Question for DU Artists

[southerngirlwriter]

I am fairly new to certain types of art. A friend saw a sketch and convinced me I have some talent, and I've been playing around a bit with charcoal, which is a lot of fun.

Question:

The local Hobby Lobby has a thing I can buy. They're postcards, but one side is watercolor paper. Obviously, they're for painting your own postcards.

How will watercolor paper do if I bought them and made charcoal studies on them? I use bristol for drawing portraits in pencil, ordinary sketch pads for pencil sketching, and 300 Series Charcoal paper paper from Strathmore for Charcoal.

Would the watercolor paper do well with charcoal? I LOVE the idea of surprising people with postcards I drew myself. I have lots of friends all over the country. :)

Thanks!! :hi:

[DS1]

1. I'd use a thick Bristol board cut to size manually

and if you're thinking of sending charcoal out through the mail unprotected, you'd better have a damn good supply of fixer.

[southerngirlwriter]

2. I've sent it out before with three coats of workable fixatif

applied about an hour apart. No complaints yet. :shrug:

Is there something better than the workable fixatif??

[DS1]

6. that would be ok

by why spend extra money on a postcard version when all you have to do to make a piece of paper a postcard is slap a stamp and address on one side?

[southerngirlwriter]

8. well.....

I was just wondering. My bristol postcards are sort of home-made looking. Also, if watercolor paper is going to be just awful, then I wouldn't do it. That's why I was asking about the paper.

You do make a good point about the money. I don't have much of it. Sigh.

[burythehatchet]

3. Will you send me a postcard?

:)

[southerngirlwriter]

5. Sure!

PM me your snail mail address.

Mind you, I'm not terribly good. I'm a much better writer than I am artist. I just like sending stuff through the mail. :D

[burythehatchet]

7. ain't it the truth

since e-mail most people have forgotten the joy of sending and receiving letters. I still try to write long letters whenever I can. The downfall of civilization began with the electronic greeting card. YUCK!

[southerngirlwriter]

9. Yes!!!!!

People have said things to me that were nice, but when someone takes the time to sit down and write a letter and put a stamp on it, well, it just seems to mean more.

The pastor at my church feels the same way you and I do about it. He set up a big thing in the foyer so we could leave notes of encouragement for each other. It's really cool to get an actual letter sometimes. :D

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

4. the cool thing about charcoal or pastel on WC paper is texture

the grain of the paper allows for very nice effects. Go for it. If ou like it it's good.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

10. don't limit yourself

i'd say get your favorite charcoalable paper and manually cut it. Go to an art store and marvel at all the types of paper you can use. Make them cut it for you, after all youre an artist - you wouldn't want to hurt those hands. Imjust kidding, cut it your damn self.

I took some classes involving charcoaling last year and they were awesome.

[TeeYiYi]

11. Did you mean . . .

. . . an actual postcard or a pre-made card with an envelope?

I've used those watercolor cards with envelopes before. They work great with a variety of mediums. Even with charcoal. Depending on the tooth of the paper, the texture is a nice touch. Just be sure to spray it with Krylon after you're finished. The envelope will protect it through the mail.

TYY

[southerngirlwriter]

12. No, these are actual postcards.

Little square for the stamp and everything.

Edit: hit post too soon.

Thanks for hte tip on the ppaer. I'm going to try it. :D

[TeeYiYi]

14. Look at this interesting mix . . .

. . . of charcoal AND watercolor on watercolor paper:



If you're just wanting to send postcards, you ought to be able to cut down just about any paper you want and stick a stamp on it. Bristol board or Coquille stipple board would be nice. Although, I do think you'll enjoy experimenting on the watercolor paper as well. Art has few limits.

TYY

[southerngirlwriter]

15. WOW

:wow: :wow: :wow:


That's stunning.

[asthmaticeog]

13. You should look at

Georges Seurat's drawings - he used charcoal on watercolor paper, and brought out really cool textures. You should go for it, it could be really fun.