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Start Art 5 52 RT START www.painters-online.co.uk Using wax Another type of resist is wax. This can be as simple as household candlewax. I use a clear, uncoloured candle cut into sections about 3in. (8cm) long. I use the edge of the candle and draw firmly onto the paper. When a water-based pigment is applied on top of this, the wax resists it. This technique does not work when paint such as acrylic is applied thickly however. WAX RESIST 1 I applied the wax in a spiral shape then, using my brush, wet the area with clean water. I dropped in green aquamarine and hot red, letting the colour run freely into the water (wet-on-wet). I then used each pencil and drew directly onto the paper (dry-on-wet) WAX RESIST 2 I applied the wax in lines then, using my brush, wet the area with clean water. I dropped in green aquamarine and hot red and mustard, letting the colour run freely into the water, adding stronger pigment (wet-on-wet). Then, using hot red and green aquamarine I sprinkled shavings onto the surface using my craft knife (dry-on-wet) Both masking fluid and wax are suitable to use with other water-soluble media such as watercolour and acrylics (if applied in a watercolour style). All the water-soluble coloured pencil techniques described here can also be used with watercolour paints, acrylics and other drawing media, so if you have a drawing or painting you wish to improve it is always worth adding Inktense or a water-soluble pencil. Collage If, on the other hand, you have works that you are not particularly pleased with and don’t feel that you want to re-work them, think about using sections of them as collage and embellishing them with Inktense. Even in a so-called ‘failed’ drawing or painting there are often sections that are successful. Selecting the most pleasing is made easier by the use of an angle mount, see right. To make an angle mount, cut a piece of card or heavyweight paper into two L-shapes and place them on top of your painting. This will help you to select the ‘good bits’ of a work with which you may be generally unhappy. Simply move the card sections nearer together or further apart to isolate areas of your work ▼ ▼ Exercises using wax resist HOW TO MAKE AN ANGLE MOUNT