Book Study - Soap

On NGS group, we're doing a study of Darlene Olivia McElroy & Sandra Duran Wilson's book "Surface Treatment workshop" This week we're looking at the section "soap". Soapy water in a spray bottle is used as a resist. Mix about 1 tsp of dish soap in 1 cup of water in a spray bottle.

This is a "fussy" technique. The authors state that both timing and paint consistency are the keys to success with this technique. I did have some difficulty with these.

Brush on "fairly wet" paint over the surface (I used watercolor paper).

 While the paint is wet, spray or drop the soapy water onto the paint.

 While the paint is dry but the soapy water drops are still wet, blot, don't wipe, the surface with a paper towel. Let dry.

I think I didn't let the paint layer dry completely as the droplet area is not distinct as in the book.

Another way to use the soapy water is over a layer of paint. Painted watercolor paper with turquoise Lumiere paint, and let dry. Then painted over the surface with wet purple acrylic paint.

This time, I dropped large drops of soapy water over the wet paint and when the paint layer  was dry, and the soapy water still wet, blotted with a paper towel. This time you can see where the soapy water acted as a resist.

 Another way to use soapy water is over a previous work you aren't satisfied with to reinvent it. I choose a heated oil pastels background that had words stamped on with black Archival ink and let dry.

 Painted over the surface with wet purple acrylic paint. Because oil pastels had been used, the paint started to bead up (cool!). Dropped soapy water over the wet paint. When the paint dried, and the soapy water still wet, blotted with a paper towel.

 I like how this turned out:

The authors also mention doing this technique over painted metallic leaf, with dark colors & interference paints and mixing the soap with the paint.