Did you know:
- Art Squares are the perfect canvas for creating small-format art!
- They come in 6 sizes (1 inch, 1.5 inch, 2 inch, 3 inch, 4 inch, and ATC).
- Art Squares come in 7 colors (black, dark gray, light gray, kraft, dark cream, light cream and white).
- They are perfect for wet or dry mediums.
- Copic markers and inks look amazingly vibrant and deliciously rich on Art Squares!
- Copic multiliners glide smoothly across the surface.
- Work on the “top” or toothy side for the best results.
- You can mix and match your mediums! No warping, bending or curling.
You can find more information about both Copic products and Inchie Art Squares at the links below:
Copic Website All In An Inch - Inchie Arts Blog
Our teaching and design teams have been challenged to put marker (or ink) to these precision-cut matboard surfaces and see what happens! (All bold products are linked below in the supply section).
I used the 4-inch white Art Square for my Love Is In The Air project today and the color scheme I used comes from this week's Color Challenge over at the MFT Challenge Blog ... it was perfect for a Valentine!
Normally I stamp and color directly on my Art Squares (which take Copic markers beatuifully!), but today I wanted to try a variation to my Copic Drip Technique, which creates a watercolor look using Copic Various Ink Refills. You can see another project and more details to this technique here on my blog.
This technique involves prepping the surface of the Art Square with gesso, to create a less-porous surface so the Copic Various Ink can move around a little.
Art Square Prep:
1. (See photos below): Give the Art Square a light coat of white gesso and let dry thoroughly. The Art Square stands up very well to any kind of wet medium, without warping.
2. Next, I put some drops of E42 Various Ink Refill along the bottom edge of the Art Square (while holding it at about a 45-degree angle) and let the drops of ink run down the Art Square. You can tilt the Art Square in different directions to encourage the ink to flow wherever needed. I love how the ink pools and leaves a darker edge, just like watercolor! You can let one area dry just a little and apply more ink over it, to get darker variations.
3. Next, I did the same thing along the top part of the Art Square, using Copic B000 Various Ink Refill. I liked how the drops flowed around, leaving some gaps and creating a cloud look! As with the ground, I added another layer of ink in some spots, to deepen the color.
4. In the middle of the Art Square, I placed a few more drops of Various Ink but this time I used a paint brush to spread the ink around, so this part of the sky would be more solid and lighter.
Once the Various Ink was completely dry, I stamped the hearts from My Favorite Things Pure Innocence Love Is In The Air stamp set with MFT's Wild Cherry Hybrid Ink, which is Copic-compatible. You do not want to use a dye ink here, as it will never dry on the slick surfaces of the gesso and Various Ink:
Copic Marker Coloring:
1. Next, I stamped the Pure Innocence girl with MFT's Black Licorice Hybrid Ink onto Copic X-Press It Blending Card.
2. Color the girl's dress with a base coat of lightest R22 marker.
3. Shade right side of dress and shoulders with mid-tone R24 marker.
4. Go back with lighter R22 marker and blend the two colors together.
5. Add darkest R29 shading to the tops of the shoulders and bottom right of dress.
6. Color skin with E00 and shade with E11; Go back and blend with lighter E00.
7. Color hair with a base coat of YR24, then shade with E25.
8. Color shoes with E23 and shade with E25.
After coloroing, I hand trimmed the girl and popped her up on 1/2" Copic X-Press It Foam Tape. I love that I can trim this foam tape to whatever size I need. Copic X-Press It Double-Sided High-Tack Tissue Tape was used to securely adhere the Art Square to a Nightshift Blue square stitched die cut (Blueprints 14) cardstock mat. This tape works well on just about any surface and is super strong, to hold the weight of the Art Square. After stamping the sentiment with Nightshift Blue Hybrid Ink onto Sweet Tooth cardstock, I die cut it with a pierced flag die (from Blueprints 21) and also used the Tissue Tape to adhere it to the top of the Art Square:
I mounted the finished piece to a 5-inch square Berrylicious card base.
If you would like to see how I store my Copic Markers and Various Ink Refills, check out the blog post directly below this one (or click HERE)!
Hop along with these talented designers as they show you some more interesting and exciting ways to pair up two great products! Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Sharon Harnist <--You are here!
Lisa Lee -- (Inchie Arts blog)
Thank you I just got some stamps from MFT and this is a great tutorial on how to do the cloths and skin.
Posted by: Donna Polley | February 13, 2015 at 09:49 AM
I dream of the day I can afford Copics. They are (hopefully) in my near future! LOL I love your card, it is so cute and your colouring is amazing. TFS!
Posted by: Treece | February 13, 2015 at 10:12 AM
GREAT tutorial and love the "painted" background on the Inchie! This is just adorable!
Posted by: colleen | February 13, 2015 at 10:24 AM
So adorable. Great tutorial.
Posted by: Rebekka K | February 13, 2015 at 11:54 AM
Thanks for the step by step tutorial for you adorable project!!
Posted by: Judy | February 13, 2015 at 01:41 PM
Fabulous artwork! Love the simple and gorgeous background and love the overall piece! Puts a smile on my face and I know the recipient will love it! Happy Valentines Day!
Posted by: Beverly Jordan | February 13, 2015 at 09:36 PM
Adorable card! Can't wait to try out that technique... fabulous look!
Posted by: Denise Bryant | February 13, 2015 at 10:32 PM
Great tutorial. Love really is in the air today. Happy Valentine's Day. Fabulous creation.
Posted by: bunny | February 14, 2015 at 12:29 PM
These art squares look like so much fun to play with, especially since they will work with a large variety of mediums!
Posted by: Celeste Goff | February 15, 2015 at 05:31 PM
Your card is amazing! You are such a talented colorist! So happy you joined the color challenge this week!
Posted by: Veronica Z | February 17, 2015 at 10:26 PM
Awesome tutorial, thank you! Love all the texture and wonderful color with sweet PI image...love it!!!
Posted by: Maria | February 18, 2015 at 11:40 AM
I love how you get a water color look from your copics, Sharon! It's something I will have to try soon.
Posted by: Paulette S. | February 18, 2015 at 04:48 PM