Today, I’ll show you how to make “glazed” watercolor tiles with the help of a time-saving printable. You can incorporate your tiles into mail art (as I did today), home décor, greeting cards, or sketchbook pages! The secret is to keep an opaque white ink or paint on hand to add ceramic-like highlights.
I might be a little obsessed with colorful glazed tiles. In our house, we’ve been known to add them to stairs, put them on tabletops, and even draw them on the walls! Glazed watercolor tiles were bound to make their way onto a piece of mail art or two. Today, I’m going to show you how to draw realistic-looking tiles with the help of a handy free printable.
For this tutorial, you’ll need a few key supplies. You can find links below this photo:
First, place the tiles printable on a light box, then put the envelope on top. Use the Soot Black ink and your dip pen to trace over the tiles, which you should be able to see shining up through the envelope.
If you don’t have a light box, you can use a bright window as a makeshift light box. If you choose to go that route, you’ll need to trace your tiles with a pencil, then trace over the pencil lines with your Ziller ink.
As you trace, be sure to “cut” the middle two tiles in half. The top halves should feature the tile design, while the bottom halves should remain empty.
When you’re finished, the envelope should look something like this:
Now, use your dip pen and ink to write the recipient’s name in the left blank tile. Then, write the recipient’s address in the right blank tile.
Next, use a light blue tone like Cerulean Blue Hue to fill in the portions of the tiles shown below:
Then, use Cadmium Red deep hue to fill in the portions shown in this photo:
Use Intense Blue to fill in the remainder of the large design elements:
Then, use Cadmium Yellow Hue to fill in any lines on the tile designs. Once you’ve done that, use watered-down Payne’s Gray to outline the tiles with the recipient’s name and address.
To finish up, use a paintbrush and Bleed Proof White ink to add wavy, inconsistent lines of highlights to the outside of each tile. Doing this will add that ceramic/glazed effect that we want.
Once the white ink has dried (give it a good hour or two), you can add Microglaze to the envelope, if you want to. You don’t have to apply Microglaze, but Microglaze will protect the envelope and give it a slightly shiny look, which adds to the “glazed” effect!
This watercolor tile technique doesn’t just have to be used for envelopes. It looks just as great when it’s framed and used as home décor. You can take the tutorial a step further and use it to make all-occasion greeting cards or gift tags!
If you love the idea behind this mail art, but you don’t have the time to make it, I’ve got a tiles mail art printable envelope! It’s part of the TPK Tutorial Printable Mail Art Templates collection. To use it, you just cut, fold, and glue. Easy-peasy!
I hope that today’s tutorial inspires you to try making your own glazed watercolor tiles! They’re a little time-consuming, but also very relaxing and fun. The perfect way to spend a couple of hours on a lazy summer day! Happy creating and enjoy.
Warmly,
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