Stampscapes® is a line of rubber stamps based on individual - interchangeable designs from nature that, when combined, form seamless scenes of various environments. Each design has been hand drawn with the idea of it being used with it's sibling designs where merging comes in the easiest possible way. Complicated masking, careful positioning, and tedious planning are no longer necessary in your landscape stamping.

In many samples and lessons, that you'll find on this web site, a certain technique has been used to achieve the final result. However, it is necessary to note that Stampscapes is not a technique and the line is series of images that can be used in many different forms of media as can be seen in the individual galleries of the "Gallery" section.

One way that you can see how the stamps have been used in the lessons section of the site is using a stamp we call the Tonal Applicator code 084E, dye based inks, and glossy paper. To finish the scenes I've been using the various pastel gel pens and, lately, some opaque Colorbox pigment inks.

What is the Tonal Applicator?

The building block of most of the Stampscapes® stamps is the "dot". In pen and ink illustration we call this method of drawing "stippling". The Tonal Applicator is an extension of this idea. If the stamps are built out of dots, then this stamp is using the same building block --the dots-- to merge them together by using it's design to apply tone. While this stamp is a rubber stamp it's important to see it as more of a tool than an image in itself.

The Tonal Applicator is the item in the Stampscapes line that tends to cause the most confusion as to it's method of use. It's an easy tool to master in a very short period of time but there are some specific things to avoid as well as specific things to make it's usage go smoothly.

Click here for a detailed TONAL APPLICATOR LESSON

What dye based colors do you use?

I like using pads from various companies. I'm using Marvy Matchables from Uchida, Sea Brights/Adirondak/Sea Shells from Ranger (By the way, Sea Shells are the BEST pads to use as your first colors in the Tonal Application process due to their very light values), Designer Inks from Printworks. I also use the brush markers from Marvy all the time as there are so many colors to choose from. There are so many other great pads and color ranges from other manufacturers but I haven't used them personally. Basically, as long as it's a raised dye-based ink pad, I don't think you can go wrong these days as the quality has gone up so much these last few years.

What other materials do you use?

For paper I like to use glossy. You can use other paper for various applications in media but for the process of using the Tonal Applicator, glossy works best. The specific paper I like is by King James and is called "Cast Coat". You can call your local stamp store to see if they stock it or find it at paper suppliers.

I started using opaque colors such as the Colorbox "Frost White" a couple years ago to add some finishing touches to some scenes. You can see this in "Vapor" or in a Rubberstampmadness ad. "Light & Mist". The white was applied with a Q-Tip swab. You can also play around with oil pastels on your scenes.

Gel pens are excellent for adding those final touches to your scenes. I use pastel colors because they're light in value and I'm usually using the pens to add highlights, sparkles, and stars.

Spraying your scenes with something like a Krylon "Crystal Clear" (clear acrylic) is a good way to seal and protect your work. It doesn't make it light-safe and prevent fading (if exposed or displayed in daylight for too long) but it will bring out a nice translucency to your work. I liken it to staining wood or finding a rock on the beach that, when it's wet, looks glossy and glass-like in nature. A two dimensional card won't look quite like deep layered glass but if you lay down a lot of transparent dye based inks in multiple layers it will look deeper and deeper resulting in a very rich surface. Note: if you've used either the gel pens or pigment inks on your scene be sure and spray a very light coat and let it dry before you put a heavier coat on. This is because the binder that's in the acrylic spray will make these inks run. It's not a water based binder so it won't make the dye-based watercolor pad/pen inks run.

Designing ~Is Stampscapes® an Angel Company?

Designs are by Kevin J. Nakagawa. All drawings are rendered with the Rotring Rapidograph technical pens in the nib sizes of .25, .30, .35, .50, and .70. All Stampscapes® designs are copyright K.J.N. all rights reserved. While images are intended for private non-commercial use, in the Stampscapes® line, I don't mind the designs usage in a limited capacity for hand-stamped products for resale. K.J.N.is a member of the Graphic Artists Guild.