Loosening Up My Art With A Credit Card & Lefranc Bourgeois Flashe Paints

[@circumboreal]

This was enchanting to watch. I can almost hear the insects and songbirds whirring above the grasses in the finished piece. Truly lovely!

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@NovaGraphics2C]

Extremely well done.

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@Samantha_tookey197]

Wow! That was fabulous! I love the effect you got ❤

[@helencryer]

Thank you!!

[@triciabennetts6578]

Luscious layers of paint! ❤

[@wendyj_thecoddiwomplelady]

That looks such good fun! Love how it turned out, I can see it on a greetings card 🙂

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@barbararedmon]

It's lovely and inspiring. Thank you

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@clairebradbury11]

Love it! Makes me want to give it a go.

[@helencryer]

I'd love to know if you do!

[@megbowyer6436]

Wow I love it.

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@janemcgrath9615]

Looks like good fun,I’ve only ever used a credit card to create textured rock/cliff surfaces,never attempted a whole painting 😅. Will give it a go! Yours turned out beautifully,I love the scrunched kitchen towel trees.

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@cindyfromsydney7693]

Great texture! ❤

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@karynrammer3942]

This was so fun to watch! It was kind of magical when you started putting the field lines in and slightly dragging the card up to make trees. Instant depth! I’m so glad you are willing to show your experiments like this - it’s super inspiring & always makes me want to paint. I’ve learned not to watch your videos too late or I’ll end up painting when I should be going to bed. 😅

[@helencryer]

Haha!! Thanks so much! I really enjoyed putting the field lines in and was highly relieved it started looking a bit better after that!

[@melissamartinart]

This looks like it was so fun to paint!

[@helencryer]

It was!!

[@MultiPassionateCreator]

That looks awesome! I was worried there for a minute but you pulled it together beautifully!

[@helencryer]

Haha! I'm always worried!!

[@jomassey4207]

Wow! So fearless! Gives me the balls to try this...love the end product...and what good are credit cards, in this day and age anyway??? Loved watching every movement and moment.😊 Jo. From New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@helencryer]

Haha, thanks! I wouldn't particularly recommend using your current cards still though! 😉

[@lisasimpsondietrick7160]

I really enjoyed this video, I would have become frustrated early on with this technique so it was great to see you keep going and make a nice piece. You inspire me to try something different every time I watch your videos!

[@helencryer]

I always have to keep going because my early stages are always so ugly!! Thanks so much!

[@JLB0880]

It’s beautiful! When I watched Bob Ross as a child, my absolute favorite thing was when he used his pallet knife. This gave me the same feeling - magical 😊

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much!

[@michaelinglis3566]

Hi Helen , what a joy to watch this loose painting , I've never managed to loosen up enough so I looked at the credit card use with great interest ( get it ? ) Mike in Exeter xx

[@helencryer]

Haha, very good! Thanks!

[@zenlife1200]

I love it! That looked like a lot of fun 😃

[@helencryer]

Thanks!!

[@melc23]

Love your sense of adventure with experimenting Helen. I'd be so proud of that result! (Fabulous mucky fingers as well! A sign of a good arty session 😀)

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much!!

[@megc.1091]

Loved it, Helen. Totally enchanting!❤🤍💙

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@teresawilson9530]

Brilliant ❤

[@lisaharner3720]

❤❤❤does the credit card seem similar to a pallet knife? I love that you are open to using unconventional techniques. It turned out so beautiful!

[@helencryer]

I've hardly done anything with palette knife - I just have the little one I used for a few details, so I couldn't really compare. Thanks!

[@snowpony001]

You’re always willing to challenge yourself and expand your creative skills. I just love that! That turned out really nice 👍. Thanks for sharing that. It’s a good reminder and source of inspiration.

[@helencryer]

That's really kind - thank you!

[@somepinkflowers]

I ❤ it 🎉

[@valeriegehling4358]

Like the fact you‘re not frightened to just „do it“! Carry on, I like the fact you‘ve no fear! It comes out in your results! Super! Thanks.

[@helencryer]

Oh I've definitely got fear! But keep trying to do it anyway! Thanks!

[@jessicastrideart]

That’s so brave to just dive on in there with a card! This is amazing Helen! x

[@helencryer]

Thanks! 😁

[@annejameson3425]

Wow. Turned out great! Have you ever watched Karen Rice, KZbinr? She does some amazing watercolours using a card.

[@helencryer]

I haven't heard of her - thanks!

[@jennyrose1274]

The picture is full of life and movement. You are so imaginative, a great result . Reminds me of Suffolk.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! Not far away - the photo was taken in Cambridgeshire!

[@ChantelleArts]

Fantastic video, you are such an inspiration☺☺☺

[@helencryer]

That's really kind, thank you!

[@awatercolourist]

Love this idea of mostly using a credit card!

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Maybe a bit harder with watercolours though!

[@awatercolourist]

@@helencryer I’ve seen several artists use cards to paint out rocks. They apply a thick layer of paint then use the card to scrape out rocks. Terry Harrison uses this technique. It has never ever worked with me 😄.

[@helencryer]

Oh! Interesting! Not seen that before!

[@teekierudite5108]

Initially I was expecting that painting with a card would be more like painting with a palette knife, but didn't look that way. Then as you progress and bring out more details, it just blossomed (and then you brought out the cutest palette knife)! I have to say I love the foreground, the flowers and foliage are wonderful. Also, because of the colors and the shapes, it reminds me of an old Japanese screen painting, Irises by Ogata Kōrin, Japan Edo period, 18th century. It just has a similar feeling to it.

[@helencryer]

Thanks so much! I will have to go and look the painting up, thank you. I've never really painted with a palette knife, except the little one a couple of times.

[@angelaschredl9245]

So so wonderful ❤

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@patriciarae2133]

Beautiful and so inspiring! I too have been frustrated and bored by my tight landscapes recently so I must try this - but I very much doubt I’ll be able to produce anything so lovely. Thanks so much for sharing the idea.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I'd definitely give it a go!

[@thompson_jules0]

This turned out beautifully and I could almost feel how much fun you were having😍 I love Flashe paints, so thick and juicy❤️ I’ve only ever used a credit card with watercolour when painting along with Karen Rice but it looks great fun using these thicker paints too………inspired🙏🏼

[@helencryer]

You're the second person to mention Karen Rice - I need to look her up! Thanks!

[@curlew-3592]

Lovely 😁

[@terrilyon6825]

Great end result, and looks like a great exercise to try.

[@helencryer]

Thanks!

[@eviedivadoodles]

Oh, I love how it turned out Helen! 😍 I've got a pot of 'odd bits' that I keep close by to use when I need loosening up... gonna have to find an old card out now to add to it! 😎

[@helencryer]

Ooo - what else do you keep on hand?!

[@eviedivadoodles]

@@helencryer oh all sorts - sticks from outside, an old metal tube, a gnarly toothbrush, an old spiral thing made from metal that I took from a calendar... if I can make a mark with it, it gets put in the pot! 🤣

[@helencryer]

That's so good! I'll start keeping my eye out for things!

[@Purpleladybirdart]

Yes to loosening up but it’s so hard. 😂 Beautiful painting. 🙏💜

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I agree!

[@suzannemarshall7458]

Ilove that piece very much. I"ve got try it

[@helencryer]

Thanks! Yes, do!

[@Brilliantnash]

Love it❤

[@TheYellowsun76]

Beautiful!! Great idea! I will have to give this a try.

[@helencryer]

Brilliant! Thank you!

[@anapaulaotero-illustration875]

Amazing ❤

[@riverAmazonNZ]

That is definitely challenging! You did amazing! My new sketchbook arrived today so I will be getting into some landscapes. Looseness is my goal for this sketchbook, let’s hope I can achieve it! I have loads of photos taken over the summer that I’m keen to paint.

[@helencryer]

Thank you! I send you good loose wishes for your new sketchbook!

[@FaithAnnNB]

I love how this turned out!! What a cool/fun idea!! I’ve only used a card for scraping paint / adding texture, but never as a way to actually apply the paint. Funny you used the palette knife later on because throughout the video, I kept thinking that it reminded me of doing some of my loose acrylic pieces with a large palette knife. (I absolutely adore doing acrylic palette knife paintings.) The card seems like a really nice way to paint loosely.

[@helencryer]

I should probably get some decent palette knives. I've only got that tiny one, and I've hardly ever used it.

[@FaithAnnNB]

@@helencryer When I first got into palette knife style paintings, I bought a few in different sizes and a couple of different shapes. It’s almost like playing with different brush shapes/sizes… really fun! I’ve had mine for a million years, no need to replace them like brushes.

[@helencryer]

Which are your favourite sizes/shapes? I have also been looking at the Princeton Catalyst tools - in particular the large white one, and a couple of smaller textured ones.

[@FaithAnnNB]

@@helencryer Ohhh… those catalyst tools look very interesting! (A few of them remind me of tools I have for adding texture to icing when decorating cakes lol.) I don’t know the names of my palette knives (I bought them by number, not name) so I checked the Princeton brush site under “select artiste palette knives”… I have a lot of the shapes listed there (but not all the sizes). One that I remember using a lot and liking has an oval end, Princeton doesn’t seem to have that one listed. Of the ones on their site, I used the “scrapers” and “spades” the most, I’d say. I had each of them in a couple of sizes… and I know I used the “flat scraper” a fair bit. I’ve been talking to a friend about wanting to dig out my acrylics and do a palette knife painting… after all this talk, I think I’m going to have to do it sooner than later!

[@helencryer]

Thanks ever so much for all the info. I will enjoy taking a closer look at them.

[@gwenritch]

Beautiful and interesting

[@helencryer]

Thank you!

[@emotionalsupportpaintbrush]

Are flashe paints matte when they dry? It’s hard to tell

[@helencryer]

Yes they are. My painting just hadn't dried by the end of this video! I have a more detailed video on Flashe paints here, in case you're interested: kzbin.info/www/bejne/anSrc2CZjaplh8U