Just a question about..

[Janet F.]

... The Iridescant water based paints

I've looked at these several times in the shop and wondered what they were like

I've only ever used the solvent based paints until recently when I tried a couple of the water based paints with Megan, 

Is it only the "look" of the paints that is different to the normal water based paints and are they suitable for children to use too

[Bob]

Yes and Yes, they give a really nice effect.... great for fairy wings and dragonfly wings etc etc, they sort of simmer when the piece is moved. You may be slightly disappointed when you first use them as you don't get the full effect until they're dry.

[Janet F.]

Thanks for that Bob,

I was thinking about making a fairy mobile for Megans room (haven't got past the thinking about it stage yet - having trouble finding nice simpe fairy images to use)

so maybe using those paints would give a better effect than the normal ones

when I do get around to doing it  Would I be better using the thick film or the extra thick film for it

[Bob]

Personally I would go for extra thick with the bodies and thick for the wings

[Janet F.]

Thank You   

sounds good

[Bob]

Did you get the Iridescant....if so what did you think?

[Janet F.]

Hi Bob
Yes I did get the irridescent paints,  They are definately different 

I haven't been able to do the mobile yet as I'm having trouble finding clear outlines of fairies and now ballerinas Megan decided she wanted with the fairies

I have had a go with the paints though, 

You may be slightly disappointed when you first use them as you don't get the full effect until they're dry.

I was slightly,  when I first used them they came out of the bottles the same colour, and I thought how are you supposed to tell wich is which  then as they started drying they looked different colours to what they should have been and I thought they had got mixed up
the gold looked silver  the silver looked gold,  the red looked blue and the blue looked red and the green looked yellow.
I left them alone to finish drying off then got a lovely surprise when I went back to them  they were really nice,and very shimmery and different strengths of colour as they caught the light

They are definately worth getting and I'm looking forward to doing the mobile when I get chance

Megan loved the colours too  I held up the piece of acetate to the light and her face was a picture, she said oh mum they are so beautiful  can I really have them for my faries  she has chosen gold for the hair  silver for the wings and red and blue for their dresses

I keep having a play with them now and again to get used to using them as they have a "different " feel to them than the solvent based ones

Can you mix the colours together?

[Bob]

You can mix the colours but I prefer....

water them down a little (just a bit not the whole tube) untill they are a bit more runny,then put "pools" of each one on the sheet and use your paint brush to encourage them to run together and blend a bit...you can get some really nice efects this way

[Bob]

should have added a bit more to that last message.
1. I just about always water down the waterbased paints, I prefer my paint runnier (I expect bewcause I started on solvents) and they are much easier to blend on the glass like that.
2. When you add the drops of water to the paint (start with about 1/4 water 3/4 paint and see how it goes), don't "beat" it or you will just add loads of air bubbles...just fold it in (or beat it and leave it overnight for the air bubbles to clear)

[Janet F.]

That sounds good

Something for me to try tomorrow 

I hadn't tried watering them down slightly, but will do
I'd always used the solvent based ones, and they are runnier  so if I water the waterbased ones down a bit hopefully I'll find them a bit easier to use

I try to be as gentle as I can with them so I don't get any air bubbles  and find it quite relaxing by taking my time with them

thanks for suggesting these things  it is appreciated 

[Janet F.]

I had a little play with those paints again 

This time I watered them down slightly and it made such a difference,

I found them much easier to use, and tried blending a couple of colours together  got a lovely lilac colour  also a lovely silvery pinkish colour too

Quite looking forward to doing the mobile now after playing around with the paints,

[Bob]

Had you thought of the luminous for parts of the mobile (but you can't mix it with other colours)

[Janet F.]

To be honest Bob  No I hadn't thought about that,  I didn't even know there was a luminous one. The times I have looked in the shop at the range of colours and never spotted that one   
when I read this  off I went to the shop to take a look and still didnt see it   had to look a second time 

I've made a start on the mobile,  I have done the top part where the things will dangle from and tonight have outlined and painted a ballerina and cinderella for it, but I'm not very happy with them  they just dont seem to look right  so will probably scrap them and start again tomorrow