I cleaned up my studio a bit, and reclaimed some of the Yupo I painted for the challenge. I washed the sheets with warm water and just a drop of soap. As you can see, some colors stain more than others. Prussian Blue gouache being one of them.
I may not be able to reuse these for finished paintings, but I can use them to practice strokes, or for color mixing. You can see one on the right, that warped when I used the heat gun on it.
I’ll tell you a secret though, two of the heart paintings I did also warped, but they scanned as if there was no damage.
Reclaimed Yupo.
Thoughts of you. Watercolor and gouache on Yupo. 4.5 x 6. © 2014 Sheila Delgado
Heart. Mixed media on Yupo, 6 x 4.5. © 2014 Sheila Delgado
You can’t see it, can you? I just have to remember not to get in such a hurry and let things dry on their own. Now I’m ready to put brush to Yupo, again! Paint, wash, repeat!
Hi Sheila,
Having worked with Yupo previously and then again for each day of the 30 Day – 30 Paintings Challenge, I have developed a fairly good idea of what Yupo does/doesn’t – or can/can’t do. As you discovered, it is an extremely forgiving substrate and can be easily reworked.
As you mentioned, it can stain with certain pigments, however, I have found that the staining may be advantageous as the beginning of an under-painting. Oftentimes, it may push you in directions you may not otherwise have gone – which can be a good thing. It may not be something that ruins a future painting – but something that may enhance it! Just a thought… :o)
Have fun!
Connie
Thanks for that Connie. I have a feeling I will be doing more experimenting with those two colors – Prussian Blue and Sap Green – so it will likely not be an issue. And you are right, the stains could lead somewhere interesting 🙂 Might be cool shadows, or inspire new shapes 🙂
You are so thrifty Sheila! What did you do to make the paper warp? Was it translucent or white Yupo? Were you using too hot of a hair dryer? I have never had that happen. Keep experimenting and thanks for sharing your findings with us!
I use a heat gun as a dryer, and I just got too close, and held it too long in one spot. Just in a hurry, trying to post everyday 🙂 All of this is white Yupo 🙂
You are so organized! Ready to start again! I did get in the studio and set up a couple of challenges for myself.
A couple of things that might help – 1) try using a hair dryer instead of a heat gun; don’t let it get too hot or too close to the Yupo 2) try using just water to lift the paint – just putting a lot of water on the Yupo paper and smooshing it around with a soft brush to loosen the paint – keep adding water and smooshing and then use Kleenex (make sure it isn’t treated with anything) and then wipe the Yupo clean.
I know what you mean about having to wait for the paint to dry. That is one reason why I can be working on several paintings at the same time. While one is drying I can get busy on another.
Thanks for all of your great tips Jim 🙂 I think maybe the pieces that are really stained, are ones that I used alcohol on, for special effect. I know I used it on the piece that shows the outlined coral shape on it.
I do often have a few pieces going at the same time, But there were a few days I was running behind during the challenge. I usually use the heat gun to just accelerate the drying. Just a bit to get it started, and then I set aside the painting and let it finish on it’s own. Most often, I let things dry on their own. I like the heat gun because it is small, and stores easily on my desk – within reach. It is also lighter, and easier on my arthritic hands 🙂 But you do have to be careful 🙂