Week 19 - Trying out Yupo Paper. Brenda bought me two sizes of Yupo paper pads for my birthday and I finally got around to trying it out this week. I had used a sheet of it earlier with Winsor and Newton Pigment Markers and I liked the results with that.

I didn't get to experiment with Yupo much during the week but spent all day in my studio with it on Saturday. The surface of the paper is a matte surface with a dull sheen, not slippery or shiny like you would think a plastic synthetic paper would be. The surface is waterproof, so waterbased mediums do not absorb into the paper, but instead the water evaporates and leaves just the pigment.

I tried Yupo with my Winsor and Newton artist quality watercolors, non-waterproof Higgins black ink, and Marabu Mixed Media art spray. Since the mediums don't absorb into the paper, they can be wiped away before or after drying to create interesting effects. I played around with the different mediums, creating several abstract pieces. I also tried a floral painting of plants in a pot. It was very therapeutic and relaxing to spend hours in my studio experimenting. I'm not entirely sure I like any of the pieces that I created, but there is room for more experimentation.

Next up in Create-A-Thon 2017, a year long creative exploration - drawing with Bamboo pen, stick and ink, and loose ink wash with pen detail.

Week 11 - Winsor and Newton Pigment markers on Yupo paper. I have to admit I was not very inspired to work on this project this week. I was on vacation, but felt very unmotivated due to the snowy, cold, icy weather. When I scheduled this time off a few weeks ago, I anticipated having springlike weather as we've had in February, with plans of going outdoors for a few sketching trips and photo making. I instead indulged in some much needed down time including numerous naps, reading and watching YouTube and Craftsy videos under the cozy warm blanket on the couch surrounded by cats. Tomorrow I feel I will be able to jump back into my daily commute, full workdays, and evening creative sessions with renewed energy until my next vacation with Brenda coming up in May.

I managed to spend one afternoon working on a pigment marker drawing using a photo I shot last summer as reference. The photo was made at Codorus State Park using an OM10 camera with expired Portra 160NC film. The drawing was made on Yupo paper and that worked okay, but perhaps I'll use the Winsor and Newton Pigment Marker paper that I have at some other time when I feel like working with the markers again.

Next up in Create-A-Thon 2017 - painting with coffee and tea.