Artwork: Zebra PM-701 & Brea Reese Watercolor Creams on Hahnemühle Cold-Press Expression watercolor paper
On Sunday, I shared a painting I did using Brea Reese watercolor Inks that I won a while back. Actually the prize package I won had several items – the watercolor inks, metallic pens, a waterbrush, and the watercolor creams that I used to color today’s artwork.
Watercolor creams? I wasn’t sure what they were either.
You may be familiar with Faber-Castell’s Gelatos or Ranger’s Distress Ink Crayons. These are similar.
They are sort of a cross between a watercolor and an oil pastel. A waxy stick that you apply to paper like a crayon, leaving a thick layer of color.
Then you use water and brush to spread the color or you can just mash it into the paper with your fingers.
It’s honestly not my favorite method of coloring. Nothing against the medium itself – we just don’t speak the same language. Still it’s fun to try something different once in a while. I’m wondering if these would be good for sgrafitto.
Life Imitates Doodles 
They look creamy. I wonder how it would work using a brush to get colour from the sticks, and then painting with it, rather than putting the cream on the paper first. (or did I misunderstand?) I tried that with w/c crayons, and it worked quite well. I like your desert highway.
You can pick up color from the sticks rather than applying it directly to the paper. You get more of a tinted color and have to work harder to get intensity. You can also apply the color to a piece of plastic film or plate, and run the brush through it.
This one is awfully pretty, Sandra. I like it very much.
Thank you, Jeanie! It’s interesting working with the watercolor creams. I don’t think I’ll do it often, but it makes for a fun change.