In a recent post I was showing a technique I really enjoy, it allows you to make regular drawing paper water-resistant and behave a bit like yupo paper. That paper can be used as a yupo paper alternative.
This technique has many advantages, first of all yupo paper is not easily available everywhere, and can be a bit costly, secondly painting over your paper with gel medium makes it more resistant and allows you to correct mistakes way more easily when painting with watercolors.
Here is how you can make your own yupo paper alternative:
Start by making a drawing on your drawing paper. When I was drawing a figure in the last demonstration, I was focusing more on the areas of light and shade.Here the drawing is very complex with lots of details so I am mostly making a contour drawing.
Keep working on your drawing until you are satisfied with the result.
You can draw from life or from a picture, here I brought the flowers to the studio.
When your drawing is done, apply a generous amount of liquid gel medium on your paper
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Gel mediums are ideal for extending a heavy body paint, to create impasto, relief, or sculptural effects. – Gel Medium, Gloss
And spread it with a soft brush. Some brush marks might be visible when the medium has dried, it makes a nice effect as the watercolor will accumulate in those ridges.
Let dry and prepare your watercolor palette.
When the gel had time to dry completely, you can start painting with watercolors. You will see that the paint behave a bit like it does on yupo paper.
Mixing colors wet into wet will give interesting results.
I am a Blick Art Materials affiliate and I receive a small compensation for sales. That does not effect in any way the cost of the purchaser’s order but it helps me keeping the content of this blog free.
Same palette of traditional colors the great masters used a century ago. Liquid-poured means semi-moist pans respond instantly to a wet brush. 24 pans in plastic case. Also individual pans. – Master Set
If you make a mistake, just lift off the paint with a tissue paper.
Everyone has its own style but I recommend you don’t try to be too exact or too perfect, this technique works well when the style is a bit loose.
You can add splatters by shaking your brush over the painting.
If you need to add details, you can wait for the paint to dry.
Originally from France, I have been living in North Vancouver, Canada for the past 20 years.
My work has been collected and exhibited extensively in Canada and internationally. I am also part of the Art Rentals and sales program of the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Many of my paintings have been published in Art books and magazines (Artist Magazine, Watercolor Artist Magazine, Acrylic Magazine, International Artist Magazine). I wrote 2 art instruction books with North Light/F+W Books.
I have been writing for the last 5 years for my blog: paintingdemos.com, that has a mailing list of about 10 000 subscribers and about 20 000 visitors per month.
I am an active member in the community, as a co-founder of the North Shore Art crawl, a co-founder of a weekly life drawing group, a board member of the North Vancouver Arts Council, and have been invited as a juror for public art, art grants and juried exhibitions. You can read more about my collaborations here.
Thanks Chrystine, yes both matte or gloss medium will work but you will get a somewhat more slippery surface with the gloss medium.
Clau
Interesant! Ma preocupă pictura cu cerneala pe baza de alcool.
1. As vrea sa știu dacă peste pânza pe șasiu as putea folosi pouring medium în loc de gesso.
2. M-ar interesa si un varnish pt izolarea lucrării cu cerneala.
I have never tried this but it looks interesting especially as a technique to loosen up. Thanks for the excellent demonstration. You are right that yupo is not easy to find! This looks like a good substitute.
what is the brand of liquid gel medium u r using? i find soft gel, heavy gel, extra heavy gel, pumice gel, clear tar gel…all in jars…but no liquid gel in a bottle as shown here. i have been to both golden and liquitex websites and do not find liquid gel medium listed.
What fixative do u use for watercolor on yupo? I’ve been hesitant to try it but am interested in mounting to board rather than framing. Do u always use fixative on yupo even when framing under glass?
What wt drawing paper r u using for this? I’ve used gesso on lighter wt paper and it got wavy.
I like to use Krylon workable fixative on my work: https://store.opusartsupplies.com/sagro/storefront/store.php?mode=showproductdetail&product=14172
Just to be sake I like to spray a layer of fixative even if the work is displayed under frame.
I am using a mixed media drawing paper, it can sometimes become wavy but I either use a press system or iron the back of the drawing at a very low setting.
The press system is basically just 2 sheets of pexiglass and a weight (big rock).
I am glad you like the tutorials 🙂
Adrian
What a good idea! I can see how using very thin acrylic paints would be fun to try also. A great way to use up some of my drawing paper stash, too! Thanks again for sharing your ideas and exploration. I always look forward to your posts.
Comments (17)
Chrystine
Does it have to be gloss medium or could it be matte medium too?
Thanks so much for sharing this.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Chrystine, yes both matte or gloss medium will work but you will get a somewhat more slippery surface with the gloss medium.
Clau
Interesant! Ma preocupă pictura cu cerneala pe baza de alcool.
1. As vrea sa știu dacă peste pânza pe șasiu as putea folosi pouring medium în loc de gesso.
2. M-ar interesa si un varnish pt izolarea lucrării cu cerneala.
How to paint on Terraskin stone paper with acrylics and alcohol based inks
[…] You might also like: An alternative to yupo paper: Painting a still life […]
Francine Potters
Thank you, I am going to try this technique with the gel medium. Love your work.
arebelred95063400
Thank you for all your demos. Enjoy them very much an often watch more then once. Your work is very interesting n inspiring.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thank you so much! I am glad you are enjoying the demos!
Louise
I have never tried this but it looks interesting especially as a technique to loosen up. Thanks for the excellent demonstration. You are right that yupo is not easy to find! This looks like a good substitute.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Louise 🙂
bonnie nelms
what is the brand of liquid gel medium u r using? i find soft gel, heavy gel, extra heavy gel, pumice gel, clear tar gel…all in jars…but no liquid gel in a bottle as shown here. i have been to both golden and liquitex websites and do not find liquid gel medium listed.
Sandrine Pelissier
I am using the Opus brand gel medium in that demo but any liquid gel would work, I know the brand Steveston also makes one. https://store.opusartsupplies.com/sagro/storefront/store.php?mode=showproductdetail&product=52711
Bonnie
What fixative do u use for watercolor on yupo? I’ve been hesitant to try it but am interested in mounting to board rather than framing. Do u always use fixative on yupo even when framing under glass?
What wt drawing paper r u using for this? I’ve used gesso on lighter wt paper and it got wavy.
I always enjoy your tutorials. Thanks for sharing
Sandrine Pelissier
I like to use Krylon workable fixative on my work: https://store.opusartsupplies.com/sagro/storefront/store.php?mode=showproductdetail&product=14172
Just to be sake I like to spray a layer of fixative even if the work is displayed under frame.
I am using a mixed media drawing paper, it can sometimes become wavy but I either use a press system or iron the back of the drawing at a very low setting.
The press system is basically just 2 sheets of pexiglass and a weight (big rock).
I am glad you like the tutorials 🙂
Adrian
What a good idea! I can see how using very thin acrylic paints would be fun to try also. A great way to use up some of my drawing paper stash, too! Thanks again for sharing your ideas and exploration. I always look forward to your posts.
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Adrian, yes fluid acrylics or ink would be fun too:)
Gayle Dowell
Beautiful painting and I love the technique. Do you add a fixative over the watercolor paint after it dries to protect it?
Sandrine Pelissier
Thanks Gayle. Yes I did spray a bit of fixative as I would do if it was on Yupo paper. I would frame it under glass anyways if I was to display it.