The Stencilfied Journal Prompt 4: Yucky Yellow ?

Prompt 4 for the Stencilfied Journal project calls for you to use your least favorite color. I chose to use yucky yellow. If you are a lover of all things yellow, please don’t be mad! I know a lot of people love the color yellow. It just is not my favorite. We all have that one color which we find difficult to work with and yellow is definitely that color for me. Usually, I prefer yellow as an accent color. I find that some shades stay bright and rich while others fade or lose their luster once they hit my canvas. With any color, you are going to find products which have a range of shades you like to work with and some that will be a bit “yucky”. I will be working with a couple of paint markers that have sat in my stash for awhile, simply because, the colors they produce are not too my liking.

3 Tips for Working with a Yucky Yellow Palette ( or any monochromatic palette)

1. Have a scrap piece or paper or card to test your colors on. It helps if the scrap piece is similar to the paper you will be using with your finished piece. You want to know how each medium will react with the paper.
2. Pull our all of your paints, inks,pen, pencils and markers in the shade you want to work with. Once you know what is available, limit your selection to 3-5 items in a range of shades. One should be very light and one very dark with the rest of your choices in a range in between. Test them on your scrap paper to make sure you can see a difference between each color shade when the medium is dry. Consider textures such as the smoothness of an ink versus the rough edge of a watercolor crayon. Some mediums  such as watercolor crayons or inks can be activated with water which will allow you to add to the range of colors and tones available.
3. Practice layering on your scrap piece. Start with lightest shade and then move to the darkest and vice versa. This will help you decide how to proceed when you create your background layer. Playing around on the scrap paper will give you an idea of how each of colors and mediums interacts with each other.

When it comes to yellow, I generally choose to work with golden tones ( think marigold). I use lighter, lemony yellows as accent or highlight colors. My Yucky Yellow item choices are: a Molotow acrylic paint marker in zinc yellow, a Posca Paint marker( fine tipped) and a Jane Davenport Mermaid marker in Pirate’s gold. Of the three, the Jane Davenport color is closest to my usual yellow comfort zone.

I am really happy with the way this art journal page turned out. The layered stencils in two shades of yellow provide a subtle texture and glow to my line drawing portrait. As so often happens when I am challenged to use something I don’t like, I find myself refreshed. It is a great way to pull yourself out of a rut and use up some less loved supplies. The finished work also can provide a contrast to other pieces you have created, allowing you to easily critique your creative process in a positive manner.

Now it is your turn! Create something inspired by Prompt 4 of the Stencilfied Journal Project and leave a link to your project in the comments below. Don’t forget to stop by Tina Walker’s blog to see how she used StencilGirl® products to create her project.