Sansodor, Gamsol (?) technique

[blarf]

Hi everyone. Having seen Sandra's cards and watched the video on Hero Art's website (http://www.heroarts.com/learning/technique.cfm?techID=101) I bought some odourless mineral solvent and paper stumps in order to get that professional look when colouring in.

I'm dying to start but I have a couple of questions first.

1) What pencils do you recommend (I believe watercolour ones are no good)? I have Derwent Coloursoft.

2) If it's a solvent, does it affect Stazon? If so, what do I use instead?

3) Is there any type of card which works better? Any to avoid?

Any other tips you might have?

TIA
Sam

[Jeanette]

You should check out youtube Sam. There are quite a few tutorials on there

[blarf]

Thanks Jeanette but I don't really "do" youtube and I could spend hours trawling for a few answers. Hopefully someone will answer my plea for help on here :)

[Jeanette]

Oh ok never mind then! I just typed gamsol into the search box and it came up with loads of demos

[sugarplum]

I use stazon to stamp the image then colour using prismacolor pencils and sansador I use paper stums for small areas but often use a q tip to blend larger areas Its best to use a very smooth white card as the pencil blends easier I use concord record cards but any smooth card would do

[Phree]

Permanant inks such as Stazon are the inks to use - but do NOT use Versafine - the white spirit subsitute will make it smear because it's an oil based ink. Your Derwent Coloursoft pencils are a very similar type of pencil to the Sanford Prismacolors - in other words an Artist's quality colour pencil so you should get good results. Other makes such as Caran D'ache etc would also work. Don't worry that your pencils are not Prismacolor, they seem to be the premier brand in the USA, so most craft posts you see about using them in this way will state "prismacolor and gamsol"

The technique for using Artist quality colour pencils with a low odour solvent is often referred to as the "Magic Colored Pencil Technique" - here are a couple of excellent tutorials on YouTube - it shows you more or less all you need to know

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCCo9799dWo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSacf7IwjR0&feature=related

Hope this helps

The other way to get proffessional look is to use Copic Markers.......but OMG the price of them!!!

[von 2]

Phree - thankyou for that - I've just spent the best part of an hour watching all these lovely techniques..... Can anyone tell me the best place to get some Prismacolour pencils and all the accessories please - I NEED ALL OF THEM! I love the effect. Thanks again Phree.

[Phree]

Hi Von, Gamsol seems to be an American branded name for low odour white spirit substitute - in the UK the better known branded name is Sansodor made by Windsor and Newton. However I originally bought some Artists low odour White Spirit Substitute from my local art shop to try with oil pastels, sadly that shop is now closed down. I paid about half the price for twice the quantity - so my advice is check out your local art supplies for the least expensive source...... or google "low odour white spirit" to find online sellers.

For Prismacolor Pencils you have a choice.......buy at UK prices or risk import duty from the USA...... if you opt for the USA you will find plenty of sellers on eBay. There are also some UK based sellers. However as an alternative you could try Derwent, a UK company, they do 2 lines of colour pencils..... the first with 120 colours is their "Artists" line - same as the Prismacolor premium range..... or close.... last time I looked Prisma were offering 132 colours. Derwent also do the ones Blarf mentioned - "coloursoft" which are basically the same pencil as the "Artists" but with an even softer and creamier core.

Basically any reputatable brand who sell colour pencils aimed at serious artists will do. so you are talking paying about £1 or more per pencil at UK prices - it can be considerably more. Currently I have a set of 36 Prismacolours and find I can get by with those.....but well you know what it's like.. if crafters know it's out there and they love using it they want it.... so I guess one day I will be buying one of the bigger sets of Prismas or one of the big Derwent sets.

[blarf]

Thank you lovely people.
The cotton bud idea sounds like a good one, I find the stumps dry out (or absorb) quickly and I end up leaving the cap off the bottle (not good for the head - whoooeeee!)

[Sandra]

I use Prismacolors at home but when I demo at The Craft Barn I use their Derwent Coloursoft pencils. I find I get on just fine with both of them. Incomparision I find the coloursoft a bit creamier (as Phree mentioned above) and a bit more vibrant.

HTH

[von 2]

Thanks for all your advice - off now to do a spot of 'googling'!

P.S. Phree - was that your name in lights again this morning on CAC?

[Mothership]

Did you know that Prismacolor are marketed over here as Karisma?

I've had a set for years so couldn't say how the price compares to imported Prismacolors though.

[Phree]

You can't buy Karisamcolour anymore cept on e-bay for second hand sets...... last set I saw on there went for £280........ big bucks needed if you want to buy karisma. But yes they are the same pencil as Prisma's made by Sanford.

[Mothership]

OMG!!! :eek:
I don't know wether to carry on using them or put them in a display case. They are rather fabulous but £280.... Think I'll up the prices of my cards that I use them on. :D