Neocolors - water soluble "wax" crayons. Who doesn't LOVE crayons? I've had a love affair with crayons since my grandmother bought me my first box of Prang. To this day when I see a box laying around (and we've got them all over this house) I open the box, pick out my favorite one (teal, or magenta) and stroke it across the nearest piece of paper. I even love how they smell. Wierd, I know.
My "leafy" blog header up there ..... was my first experiment with Neocolors. Suffice it to say - I think I'm in love.
I played around by drawing some flowers and leaves on a piece of canvas home dec fabric. Scribbling blues, teal and greens around the leaves, I filled up the white space around the leaves and flowers. After loading a paintbrush (I used a sable hair fan brush) with water, I lightly painted it over the surface -- THAT is when the magic happens.
Depending upon how much water you load on to 
the brush, as well
the brush, as wellas how absorbent your fabric is, AND whether or not you air dry, sun dry, or heat applied dry - has a lot to do with how your colors run and blend. I just let mine dry on their own - slowly - as I wanted to see to what extent they would run and bleed. How cool!
After the picture dried, I loaded my sewing machine with 
variegated threads (to match each
leaf) and just did a little threadpainting. Then I put an aqua, green and silver variegated thread in the machine and stitched windy swirls in the blue background. I kept my stitching to a minimum, because I didn't want to cover up the beautiful colors . I can however, see enormous possibilities threadpainting over a Neocolor base.
I am absolutely head over heals in love with the color saturation I can get with these, as well as the blending and layering capabilities. In recent months I've been experimenting with Tsukineko Inks, acrylic paint, Lumiere paints, etc., and while they all have their merits -- I truly think I have found my muse in these little crayons. You can also do encaustic work with these -- which is next on the agenda.
Don't worry Crayola and Prang - I still love you.
You will always hold a special place in my heart!
16 comments:
I so get you with the crayons! I love a new box of crayons! And the smell? Oh I get ya! I have Neocolor crayons too! They are amazing to work with -- super fun. I used them to make Kellie's Flower Quilt...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23137197@N02/2281995002/in/set-72157603853788794/
Oooohhh, I love it!
:), now I see what you meant with Neocolors! And yes, I know them and love them for their brightness, and because they bring out our inner artist child:)
love
Andrea
Now that looks like FUN and what beautiful results!!! Very cool...I'd like to play with those. I loved crayons too! It was always a treat to get a new box and paper or color book when I was little!
Would love to see what else you do with these crayons and fabric!
~Lisa ;-)
What a beautiful piece...it makes a wonderful header too! The colors are so vibrant.
Now who doesn't love playing with crayons.
I think I need to save up to get me a set of these because as Andrea said they bring out the inner artistic child...now that I love!
these look great. i have some cheap water soluble crayons somewhere - i must see if they work like this. new crayons and new plasticine were my all time favourites.....our kids dont seem as thrilled by stuff like this
Oh my gosh! I think I am in love! The colors and the melding of the colors is awesome! Just beautiful!
neocolors totally rock, I agree. I am contemplating a bigger set...this post may have pushed me over the edge to stop thinking and Just Do It.
you make it loo so effortless & the results are always stunning. :)
ps - I feel about colored pencils like you do about crayons.
Cathie, that's just BEAUTIFUL! I'm right there on the crayon bandwagon WITH you! Love the possibilities, love the smell, and there's NOTHING like taking a favorite color from the box & being the FIRST one to use its nice fresh point! Ahhhhhh! I am really learning from you about using all sorts of familiar things to produce an entirely new look! YOU ROCK!
hi girlie :)
stunning art!!
i love the smell of crayons also!!
and a new box of them all perfect amd shiney makes my soul clap its hands and sing :)
thanks for sharing your glorius art
enjoy your day
tammy
I'm right there with you sister. Neocolors are the way to go. I love my little tin of Neocolors. :)
See!! This makes me want this! Girl--I have enough irons in the fire, but I am going to keep this in the back of my mind and get "to it" one day.
Mmmm.... I love the neocolour crayons too. They are so creamy and beautiful to work with.
I havent tried them on fabric as yet (I have a little set of crayola fabric crayons that I usually use for fabric), but I am going to give them a go now.
I have been giving out lots of hints at home for the "big" set from Santa!!!
Sew fuuuuun!
YOU so color ME like the page,
each stop in greatly inspires me to play!
Go girl!
I agree, I love water-soluble crayons. Such rich colors. I'm jealous of your giant box of colors - I only have a set of 8. Maybe I'll have to put them on my xmas wish list...
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