Aurora Borealis Night Sky with Stamped Swans and Reflections

A project from our live show HOW TO STAMP AND PAINT REFLECTIONS - Broadcast 14th August 2023 · 08/14/2023 · watch it from 0:00

Create a dramatic night sky scene with aurora borealis colours, a moon, and stamped swans with water reflections. The finished card features a dark, atmospheric background with white highlights that bring the focal point swans forward and create ripple effects in the water.

You will need

TV - A5 Reflection Stamp - Tomorrow - 140422GSEE IT

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Step by step

1. Wet your watercolour card thoroughly from top to bottom with clean water using a wet brush. ▶ watch 0:00
2. Drop steely blue colour into the wet paper and tease it across the card, working from top to bottom. ▶ watch 0:15
3. Add purple ink by squeezing it from the pen onto the wet paper where you want more intense colour. ▶ watch 1:30
4. Add orange colour to the base of the sky to create a night-time aurora effect. ▶ watch 2:00
5. Use clean water on a wet brush to move the colours around gently, creating a mottled effect. ▶ watch 2:45
6. Speed dry the card with a heat gun before it is completely dry. ▶ watch 3:15
7. Create a moon by wetting your brush, painting a circular shape, then lifting the colour out with damp tissue to create a lighter moon effect. ▶ watch 3:45
8. Add more water to the moon area and dab with tissue to lift out additional colour and enhance the moon. ▶ watch 4:15
9. Use a white gel pen to add a halo highlight around the moon to enhance it further. ▶ watch 5:15
10. Stamp the swans and foliage from the reflection stamp set in black ink onto the dry card, positioning them within the design lines. ▶ watch 9:00
11. Stamp the water ripple detail from the stamp set in black ink at the base of the design to add texture. ▶ watch 10:45
12. Stamp the foliage elements across the top and sides of the card in black ink to frame the swans and create depth. ▶ watch 11:45
13. Mix white watercolour or acrylic paint with water to create a workable consistency. ▶ watch 14:30
14. Paint the swans with white paint using a smaller brush to bring them forward and prevent them getting lost in the dark background. ▶ watch 14:45
15. Add white paint to the black ripple lines to create highlights and enhance the water reflection effect. ▶ watch 16:45
16. Add a white halo around the moon using the white paint to enhance its visibility. ▶ watch 17:15

Tips from the show

• You get better results with watercolour paint when working on watercolour card.
• Don't be tight with the water—allow the paint to move freely across the card.
• When stamping on a dark background, use white paint or gel pen to pull the design forward and prevent it getting lost.

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