Get Your Color Burst On

Recently, during one of my trips down the Internet rabbit hole, I stumbled across a video on YouTube that showed someone using Color Bursts, a watercolor product I wasn’t familiar with. I was instantly captivated by the idea. Watercolor powders that can be used in all sorts of cool ways? Sign me up! It was almost magic, watching vibrant colors appear on the page with just a little help from water.

Get Your Color Burst On Directions:

1. Tag

I was most excited to try out what I saw a few artists do with stencils. Following their cue, I placed a stencil down on a tag, spritzed everything thoroughly with water, and lifted the stencil carefully.

I then “puffed” the powder onto the tag. Colors instantly appeared wherever the water was.

I let the tag dry thoroughly and then stamped a butterfly onto it using acrylic paint. To finish, I added a word sticker.

2. Bird Mixed-Media Board

Repeat the stencil technique from the tag.

I stamped a bird and sentiment onto the colorful background. When the bird was dry, I painted it using the Color Bursts and a waterbrush.

3. Words Mixed-Media Board

Repeat the stencil technique from the tag, leave as-is, and add a couple word stickers.

Here are some tips I found out while playing with Color Bursts:

• Cover your work surface with scrap paper. Because the Color Bursts are such a fine powder, they can spread very easily.
• If you’re concerned with breathing in any powder, consider wearing a face mask.
• When using your stencils, be sure they are clean. Any residual spray ink will be activated when you spray water on it.
• Don’t squeeze the bottle too hard. You only need a little bit of powder to produce beautiful results.

About the Artist

Christen Hammons is the director of publishing for Stampington & Company and editor-in-chief
of Bella Grace, Somerset Life, and Somerset Studio.

Interests: art, slow food, writing, books, yarn, authentic living

Follow Christen on Twitter: @christeno | on Instagram: @christenhammons