GRAB THOSE PAPERS YOU CREATED; it’s time to use the fruits of your labor in this next grid form. Instead of painting a grid or using a brayer to create the illusion of layers, we are going to take all the prints you’ve made, along with any other papers you’ve collected, and fuse them together in a fun, contemporary collage. If you are at a loss as to where to start, spread your papers out and see which pieces speak to you first. You’d be surprised how one or two colors or patterns can spark an idea you can use for the entire piece.
Assorted papers
Brayer
Charcoal pencil or pen
Craft knife
Deli paper
Matte gel medium
Phone camera
Scissors
Scraping tools
Stamps and stencils
StazOn ink pad in black
Watercolor paper
Wood board
Spread out an assortment of papers. You can use papers painted and printed in earlier chapters or ones you’ve created on your own. Feel free to add interesting papers you’ve collected commercially, too. You also want a mixture of papers that have solid areas in addition to patterns and text. Tissue or deli paper also make great choices for a layering effect.
I find it best to organize my papers by color and then by paper type so when I go to grab a collage element the pieces are fairly organized.
On a piece of watercolor paper cut to size, begin arranging your collage elements. Alternate between cutting and tearing papers to create a varied look. Position some pieces under one another and continue working until you are satisfied with your placement. You are only auditioning your pieces at this point, not adhering them to the paper.
Once you have your placement set, take a picture of your collage with a camera phone. This will help you remember how each piece fit before you take it apart and then reconstruct it with the final adhesive. Using your picture as a guide, glue your papers onto the surface using matte gel medium. Ensure your papers are adhered from edge to edge and that all air bubbles are removed. Using a brayer or scraping tool is a good way to achieve a good bond. Refer to your photo as needed to rebuild your collage.
Once your collage is finished, allow it to dry. If it feels cool to the touch, your piece needs more drying time. Turn the collage over and trim the excess with a craft knife.
Add extra doodles and shading with a charcoal pencil, pen or additional stamps and stencils to enhance the dimension and overall patterns.
Rub a black StazOn ink pad on the edges of your collage to give it a polished look.
To finish your collage, adhere the piece to a wood board. Use a gel medium rather than a fluid medium to lessen the risk of bubbles. Spread medium on both the board and the final collage prior to positioning. Take a piece of drawing paper or deli paper, and place it over the top of your collage. Then roll your brayer starting in the center and working your way out over top of the paper. Check for bubbles and make certain the edges are securely adhered to the board. Place a clean sheet of deli paper on top of your finished piece and add a heavy book to the top for extra weight. Let dry overnight. Check the collage for any loose edges and repeat if needed.
You can frame your collage rather than adhering it to a board. You may want to scan your finished piece so you can recycle your design into future artworks. Simply print out a laser copy to use multiple times in various creative ways.