Week 27

Gel Skin

BY DARLENE OLIVIA MCELROY AND SANDRA DURAN WILSON | from Image Transfer Workshop

illustration

Artwork by Sandra

Duran Wilson

Use your paintbrush this week to create a gel skin for an image transfer. Gel skins can be made using toner-based or magazine images. You can use a black-and-white image, then paint the back of the gel skin to add color and texture to your finished artwork.

Materials

illustration toner-based or magazine image

illustration scissors

illustration background surface

illustration soft gel (gloss)

illustration paintbrush

illustration sandpaper

illustration spray bottle with water

illustration

1. Prepare the image

Choose a toner-based or magazine image. Using scissors, cut the image to the desired size. Using a paintbrush, apply a soft gel to the image. Let the gel dry. Add 2–3 more layers of the soft gel, allowing each layer to dry thoroughly (the gel will become clear when it is completely dry).

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2. Sand the backing

Let the final layer of soft gel dry thoroughly, which could take overnight or longer. Using sandpaper, gently roughen the back of the image.

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3. Moisten the backing

Using a spray bottle with water, moisten the back of the image.

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4. Rub off the backing

Using your fingers, rub off the paper backing.

Tip

illustration If there is too much paper on the back, let it dry completely, and repeat Steps 3 and 4 until all of the paper is removed. You can also use some clear polymer medium to make the paper backing more transparent.

illustration The skin has an edge when pasted down that can be minimized with additional gels and mediums; or, if you prefer, you can play up the edge in the artwork.

illustration Using soft gel (gloss) will keep your images clear even with two to three layers of gel. You can alter the finish by applying a satin or matte varnish as your final coat.

illustration If copying the image, it will be reproduced backwards. The image can be flipped using the setting on the copy machine.