After a few months in the darkroom I’m back again to civilization and once again I’m working with image transfers. Mixed media transfers are a great activity for cold & rainy days, or any other time, when you are trapped indoors for awhile.
And just in case you haven’t purchased or downloaded my wonderful book yet, and therefore don’t know how to make a mixed media transfer, here is a detailed description just for you.
What you need:
• Inkjet photo or laser photocopy
• Collage materials such as: newspaper clippings, designer or hand-made
papers, stamps, ticket stabs, brown paper bags, wrapping paper, etc.
• Acrylic or water paints
• Mod Podge
• Gesso
• Canvas or wood panel
• A water spray bottle
• UV-resistant clear finish
1) Gather your collage materials and lay them out in a design of your choice on any size canvas or wood panel. Adhere the collage pieces onto the surface using Mod Podge.
2) Make sure to cover the collage pieces with Mod Podge so it doesn’t only adhere the papers to the canvas but also protects it to all eternity (or at least a few years).
3) Next, cover the collage layer with watered-down gesso. It will mute the layer a bit and also will tie the pieces together.
4) Add a thin layer of acrylic or water paint of your choice. Don’t over do it so it doesn’t overwhelm the other layers.
5) Let the collage thoroughly dry.
6) Convert the photo of your choice to black and white (not grayscale) by adding brightness and 100% contrast. In some cases color photos will work as well but black and white often works better.
7) You can use either a xerox photocopy of your image or an image printed from your inkjet printer. If you are using an inkjet, print out a mirror version of your image into a standard printer paper.
8 ) Cover your image with Mod Podge and press it face down into the collage. Rub gently with your fingers to smooth out any air bubbles.
9) If you are using an inkjet photo you will have to wait only about 15-30 minutes for the Mod Podge to dry and for the transfer to complete. If you are using a photocopy let it set for a few hours, preferably over night.
10) Spray the back of your photo with water and gently remove and rub off the excess paper with your fingers in order to reveal the transfer. If you are using a photocopy you will have to repeat this step until the access paper is completely gone.
11) For the final touch you can add text, letters, gesso and paints.
12) Preserve your art work with a protective finish such as “preserve it!” by Krylon for inkjet or Krylon Crystal Clear if you used a toner based photocopy.
13) Clean up this mess !
