COLLAGE CANVASES

The marriage of paper and adhesive is often the base layer of my paintings. I collage paper shapes onto the surface, sometimes in a patchwork pattern and other times organically on the page, to prepare my artwork for layers of paint and doodling. Finding the doodle in collage elements can be a challenge, but it is often a great exercise to help jumpstart the mark-making process.

Explore creating collage canvases with papers, photos and photocopies! Here are some ideas:

Consider using unusual fabrics and papers as a base for collage. Some examples include Tyvek material, manila folders, drill cloth and osnaburg fabric.

Create graffiti tissue paper (see page 48) and collage it onto canvas. Thinner or more transparent papers, like tissue and napkins, work great to build up canvas layers.

Place a stencil on your canvas and spread molding paste over it to build up texture. Embed stickers, tape or silk flowers in the paste. Since molding paste dries to an off-white shade, I also adhere paper pieces with Collage Pauge Matte if I want the paper surface to show through the adhesive. The more layers you collage, the longer it takes for the entire piece to dry. You may need to let it sit overnight.

To obtain a smoother finish, you can iron the canvas while it is still damp. Place the canvas between two sheets of parchment paper and iron it until it is dry. Let the canvas sit until it is cool, then peel off the parchment paper.

BASIC COLLAGE CANVAS TECHNIQUE

Make your own canvas backgrounds from natural fiber papers. These canvases are flexible, with a fabric and paper feel. They can be painted, collaged and doodled over. Use them alone or turn them into art journal covers.

Lay a piece of freezer paper shiny side up over your surface. Apply a layer of molding paste onto freezer paper, press handmade paper onto molding paste, and work on small sections at a time, overlapping shapes. Tear or cut more handmade paper and apply more molding paste to build a thicker canvas or use Collage Pauge for the final layers of paper.

Collage layers of mulberry, lace and Asian handmade papers on top of a cardboard mailing envelope. Doodle a girlie glam face (see page 92) on the canvas with India ink and a round brush.

Create a canvas with layers of handmade papers, then paint over it with acrylic paints. Cut painted papers and tissues into the shape of a house and a heart. Write the word love with a white correction fluid pen on tissue paper and adhere it to the canvas with Collage Pauge.

EXERCISE: PAPER LAYERS CANVAS

Natural fiber papers and neutral-colored lace create a great base for a collage canvas. Cut or tear these materials into smaller pieces and collage them to your selected background. Fabric, cardboard or a manila folder are all great options.

CREATIVE TOOLBOX

1 (2.5CM) FOAM BRUSH

BASE SUCH AS FABRIC, CARDBOARD OR A MANILA FOLDER

COLLAGE ITEMS SUCH AS HANDMADE PAPER, LACE, THIN PAPERS, NAPKINS, DYED PAPER TOWELS AND TULLE

COLLAGE PAUGE

EMBELLISHMENTS SUCH AS STENCILS, TAPE AND SILK FLOWERS

FREEZER PAPER

MOLDING PASTE (GOLDEN)

PALETTE KNIFE

Place a canvas base over a piece of freezer paper. The canvas pictured here uses a piece of thick textured packing fiber paper as the base. Apply molding paste onto a section of the paper base with a palette knife.

Cut or tear handmade papers and place pieces in the molding paste. Using a foam brush, apply Collage Pauge as needed to each paper layer.

Continue to add molding paste and place more paper until the base is completely covered.