:

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

:dunno: 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 by whinewine

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

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.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

just curious if you have any feed back on how the water colors have held up over time?

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Sign in to follow this  

×
×
  • Create New...