Just discovered you. One of my favorite things to do with my camera is to "take my 50 for a walk" - a 50mm 1.8 lens makes wonderful bokeh behind botanicals. I found another way to make it in watercolors - I cut out circular pieces of kitchen sponge with a pair of sharp scissors. It's easier to grip if you use one of the thicker sponges although harder to cut. But once it's done in a couple different sizes, they just wash out so you can reuse. You can use thinner sponges inside a paper towel, similar to coins.
As I have no masking fluid will try the other methods first. Also have no gouache but, have colour pencils & deck white, which I ‘ll try with. Thanks. Interesting.
Hi Liz, started using coins for bokeh effects just this year. Thx for sharing your different techniques. Making varying colored bokeh is a little more challenging.
Thanks for this thorough video Liz, very interesting to see the different techniques. I like using the lifting out with a stencil myself, preparing a bokeh background before painting the subject over the top.
Thank you Liz, this was a great tutorial. I love the way you go through lots of different options. I particularly liked the cheating alcohol one, very pretty.
❤ Thank you for the great 'all-in-one' breakdown of different methods for Boca! I will skip the masking and try the others along with a couple more techniques. I think negative painting might work well for this... using gouache on wet watercolor is similar to alcohol and I want to try using color pencils (wax base). Bon voyage.
Oh Wouah ! Full of surprises !!! All are very interesting , except with pastels. But perhaps if we apply rounds with a special surface ground for pastel, in a very very fine lyer. Dishwasher offers surprising effects, it's my favorite ..But for being interesting and rich , creations need to be differents. My 2 = with soften edges, it's sensual, i like that very much too ; My 3 favorite = with gouache , i like this atmosphere who can be created ..sensual too with discreet bubbles . I did'nt believe at all when you was applying gouache Lyz . Less interesting with Lift Off, It's nice and well but the paper under which is stright away visible..Not terrible
Hiya Liz, Bokeh (Bo-KAY), is a Japanese word meaning blurred and comes from the Japanese, Pinboke. Thanks for another really interesting video. Take care. David.x
Could you use a pipette to create the bokeh with the dishwasher method? Also, I have seen someone using pure alcohol on watercolor yo create some sort of round spots, that resemblance the bokeh in my opinion. Your methods are amazing and can't wait to play with them myself 😁 Thank you for sharing! 🙏
Brilliant! Does the rinse aid have any long-term effects on the paper or pigments? I know it contains surfactants which is why is pushes away the water but wonder how archival it is? Thanks.
I’m sorry, I don’t know the long term effects. If I had litmus paper I could check the pH but I don’t. I can’t imagine it would be any worse than salt, but that is a guess. If I find an answer I’ll let you know.