Preserve a message on canvas with rubber cement. Dip a 1/2-inch round paintbrush in rubber cement and write on a large white canvas (we used a beloved ancestor's journal entry for the text). Apply thickly so the words will be legible, then let dry. Mix three intensities of watercolor paint in separate cups, using black to darken and water to lighten. Apply with a large brush and horizontal sweeping strokes, starting out dark and gradually fading near the bottom. Blend as you move down, and keep the canvas flat until dry to avoid drips. No need to peel off rubber cement; the raised texture adds dimension to the piece.