Scenic Stamping Tips

 

Scene Creation Tips:

  Inspiration for a scene can come from various things such as:

A trip you took or would like to take, something you saw today or in the past, something seen on a tv show or in a magazine, a place you’d rather be or a scene in your daydreams, etc…

  Pick images that "speak" to you. Choose one or two images and build from those.

 

Stamping Tips:

  Practice image placement on a scrap paper or stamp images on paper, cut out and move around until you’re happy with your scene.

  Start with images farthest from the horizon line (image closest to you)

  Stamp your completed scene idea on three or four different sheets of paper.

  Use Post-It Notes for masking. Stamp image close to sticky edge and over cut image to avoid halo effect.

  Ink stamp and check for hair or debris before stamping. One small inked up hair attached to your stamp can ruin your whole scene.

  Apply even pressure to your stamp to make a clean impression. Rocking your stamp will make a blurry image.

  Use a fine tip black pen to fill in blank lines or areas between images.

  Pick the best scene of the set you stamped. Keep the others as a back up or to try different coloring techniques on.

 

Coloring Tips

  When using colored pencils and/or chalks do not use a coated paper such as glossy or matte coat.

  When using color, start with lighter colors first. You can always go darker but it’s near impossible to go lighter.

  Apply pastel chalks to large areas first. Start with lightest colors and use a folded up piece of paper towel for application. Rubbing the chalk into the tooth of the paper will give you richer, deeper colors.

  Use an eraser to erase any misplaced chalk.

  Color remaining areas with colored pencils. Also use your pencils to highlight chalked areas to give them more depth.

  Avoid waxy or cheap quality pencils as they do not blend well.

  Use multiple different shades and hues for each color. For instance when coloring in grass use three or four different greens.

 

Additional tips from Joannie Hooper:

 

Coloring scenes on glossy paper:
When coloring scenes stamped on glossy paper, we often use sponges or stipple brushes to apply dye inks.  When you are laying out your scene and cutting your masks, cut one mask inside the outer line to use when stamping, to avoid halos.  Cut another mask exactly on the line, to put over your central or small images, while you stipple or sponge on color.  That way when you go to detail color, your central and small images haven't gotten any of the stippled or sponged color on them.  I usually put an X on the exact to the line mask, so I don't confuse them when I build the scene.
 
Scene Fill
When building a scene, carefully choose those important fill stamps.  Look at nature.  A path of earth has sand, pebbles, rocks (of various sizes), flowers, weeds, grass, squirrels, birds, rabbits, etc.  When you are purchasing or selecting your stamps to build a scene with, don't forget these important elements.  They can greatly enhance the reality of an outdoors scene.

 

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