Things You'll Need
Vellum
Drawing pencil
Paper
Paint
Eraser
Small plastic cups
Brushes
Water
Modern vellum is a specialty paper that is translucent and manufactured by embossing wood pulp and cotton fibers. The earliest vellum was actually un-tanned animal skin used for writing by the Hebrews in the first millennium B.C. The skins were cleaned and dried under tension. Later, the pelts were polished with pumice stones from volcanos. Today's vellum has the same delicate qualities as the ancient vellum and are limitless in creative possibilities. You can easily paint on vellum as long as you are careful of its drying time.
Step 1
Sketch your idea on sketch paper before you begin your painting. Transfer your drawing onto your painting by copying it. You may also trace the drawing by placing your vellum paper over your sketch, since vellum is transparent. Prepare your paints. If you are using acrylics, you can put small amounts of each color in small plastic cups. If you are using watercolors or gouache, you can place small amounts of each color on your watercolor palette.
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Step 2
Dip your brush into your paint to begin. Paint in a thin layer on the vellum to avoid the colors running into each other, making a muddy looking painting.
Step 3
Allow the first layer paint to dry before starting another layer. Once you have completed your painting, you can erase any pencil marks, especially if you used watercolor.
Tip
Paper vellum is not the best material for oil painting. Oils take a very long time to dry, and they may slide off the vellum surface.
Historically, animal hide vellum was often painted on and is still used by some artists today.
Warning
Place newspaper or old cloths on the painting table and floor to protect them while you paint.
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