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Watercolour on Yupo

You will need:

Do:

If you want, use masking tape to secure the edges of the paper to a hard surface. This prevents the paper from curling while you paint.
Wet-on-wet: Wet the surface of the Yupo with clean water using a brush or spray bottle.
Apply paint directly onto the wet surface and watch the colours spread and blend.
Dry brush: Load a relatively dry brush with paint and apply it to the dry Yupo paper.
Sprinkle/splatter: Dip an old toothbrush or use a brush to flick small droplets of watercolour paint onto the Yupo.
Allow each layer to dry completely before adding another.
Experiment with layering colours and creating depth by allowing some areas to remain transparent while adding more opaque layers to others.
Once satisfied, let it dry completely.
Consider adding details or defining shapes with a fine-tip brush or other tools.

Do:

Given the unique makeup of Yupo, you can do things to it that you can't do to other papers.
One project I've done is making sure the Yupo is very wet, such that when you put paint on it it can move around quite a bit.
As the pooling paint dries, it will leave very distinct edges at each stage of the drying process.
You can manipulate the Yupo to move the puddling paint in various directions as it dries.
This method absolutely shows where water droplets have landed, especially if you spray a partially dried surface with water.

Notes:

Yupo paper doesn't absorb water, so the paint will sit on the surface longer and may behave differently than on traditional watercolour paper.
Yupo allows for a lot of experimentation. Don't be afraid to try unconventional methods like lifting off paint with a damp brush, using salt to create texture, or incorporating rubbing alcohol.
You will want to use a fixative to seal your work, as it can too easily be damaged given the nature of Yupo. I have no notes at this time as to which fixatives are going to work best, but I'd be hesitant to use any wet ones. I might consider experimenting with cold wax medium as a sealant. It can be used on regular watercolour/paper, so it may work on Yupo. Test first.
If you make a mistake on Yupo that you want to correct, it is somewhat easily possible by simply using the corner of a damp cloth to wipe away the error. This is handy if you're trying to clean spots and finger marks off the edges around your piece before you frame it.
Remember that Yupo is a smooth surface and it may take more care about choosing writing or drawing materials to use on it.

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