Backgrounds made from Color Washes, Viva paper towels, and mica powders

Belinda posted a March technique on her Yahoo group and examples on the blog http://arttechniques.blogspot.com/ The technique uses color washes, radiant rains, and various substrates, including muslin and Viva paper towels.

Since I don't have the Radiant Rains, but I do have mica powders, I played around with the technique tonight using Viva towels. These came out spectacularly and I had to stop when my small studio floor, work bench, and table were covered with drying towels.

As usual, I can't seem to follow the rules. Belinda said to put some of the Color Washes in a small cup and add water. That was too time consuming and messy for my taste, so I first dipped my paper towel in water-soaked mica powders, which put a small amount of water on the towel. Next, I spritzed the paper towel with three colors: Wild Plum, Bottle, and Butterscotch. This was my first sheet. I love the colors that are so vibrant because they weren't diluted.

Although it didn't always work, I tried to create triangular points of color, then different triangular points for the second color, and so on.
I love the vibrant Bottle, Butterscotch, and Lettuce I used in this one.
Next, I spritzed the paper towel with three colors: Wild Plum, Bottle, and Butterscotch. I was hooked and did a few more using Lettuce, Butterscotch, and Wild Plum. This one has only Wild Plum and Butterscotch. The dark colors are because the paper towel didn't come in good contact with the scanner.
Then I crumpled a few towels, wadding them until they had heavy creases in them, then flattening them on the table. Next, I added the Color Washes and mica powder. My only regret on the one above is that I used silver mica powder. Gold, bronze, or copper would have been a better choice.


I'll probably have to iron these if I want to use them.

Finally, I wet the Viva towels really well, wrung them out (which left wrinkles), added the mica powder, then spritzed on the Color Washes. These dried much paler than the others. Also, in the one above, you can see where I spritzed the paper towel. Seems the wetter the towel, the less the color wash diffused.

Be prepared. These are really addictive, especially if you are trying for a specific look.