Dancing with Yupo: Tools & Techniques with Taylor Ikin

The versatility of the synthetic paper gives Taylor Ikin the freedom that perfectly suits her approach to painting.

Ikin begins with an in-depth discussion of her materials. She answers frequently asked questions about Yupo and explains how to paint, draw, revise and erase on synthetic paper. She reveals how to keep paintings lively by eliminating earth tones and concentrating on exciting hues. Ikin encourages you to work quickly using large bold strokes. Her free-flowing style lends itself to colorful natural scenes. She works to give a sense of her subject rather than trying to copy nature. Ikin demonstrates how to use a mirror to reverse the initial painting for evaluation. She shows you how to let your paint work for you and warns against the excessive tidiness that discourages natural shapes. Ikin encourages you to relax, feel happy and enjoy the process. Her approach his high energy!

Watercolorist Taylor Ikin finds that YUPO is the perfect surface for her energetic, carefree style. She follows her paper's lead, allowing paint to blend and flow then tickling in revisions with her favorite brush. In this workshop, you'll learn to take advantage of YUPO's unique properties and to dance while you paint.

Taylor starts with an in-depth discussion of her favorite materials. She answers frequently asked questions about YUPO and explains how to paint, draw, revise and erase on synthetic paper. She reveals how she keeps paintings lively by eliminating earth tones from her palette and concentrating on exciting hues like her own color, Taylor's Flamingo Pink. She also teaches you to work big and work fast using a large, flat brush and bold strokes.

Taylor begins each painting with wide splashes of warm, bright color, knowing she has the freedom to make changes at any time. She works to give a sense of her subject matter rather trying to photocopy nature. She encourages the paper to create a background of brambles by swirling moisture and allows the thickly applied pigments to blend. This free-flowing style lends itself to her colorful nature scenes.

Taylor encourages you to relax, feely happy and enjoy the process. She demonstrates how to work from a photo reference and to use a mirror to reverse the initial painting for evaluation. In both cases, she worries about the end result instead of endless details. She shows you how to let your paint work for you and warns against the excessive tidiness that discourages natural shapes.

As she blocks in her roaring waterfall and vivid trees, Taylor introduces you to new brush techniques. She takes pride in defying a brush's design, and she demonstrates how to dance the brush to create natural shapes, fling in subtle highlights and tickle edges to refine her design.

Taylor tackles her revisions in stages, allowing her paper to dry completely at critical points. She walks you through a self-analysis and criticism of the waterfall scene then shows you how to implement the necessary changes. The flexibility of YUPO helps her complete major revisions even after her initial painting dries. Throughout the process, Taylor maintains the sunny disposition reflected in her energetic strokes and even her eye-catching palette. To discover the freedom of synthetic paper and add life to your watercolor experience, join Taylor Ikin in Dancing with YUPO.