Watercolor Tutorial | Resist Technique – We are the Clay

Greetings beloved Illustrated Faith Tribe!

Have you ever had a rebellious streak?  A resistance to the work of the Lord in your heart and mind?  I have.  Here’s the deal —  I love the Lord with all my heart.  I want to be His.  I want to be molded by Him.  But frankly, I often go my own way, have my own ideas, and close my ears and heart to His work in me.

Shanna writes in Day Two of Created to Create 2 –

In what ways have you been trying to play the Potter instead of the clay? Are you able to surrender that today?

Yikes.

Is God speaking to you?  Because He is speaking to me!

Recently, I have been challenged to surrender.  To be like Abraham and put some things I love on the altar.  To say, “Yes, Lord” to whatever He has for my life, especially with all of my “do’s.”    All the things I believe He designed me to “be” and “do.”   Creating and writing are a few of  my “do’s” and man it’s hard!  Creating is almost like breathing to me.  I have so many ideas in my head and heart; but deep in my soul I know God is doing a greater work.  If I am willing to release according to His will,  if I surrender, He will be faithful to heal and to bring beauty from the ashes.

He whispers –

If I take away your ability to create and move, your “do” Amy, will you still love Me?  Will you still serve me?  And even more, can you believe that I love you and value you for more than your “do’s”?

Some lessons are hard friends.  Some lessons are risky and you have to fight fear the whole way one day at a time.  But I am standing in hope and letting the Potter have His way.  I am trusting that He will create something even more beautiful than I can imagine in my surrender.    I have to trust in His goodness and guidance to get me to other side.

Is there something that the Lord is asking you to release into His hands completely?

Isaiah 64:8 –

But now oh Lord, You are our Father;

we are the clay and You are the Potter;

We are the work of Your hand.

Let’s gather our supplies for the resist technique:

• Watercolors
• Mixing Tray
• Crayola Crayons
• 3/4″” Flat Wash Watercolor brush

I mixed up a few colors using mainly my Illustrated Faith palette.  I love the fuschia pink!

I did add a bit of Windsor Newton Scarlet Lake into the orange, but just a touch to make the orange a bit darker.  I added a bit of Sennelier Turquoise to Illustrated Faith Teal but ended up not liking it later and just used straight up Illustrated Faith Teal for most strokes.

Because I wanted a scratchy, rough surface to write on, I grabbed my Dina Wakely clear gesso.  I applied it with my finger just to the margin area where I am going to write.

Because I am impatient, I used my craft heat tool to quicken the drying process.

I used two coats and also wisely slipped my Bible Matt behind the page with the second coat.  So much easier to keep the gesso from going where I don’t want it to go.

Next up, we are going to use a very expensive, highly sophisticated resist medium — LOL – Crayola crayons!  Cost about $1.50 per box!

The Bible Mat also provided a good stiff surface to write out my heart as I prayed about being clay in the Lord’s hands.

Now the fun part.  Watercolors!  I wanted the strokes to be loose so I grabbed a large mop brush from my stash.

I did dry the watercolor a bit between strokes because I didn’t want them to blend together.

Once my watercolors were applied.  I underlined the key verse, Isaiah 64:8 and pulled out some kit pieces.  Delight!

I decided I wanted to write a prayer to the Lord on one of the hearts in the kit.

I love the clear sheets of stickers.  I adhered the heart with a heart.

and sealed it with an Amen!

Next up a tab.  I love the clear stickers but I wanted to see the sticker so I grabbed some scrap paper.  I think it was April Crosier at Marine Parents who said “nothing is trash when you are creative” to which I say another Amen!

I cut out the tab.

And adhered it to my page.  So perfect!

Love the washi that comes with this kit so I added a few strips at the bottom and a couple more stickers.

Don’t you just love the “written on my heart” sticker in the kit!

Frankly, I wanted to add ALL the THINGS but… must restrain myself so I have pieces for other entries!

Yielding to the Potter is always the right path.  Hoping in the Lord is a sure thing.  He’s always got a plan to mold us and bring beauty from the ashes.

Tag me on Instagram (@designsbyamybruce) with your crayon resist creations!  I bet your are going to come up with some super creative ideas!

So many hugs,

amy bruce