Welcome to Polly's Blog

Welcome to Polly's Blog
Watercolour, humour, this and that

Thursday 28 February 2013

BRUSHO

I've been having such fun this week, experimenting with Brusho in class. A friend brought some in for me to try that she had used for textiles. Here is a taster of Brusho. Polly style. You may have heard of it. It is like table salt.  I am going on a course in August with Joanne Boon Thomas (check out her site, her work is fabulous). Well I had no idea what to do with it.  I soaked the paper and picked up a few grains and dropped them onto the wet paper like you would salt on watercolours. Woosh! It  looked like fireworks on the paper.  But what to do with it next?  The first pic I made into a tree from La La Land.  I realised that if I put the paper upside down it would run and look like grass, well sort of.  The second I just used two colours, or was it three, and then when dry I used negative shapes to make flowers and added some raw sienna watercolour.
It's a happy tree! (Brusho w/c branches)

Brusho colours Turquoise, red and blue then added raw sienna watercolour

I took the Brusho home and was so worried about the mess I painted outside. I did the same but decided not to use my fingers as they were still blue and purple so picked up a few grains on a brush and dropped them on the wet paper (my hands were still a mess when I'd finished) sprayed some water on the painting and put it vertical. Then I put screwed up cling film on the top and left to dry. My hands were cold and painful by this time but I was determined to finish.  This painting is in progress ......

My idea was that I didnt want to use it like watercolour, what's the point, might as well use watercolour! So wanted to do something completely different, for me!  Talk about exciting.

Brusho explosion! This is what it looks like after dropping in just a few grains of and dried flat! I didn't have to do anything else.
Cling film added


Hope you enjoyed reading about brusho.


29 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had great fun experimenting with this Polly, your results are good too. I bought some Brusho before Christmas but not knowing how to use it my results were not very good. Lucky you to be able to get to a Joanne class

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  2. I don't paint so no idea what Brusho is, or what the advantages are over using salt with watercolour.

    I remember loving a painting by Margaret Dent where she used salt on wet watercolours as background for a horse painting

    http://www.etsy.com/listing/107596339/christmas-sale-25-off-open-edition-print

    I just followed your link and it seems Brusho is a powder?

    anyway, its made for some interesting paintings/results here. My favourites are the 2nd and 3rd ones on this post I think.

    Its good to experiment and the August course sounds fun. Look forward to seeing what evolves

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    1. Oh just assumed you were a painter with a sense of humour!!! Will check out the horse painting and the artist

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  3. Ooh I was thinking of booking on to that course but I think it's full now - I've got some brusho but not got round to trying it yet, it looks a crazy medium!

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    1. Looking forward to the course but glad I had a try first. Will need gloves and an apron. I think it's basically for textiles. Joanne does some lovely work with it - will be a little adventure to see how she teaches with it. Would have been nice to meet you!

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  4. I've never heard of brusho but it looks like you get some interesting effects. I like the way the last one looks with the cling wrap on it. How lucky that you are taking a class with Joanne. I've seen her on video and know her from WetCanvas. She is great! Have fun with this.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by and hearing about something new.

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  5. Brusho is a new one for me...but you've got some amazing effects so worth investigating. I like visiting la- la land too, very creative place!

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    1. It is lethal in that it is a dye I think really for textiles, it gets everywhere. I don't yet know, til I go on the course, how to control it!

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  6. I have never heard about Brusho , have no idea what it is, but what you did with it is magical, wonderful effects created ! The second flower one is fabulous , the colors are so vivid ! Have a nice weekend .

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    1. Yes the colours are very vibrant!!! Have a lovely weekend yourself.

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  7. Hi Polly.
    Guess I'm a 'painter with pencils'. I work in graphite, coloured pencil and pastel - can't be let loose with a brush I'm afraid!

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    1. Don't you class yourself as a painter then? In fact, I am envious of your patience to draw. I'm a lazy painter, the quicker the better give me wet in wet any day. Brusho is so messy, stick with the pencils. I have it under my nails, around my nails, on my clothes. Steer clear and carry on with your nice clean pencil strokes.

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  8. Looks as though you are definitely having fun with this. Great explosions of colour. Not for me though. Too messy. Besides I'm a watercolourist through and through. lol Enjoy the course. Joanne seems really lovely and very talented. Lucky you.

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    1. It's just a novelty, I can't see it being something I would use often! It is like watercolour and that's why I like it, but you can't scrub out, once it's on the paper it's there to stay. And the crystals are alive, they crawl under your finger nails,around your nails, on your clothes. It's rather worrying. I will only use it outdoors and then with care.

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  9. You will love Joanne and the course Polly, she's an excellent tutor with a brilliant eye for what to do next!! I have done 4 full day courses with her on brusho and they were all a treat and I believe the dvd and book are on the way!! Your first efforts are lovely and you are right it is like watercolour but you can also get effects which are just amazing... have done several blogs about Brusho if you're interested...

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    1. Oh thanks Judith will have a butchers. I am glad I have had a try before the course, looks like it is difficult to control. I have been in such a mess with it. Will look out for the dvd and book. Thanks again.

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  10. Thank you Ina. Have a nice weekend

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  11. I had never heard of brusho, but it seems one can use it to produce very interesting effects. Thank you for sharing this information! Well illustrated, too :)

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    1. Thanks Blaga. Think it's really for textiles but Joanne Boon Thomas uses to great effect

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  12. Hi Polly:) Wow what an effect this Brusho has! I love it!! Thank you for sharing. I'm very excited about it. And your paintings are stunning. Really nice! Thank you:)

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  13. Hello, me again:) Is it possible to make a photo of the Brusho? And the box it is in? Would be wonderful. I've never heard of it. I want to see if it is for sale in the Netherlands.

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    1. I am soon to do another post on brusho and ofcourse, especially for you, will photograph the box and contents. I believe you can order it on Amazon in uk will check for you. Watch this space!

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  14. Bonitas pinturas de bello colorido.
    Mis felicitaciones.

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  15. Welcome to my blog. Thank you for your comments.

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  16. I was just about to ask you about the Brusho, and first decided to have a look futher down the page and found all I needed. Thanks so much for sharing! Beautyful effect! Hope your easter has been joyful! Take care!

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    1. I've had a wonderful Easter, thanks to my blogging friends. Not just for the ideas but for the lovely comments too. Back to normal now. xx

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  17. Hi, I have been using Brusho for some time but I am not impressed maybe because I don't use it properly. But when I shake a color on the paper there are too many speckles that remain eventhought I've put enough water. thanks.

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