Does anyone know what these paints are called?

[KurriKurri]

I saw someone using some paints a while ago,

you make your surface of your paper wet within the lines of whatever you are drawing, and you put little 'paint crystals' onto the wet area. They produce a sort of colour run effect, - for instance this woman was painting leaves, and a few crystals gave a kind of watery red/yellow/brown effect - similar to water colour, but the colour is more intense. And the remains of the crystal stay on the surface of the paper giving a textured effect.

Apparently you can get these crystals on the internet, and they can also be used on fabric.

Does anyone have any idea what I am on about, - I've googled paint crystals, but that isn't coming up with what I'm looking for.

Well done if you can understand my description! TIA

I meant to say, they are not glittery in anyway. The colour is more like an ink.

Hopeful bump, since I posted rather late last night

I've never heard of them but I'm intrigued.

Have you tried youtube just in case someone has posted a tutorial?

that's a good idea teanosugar I'll give that a go, - the effect was lovely, and looked fairly simple to achieve.

salt crystals will do this to water colours. Paint the area, sprinkle on the salt and brush off when dry.

I guess that it'd work on any water based pigment if it was watery enough, perhaps it was gouache or acrylic that you saw it with?

Or, paint the area and then dab it with bubble wrap - that's a great effect for rocks/leaves too.

let us know how you do!

thanks mybabyweight - these were crystals which had the pigment in themselves - she didn't use any paint, just the crystals, - but if I can get the same effect with salt, so much the better - I'll experiment and let you know the results.

The lady I met couldn't remember what they were called, but if I ever meet her again, I'll pin her down and force her to reveal her secrets make further inquiries

I got very distracted on youtube by watching lots of other interesting tutorials - no luck with the magic crystals though!

wow.

want!

It's not Brusho is it? It is a powdered but you can sprinkle it on wet paper and it spreads. Looks a bit like crystals when it does it.

You can also paint Brusho onto papers and put salt crystals on and it has a similar effect the paint behaves in a similar sort of way goes all crystally (made up word alert!!).

It's this stuff. This is where I got mine from and I have used it for the crystal effect.

I also found video which might show what you are looking for (haven't watched all of it)

Brilliant Bertha that's them thank you so much - what style of painting do you do? I generally do oil pastels or acrylic, - always feel a bit heavy handed for water colours, but when I saw these crystals, I thought I might be able to get my fat fingers around that technique

Nothing quite so artistic I am afraid!

I am doing a City and Guilds in Design and Craft for Patchwork and quilting. I have been using the Brusho for the design bit. We decorate papers and use them to simulate fabric and stitching in the planning stage of our projects.

We used Brusho last week for the texture module - painting it over monoprints which were done in acrylics, but we also used it in the colour module as it makes such brilliant (literally) colours. Oh and another part of what we have done is book making as a way of displaying our design work and we used Brusho for that. The sprinkling bit was good as you can see the crystals break down into their different colours. Black is really good. It is all good fun but I would never count myself in the same league as proper artists like you. It is just a means to an end for me although I do wish I was able to properly paint.

Oh I'm not a proper artist - strictly amateur and for fun - but I do like trying out different things. Your city and Guilds course sound really interesting - I wish I had the skill for patchwork.

I do love intense bold colours, and the brusho looks as if you can get lovely deep colour combined with the softness of line you get in a water colour.

Have you tried Koh-i-noor paints? They are like Brusho - same intensity of colour, also watercolours but in little solid blocks. They would be no good for the crystal thing but they are nice to daub paint with.

C & G design and craft courses aren't just patchwork. They do all sorts. It is good fun for somebody like me who hasn't lifted a paint brush since I gave up art at 13! They do things like interior design and fashion so you don't have to be a sewer. I should imagine the design bits on colour, line and texture are very similar across the board, it is the craft bits that differ.

So are you going to get some Brusho? It is quite expensive but a little goes a long way

The Koh-i-Noor ones look good too, - maybe could try them with the salt method.

I'm definitely going to get some Brusho (but probably next month, as I have car tax this month!)

I must investigate City and Guilds, - I've never had any formal kind of training, and am probably a bit past it now. As I say I'm just an enthusiastic amateur, - I do go to various art clubs, and show a bit of work in local exhibitions, - it's just a very relaxing hobby.

Every time I see something new and interesting, I want to have a go

Before someone came up with the name, I was wondering if the coloured crystals used (with added water) to support plants would achieve same effect?
As I remember, one bought clear crystals, like the water-retaining variety, and mixed with powdered colour- sorry I can't remember name but it would produce good effects.