For the first session of the new year, we are using a requested theme: ‘sunbeams’. I took a little while to work out what I’d like to do, then did a bit of browsing for inspiration and came up with this layout:

Making notes

Colouring: tones, contrasts and media

I selected my blue Renesans watercolour paint to lay down a blue wash, dabbing with a paper towel for a background cloud effect. Once the sunbeam panel was in place, I added another layer of paint around the edges to add contrast. A very dilute wash of the same colour worked well on the clouds in the panel.

The sunbeams were coloured using a blend of yellows, oranges, and reds, with small touches of chartreuse, magenta, and purple for added contrast. I worked with Winsor & Newton Aquamarkers on watercolour card, blending the ink using a clean water brush.

For the text, I used the same colours on the background card. Using scored lines (see below), I was able to place the colours precisely – multicoloured on the top three lines of text and the yellows for the ‘sun beams’ line. The original quote separated the ‘sun’ and ‘beams’ rather than using the more common compound word, so that’s what got cut out. I’ll triple check next time…

Illustration & text designs

Both illustration and text were created digitally in Adobe Illustrator. I experimented with several techniques to make the outlines and tabs needed to prevent the pieces from falling out during laser cutting. My initial attempt (as pictured) turned out to have too many and too tough tabs. It was difficult to break apart the pieces to stick down to the page. My next iteration had wider ‘spokes’, fewer pieces and thinner tabs and worked much better (and took less time to glue in).

For the text, there are two panels: a base panel with a scored offset outline of the text (for colouring in) and then a top panel with the text cut out using a stencil font. Once the base is coloured and dry, the top can be stuck to it for a crisp finish.

Cutting out the designs

I used my new xTool F2 Ultra UV laser to cut the watercolour paper. The UV laser doesn’t cut by burning so much as wobbling the molecular structure of the paper apart (so-called cold lasering). This meant I could cut the 300gsm paper with very little char on the edges and with much greater detail than my other laser options.

Embellishment experiments and learning points

I attempted to use UV resin to add a glossy emboss to the coloured letters, by filling in the cutout areas. Unfortunately, before I hardened off the resin, it started soaking into the surrounding paper, turning it grey and ruining the contrast and crisp white overlay. I got around this by adding a second cutout layer over the top. I’m not sure what I could do to prevent this, but perhaps using a matte multimedium to seal the paper may work. I thought about using a waterbased dimensional gloss medium, but I reckon it would rewet and move the watercolour paint around (which I didn’t want to happen).

Next month

My art journaling sessions run at The Studio on the first Monday evening of each month, starting at 7:30pm. Spaces are limited, so let me know if you’d like to attend and I’ll get you booked in. You don’t need to be artistic, or even have a journal – one can be purchased on the night for just £2. The session remains at just £5 to attend, and all the materials are included. The theme is ‘strips and stripes’, postponed from October, and will feature distress inks, distress oxides, a dress, floorboards and a bit of rubber stamping too.