I just finished teaching a Mail Art class at Pennysmiths Paper. In the class, we discovered the different effects that could be created using Studio Series Dual-Tip Alcohol Markers. The markers are a perfect tool for exploring blending techniques, watercolor tricks, and doodling patterns. The two-hour class was over before we could draw our fourth envelope, the Cactus Patch. Below are the steps I followed to create the mail art pictured above.
Supplies
- Envelope
- Studio Series Alcohol Dual-Tip Marker Set (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
- Uniball Signo White Pen, Broad (available at Pennysmiths Paper)
- 1 sheet heavyweight paper, cut to fit inside the envelope
- 1 sheet heavyweight paper, to protect the surface where you are working
- Post-it Notes
- Mailing Label (optional)
Steps
- Start by placing post-it notes on the front of the envelope over the address area to keep it the same color as the envelope.
- Insert a cut sheet of heavyweight paper inside the envelope to keep the markers from bleeding onto the backside.
- Select 3-4 harmonious colors (these would be next to each other on the color wheel or all the same color family). Blues or greens work well. Go a bit wilder by using orange, yellow and red or purple, red and blue.
- Using the brush end of the pen, make an inverted “U” that flares out a bit at the bottom.
- Grab another color and draw a stripe just to the right of your first line. The stripes can touch or overlap on the edge. Let the stripe get wider as you move towards the bottom.
- Repeat until the “U” shape is filled with stripes of color.
- Using the fine tip in the same color as your original U-shape, dot the outside to create needles.
- Repeat the above steps next to your original U-shape, but make this one smaller in size and overlap it a bit. This will create the illusion of depth.
- Continue making different sizes and overlapping until the bottom 2/3 of the envelope is covered.
- Pick two harmonious colors for the blossoms. Using the fine tip, make clusters of upside-down teardrop shapes along the top each cactus.
- Select one of the lightest markers and use the fine tip to draw lines for the sky.
- Use your white Signo pen and marker’s fine tips to draw different patterns lining the cactus stripes. If you need some pattern ideas, check out the black and white handout (below).
- With the white Signo pen, add needles to the edges.
- Finally, draw concentric teardrop lines inside the cactus blossoms using the white Signo pen.
- Remove post-it masks. Cover address area with a mailing label for cleaner edges (optional)
- You can play with the design even more by:
- Mixing-in different types of cactus – add a barrel cactus or prickly pear.
- Create a sea life version with coral, starfish, and seaweed.
- Finish the envelope by lining it with colorful paper. Envelope liner templates are available at Pennysmiths Paper.
Looking for more inspiration?
- Little Chimp Society, Mail Me Art Gallery https://www.thelittlechimpsociety.com/gallery-mma4
- Pinterest: Search Mail Art or Envelope Art
- Zentangles : https://craftwhack.com/how-to-zentangle
- YouTube: Search Alcohol Marker videos
- Link to the time-lapse video (below) of this technique: Cactus Mail Art