IF YOUR MUSE HAS LEFT THE BUILDING, or if you are still fighting the fear of the blank canvas, spend a day mono printing and painting papers. It could be just the remedy you need. Since many of these papers and prints will be used in collage elements in upcoming chapters, you may want to work with one or two color palettes so that your papers work together nicely. Believe me, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to techniques for creating painted papers. My hope is for you to be inspired and let go of any fear you may have of getting started!
Assorted paints
Bristol paper
Deli paper
Dura-Lar matte film sheets
Dura-Lar mono printing plate
Glazing medium
Lightweight drawing paper
Scrap paper
Scraping tools, brushes and brayers
Spray bottle with water
Stencils and/or stamps
Load paint onto a scraper and drag it across the paper. Vary how you hold the scraper to create an assortment of textural marks. Start with a dark color (black or another dark shade).
Add white or another light-colored neutral and continue scraping, letting the wet paint mix together on the paper. The base layer should look similar to a weathered brick or cement wall.
Use a small brush to add simple shapes to the background. Continue using the small round brush to add smaller shapes in a loose, calligraphic manner.
Mix a small amount of glazing medium with paint, and roll it onto a mono printing plate with a brayer. Scrape into the wet paint to create patterns.
Take a scrap piece of painted paper and press it onto the printing plate. Pull it up to reveal the print.
Add more paint to the printing plate, drawing in lines or patterns with a skewer or the back of your paintbrush.
Make a print with a different type of paper. Deli paper is a great choice for collage and journal projects because it is so thin. It is more durable than tissue but provides a similar look when collaged onto a surface.
Mist the printing plate with water. Take scrap papers and pull prints starting in different areas of the paper. This will create interesting overlay patterns on your print.
Without cleaning the plate, continue to build up patterns using a contrasting color. If the paint dries quickly, mix it with a bit of glazing medium.
Use inexpensive copy or drawing paper to explore the possibilities. You can make multiple prints at a very low cost and create your own stockpile of prints for future art pieces!
It may be tempting to use many colors during your printmaking/paper painting sessions, however it’s better to limit your palette and build a library of prints that coordinate with one another. Another advantage to limiting your palette is that you can mix paints and reprint several times before cleaning your brush or palette. Try new color combinations in each printmaking/paper painting session.
