Exercise 11:
CREATE TEXTURE WITH WRINKLED AND FOLDED PAPER

IN THIS EXERCISE, YOU CREATE TEXTURED AND ABSTRACT ART BY FOLDING, WRINKLING, OR CRUMPLING PAPER, AND THEN APPLYING A WASH TO COVER THE SHEET. THESE CAN BECOME AN ART PIECE OR A GREAT ADDITION TO YOUR COLLAGE OR DIGITAL LIBRARY FOR LATER USE. CONSIDER THIS TO BE MARK MAKING ON A LARGER SCALE.

MATERIALS

Newspaper or large craft paper

Black, gray, or tan medium-weight craft paper (thin enough to fold or crumple)

Palette

Black or white gouache, depending on the color paper you choose

Inexpensive brush for mixing

Mop brush or flat brush to make wash strokes

Black or white paint pen, marker, or gel pen

1. Cover your painting space with newspaper or large craft paper.

2. Wrinkle, fold, and crumple your paper. (See A.)

3. Open up your paper and lay it flat. Lightly smooth it down a bit with your hand.

4. On a palette, mix the gouache with water to get a smooth, yogurt-like consistency. Use an inexpensive brush for mixing. Using a mop or flat brush, paint the gouache with broad strokes over the entire sheet. The paint will catch the lines made by the folds yet leave valleys of white space. (See B.)

5. Study your creation and decide which marks to make in the valleys of negative space. Draw directional lines, stippling (dots), crosshatching, or texture patterns in pen. (See C.) You may choose to leave it as is, creating a fun piece of abstract art.