Project Sheet

Special Effects with Brusho Colors

Take your watercolors to the next level with versatile pigment crystals.

Difficulty Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Completion Time: 1-2 hours

Watch a video overview:

brusho-demo-main Traditional watercolors have a beautiful, soft look, but these Colourcraft Brusho Colors - in the form of powder-like "watercolor crystals" - provide an exciting medium to let you achieve uncommon effects. Experiment with different techniques to use these high-intensity crystals to their fullest.

What you'll need

Before you begin, make sure you have all the supplies you'll need. The list below contains all the products we used to create the example shown in this demo. Materials are optional based upon your own design.

Colourcraft Brusho Colors
Watercolor Pad (we used the 400 Series in 12 in. x 12 in. size)
Plastic Squeeze Bottle
Crayons
Water Mist Bottle
Art Masking Fluid
Brushes

Before You Begin

Here are some helpful things to know before working with Brusho Colors:

The crystals are very strongly pigmented, so make sure your workspace is protected. You may wish to wear rubber gloves to avoid staining your hands.
Know that a tiny bit goes a very long way. This takes a bit of getting used to (but also makes Brusho Colors cost-effective), so you will likely want to "play" before diving into your project.
Some colors, such as Sea Green and Emerald Green, are dual-purpose. In the jar and when shaken in dry form onto damp paper, those two colors may retain the same golden shades that they display in the container. However, when "activated" with water through misting or mixing, they will turn vibrant shades of green. This can be an added bonus for creating intriguing results.

1. Masking

brusho-demo-step1 Use your masking fluid to block off areas you would like to leave blank or where you would like a sharper outline between colors. Allow to dry. Peel off when all painting around the masked area is complete.

2. Crayon Resist

brusho-demo-step2 Similar to the Masking technique, but permanent and textural, crayon or other wax will prevent your paint from absorbing into the paper. Choose your desired colors and draw your image before painting over it.

3. Dry-to-Wet/Dry-on-Wet

brusho-demo-step3 Sprinkle dry Brusho crystals on dry or wet paper. Spray with water to allow colors to blend, or simply leave as-is (paper must be wet or damp for the latter). After spraying, allow colors to dry as they are or blot for a softer look.

For a more controlled application, dispense Brusho through your squeeze bottle.

4. Traditional Wet-on-Wet Technique

brusho-demo-step4 Spray your paper lightly with water using the misting bottle. Wet your brush and dip it into your chosen Brusho color, or dissolve some of the crystals in a small amount of water. Paint as you normally would with traditional watercolors.

5. Let Your Imagination Be Your Guide

These are just a few of the ways in which you can create the unique effects you want with Brusho Colors. The crystals also work with different mediums, so you aren't limited to watercolor - they can be used with gel, acrylic, and more.