Mystical Watercolour Card with Aurora Background

A project from our live show STUDIO 3 - INDUSTRY NEWS - Join Toni for her latest updates - broadcast 13th April · 13/04/2022 · watch it from 14:15

Create a magical card featuring stamped books, paintbrush and stacked presents with a mystical aurora borealis-style watercolour background. The design uses layered watercolours, ink blending, oil pencil shading and white gel pen details to create depth and a night-sky effect.

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Step by step

1. Stamp the books and paintbrush design onto watercolour card using black waterproof ink, stamping three times to ensure good coverage on the textured card. ▶ watch 15:30
2. Spray the watercolour card with water using a spritz bottle, keeping the spray away from the stamped image. ▶ watch 18:30
3. Apply watercolour paint in blues, teals, purples, fuchsia and green around the stamped image, allowing the colours to blend naturally on the wet card. ▶ watch 19:45
4. Spray the card again with water and tip it upside down to allow the watercolour to flow and create the aurora effect down the page. ▶ watch 21:00
5. Paint the stamped books, paintbrush and jar with watercolour in warm yellows, oranges and reds, leaving some white paper showing for highlights. ▶ watch 26:30
6. Apply dark ink pad colours around the edges of the card using a blending brush to add depth and make the background more mystical. ▶ watch 35:45
7. Spray the inked edges with water and move the card to encourage the colours to flow and blend together. ▶ watch 38:30
8. Add ink splats to the wet background by flicking colour onto the card whilst covering the main image with a piece of card to protect it. ▶ watch 42:15
9. Use oil pastel pencils to add dimension to the books by colouring the outer edges whilst leaving a halo of watercolour in the centre, creating a 3D effect. ▶ watch 44:00
10. Add white gel pen highlights down the spines of the books to make them pop from the page. ▶ watch 52:15
11. Draw white gel pen stars across the background by drawing a cross, filling in the centre, and adding four small flicks to create a magical night-sky effect. ▶ watch 54:15
12. Draw a wiggly border around the edge of the card using a fine liner pen, turning the artwork as you go to keep the lines consistent. ▶ watch 58:00

Tips from the show

• Use watercolour card rather than standard card as it is built for water and gives a better result.
• If you don't have watercolour card, use what you have in your stash; it will still work.
• Leave a halo of watercolour in the centre when using oil pencils over the top to create instant dimension without heavy colouring.

Written up from the show itself. See every guide from our shows · free how-to guides · watch live on My Telly