I thought I saw the black part of this done first. How do you work the background around the black parts? In every media I know, you'd paint the colored background and then put the black over the top.
BMc- yup, and then I went through the list and picked out ones that would fit the pieces of ivory I had in stock.
Sarah- well, I really did use a watercolor technique on this. There are lots of ways to accomplish it. One would be to actually build each color up as a separate "layer" like in colored pencil, sealing between each color. That's how I did the sea turtle background. I did this piece specifically so I could try out a watercolory thing on it... the background is a mass of dots, and then I just brushed the ink on, all colors at once. I had to go over it a few times with the graver to get enough dots in there (so that it would hold enough ink!)
Jan- the difference is that this is engraved and not painted. The ink will only stick if there's somewhere for it to go... a dot or a line, below the surface of the ivory. So first I made a zillion dots for the black area, and the black ink embedded into those tiny holes. Then I made a zillion dots for the background, and inked all those little holes. I went from dark to light because I didn't want black getting into the colored ink. Even though I seal it between "layers" black ink will definitely go where you don't want it. The colored inks are translucent, so even if they did "stick" to the black areas you really wouldn't see it.
When do you hit the road? Will you be blogging while on the road of your adventures or waiting till you get back? What's your table number? See you in Atlanta.
Steve, the only question I can answer with certainty right now is that I will be at table ES-4, that's in the engraving section. I look forward to meeting you!
Wow that is so beautiful! Is this the thing where you asked people about their favorite animals? -BMc.
ReplyDeleteWow, the sky looks like a watercolor painting! How do you do swaths of color like that in scrimshaw? Beautiful piece.
ReplyDeleteI thought I saw the black part of this done first. How do you work the background around the black parts? In every media I know, you'd paint the colored background and then put the black over the top.
ReplyDeleteBMc- yup, and then I went through the list and picked out ones that would fit the pieces of ivory I had in stock.
ReplyDeleteSarah- well, I really did use a watercolor technique on this. There are lots of ways to accomplish it. One would be to actually build each color up as a separate "layer" like in colored pencil, sealing between each color. That's how I did the sea turtle background. I did this piece specifically so I could try out a watercolory thing on it... the background is a mass of dots, and then I just brushed the ink on, all colors at once. I had to go over it a few times with the graver to get enough dots in there (so that it would hold enough ink!)
Jan- the difference is that this is engraved and not painted. The ink will only stick if there's somewhere for it to go... a dot or a line, below the surface of the ivory. So first I made a zillion dots for the black area, and the black ink embedded into those tiny holes. Then I made a zillion dots for the background, and inked all those little holes. I went from dark to light because I didn't want black getting into the colored ink. Even though I seal it between "layers" black ink will definitely go where you don't want it. The colored inks are translucent, so even if they did "stick" to the black areas you really wouldn't see it.
Clear as mud?
When do you hit the road? Will you be blogging while on the road of your adventures or waiting till you get back? What's your table number? See you in Atlanta.
ReplyDeleteSteve Seib
Steve, the only question I can answer with certainty right now is that I will be at table ES-4, that's in the engraving section. I look forward to meeting you!
ReplyDelete