Psalm 63: 6-8
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

Step by step instructions

Materials and Tools
Heavy watercolor paper
Silicone-based spray wax
Acrylic paints
Mulberry paper
Verse or poem
Polymer medium or white glue
Plastic straws
Assorted yarns
Heavy card stock, black

X-acto knife
Paint brushes or sponges
Scissors
Tapestry needle

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Peeled paper technique

Her youngest son, Nick, founded a non-profit organization in his mother’s memory, the mission of which is to help fund the basic needs of children in developing countries.  He calls it Cling.

That story reminded me of one of my favorite psalms, which has a line about clinging to God.  I’ve used that verse in this mixed media piece, and tomorrow I’ll share the peeled paper technique with you that I used to make this.

Psalm 63: 6-8
On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
My soul clings to you;
your right hand upholds me.

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Cling

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Beautiful wall art by Jason Thompson

We’ve explored lots and lots of fun collage techniques over the years. I figured it was past time to compile some of the methods. This post doesn’t include all the techniques like image transfers and making background papers…those posts have been compiled elsewhere!

Collage and Quilt Techniques

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Collage and quilt techniques

Here are some of my favorite methods for creating background papers to use in mixed media art, both physical and digital!  I like to update this list from time to time so that you will always have the information right at your fingertips

Links to Background Papers Tutorials

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Creating backgrounds for artwork

We’ve gone over a LOT of different methods for doing image transfers over the several years that I’ve been with you, and I like to recompile the list every so often.

From transfers using polymer medium to fail-proof kits, all the image transfer links are here. 

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Image transfer methods

Frosty Frieze

Artist: Nancy Tobin
Websites:
www.nancytobin.com
www.nancytobin.etsy.com
www.nancytobin.wordpress.com

Frosty Frieze is a 6-x-6-inch painting on a hardboard panel.

I work by building up layer upon layer of acrylic medium, paint and painted paper that I have either cut with scissors or knife. I use many techniques along the way; stenciling, sponging, delicate brushwork, drawing, and even spray painting. For this painting I incorporated glitter as well.

The end effect I hope for is that of peeking into another world, a place that seems both familiar, and yet strange.

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Snow art: Nancy Tobin

Don’t forget that there are lots of other methods for doing image transfers here on Layers Upon Layers.  You can always find an up-to-date list in the Pages section in the right-hand sidebar, but here’s the list again, with the new Tilano transfer kit added

Polymer medium transfer film

Paper image transfers – plain and photo paper

Fabric image transfers – t-shirt and transparencies

Contact paper transfers (aka Packing tape transfers)

Caulk image transfers

Polaroid image transfers

Digital Polaroid image transfer

Contact printing

New digital ground products from Golden’s

Waxed paper transfer

Tilano transfer kit

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Image transfer methods

Artist: Carol Wiebe
Business name: Silverspring Studio
Location: Kitchener, Ontario, Canada

Website:
SilverSpring Studio

The Summoning

Carol, how do you describe your work?
I’ve followed the creative path in many different ways in my life: drawing, papier mache, stained glass, crochet, painting, sewing, pottery, collage, computer art. At this time, I feel so fortunate, because I can now combine the skills and actual materials from this diverse skill set into what I call mixed media art quilts. Basically, I paint on fabric, or paint, draw and make prints on paper. These are then sewn together in a quilt sandwich. Afterwards, I paint the quilt surface, as well as add clay elements, crochet, papier mache, hand stitching, collage, etc. It’s exhilarating to integrate all those paths into one grand, mixed media highway. Many other artists I’ve communicated with have expressed a similar sense of freedom when they embraced mixed media. Anything goes!

What is your creative process like?
My creative process is one of unfolding and revealing, step by step. I actually tried to explain this one on my blog, after watching a Virginia Cobb DVD about 20 times. She was so articulate about her process, and it felt absolutely familiar to me. She talked about building a painting, one step at a time, and this is how I work. Each step builds on the one before it, which tells or suggests what might follow. Suddenly, you have a piece of work before you that is a marvelous surprise; something I would have had great difficulty planning.

Desire

I usually have quite a few pieces on the go (sometimes 10) and when one stops speaking to me, I let it rest and go to another. There is always a piece that is ready for a conversation! As long as we’re communicating (the piece speaks and I am able to hear it, and act upon it), I keep going! If there is total silence, I can always make monoprints, or doodle, or read an art book. Or go on the Internet and find a site like yours, Cyndi. There’s constant stimulation and inspiration in the digital universe!
[Editor's note - flattery will get you everywhere! ]

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I used to dread this question, because I didn’t finish a fine arts degree: I went on into more “practical” areas (teaching, and library school). I thought I wasn’t a “true” artist because of this “lack” of training. But I wised up to the fact that art is all about fun, and discovery of your world and yourself, and I’m quite content to leave art criticism to the miniscule part of the population that actually comprehends it. I look for workshops that are enjoyable, non-judgmental, and informative. Yes, I said informative, because having enjoyment includes honing my skills and knowledge. Workshops and DVDs are also invaluable to my growth as an artist.

And somewhere along the line I turned a corner and shifted my attention away from “lack” to “joyful engagement.” I simply decided to let myself revel in the exuberant play of making art, and found myself eager to share it with others. Am I a “fine” artist? I do not know, or care. What I do know is that there are those who appreciate my art, because it speaks to them, and there are those who don’t. Both are okay with me: both contribute to my practice of disengaging the critic and the ego from my work.

Messengers

This does not mean that avoid being analytical: every work has its stages where I am in the orgasmic throes of spontaneity and serendipity, after which I study what has “happened” and figure out if and how I can improve it. For example, I quite literally go down the list of the elements and principles of design. Sometimes sheer energy trumps conventional wisdom.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
Beyond the obvious materials that I need for my work (fabric, paper, paint, thread), I would have to say the computer! It is so integral to my process, now, that I would be hard pressed to create without it. Of course, I like to think that in its absence, if it came to that, I would then find another way or path.

Nest

What inspires you to create?
Everything! I keep seeing constant inspiration, no matter where I go. The way colors and shapes dance together in a carpet, someone’s shirt, the plants in the garden, the words on a page, a chance song, a friend’s words, a magazine in the mail. Once you open your arms to the world showing you what it wants you to make, there is no end to the number of images and emotions that answer your invitation, and embrace you in return.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
If a work has stopped speaking to me, I switch gears and begin a new work, or simply grab a pad and doodle, draw, or seek inspiration from one of the books that I am so fortunate to have inhabit my bookshelves in droves! I must say that almost every piece I make has an ugly stage. That was my ugly little secret until I heard a few other artists talk about it. Few pieces just roll off my hands with minimal effort. I have to listen really hard to some of my creations–for that next step I talked about. Sometimes it certainly looks like I have misheard or misinterpreted, because my results, so far, are not pretty! The bright side of these seemingly dark situations is that I’ve gained valuable tools and strategies by having to deal with them!

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
You have to free yourself of that inner judge that stymies your creative expression. Topple the judge and nurture the inner student, the one who studies, pays attention, tries, practices. Many educators use the term “lifelong learner.” As artists, this is a crucial attitude for raising our level of artistry. And let’s not forget celebration. Celebrate well, and often. I don’t subscribe to the notion that misery makes a good artist. Joy is my favorite juice. So tap into joy . . . . it’s delicious and nutritious…

Doppelganger

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
Reading, although much of it is about art! I am delighted when an author transports me into the world of her novel, or deeply affects me with powerful emotional and spiritual insights.

What’s your favorite comfort food and other favorite things?
I am totally addicted to soy chai lattes. Give me my favorite beverage and a good book, and all is right with the world. Currently, I am reading The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, Who Would You Be Without Your Story? by Byron Katie, and Confident Color by Nita Leland. All three books, by the way, are helping me become a better artist.

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Artist Profile: Carol Wiebe

Artist: Theda Sandiford
Business name: Theda Dotcom LLC
Location: Union City, NJ

Website & Blog:
Miss Theda
Bondgyrl flicker album

Inner Beauty

Theda, how do you describe your work?
My work is a collection of feelings and emotions that have made me suffer in the past. However, through the process of creating the work, it turns my pain into beauty to release its hold on me thereby creating a feeling of freedom in its wake.

What is your creative process like?
I start by reading my journal for the week and see if there was a recurring theme that repeated itself that week. Throughout the week, I take photographs and pick up scraps of paper, newspapers, magazines, advertisements that speak to me. I compare these items to my journal entries looking for the commonalities and select this theme to work on. I flip through my source materials looking for images that evoke the overarching emotion of my subject matter. This dictates the images color, texture, tone of each piece.

Once my images are selected I think about a narrative that tells the story of the emotion and start to cut, tear and arrange images on the board. It can take me from 1 to 5 hours to create one collage depending on its size and the complexity of the images. Usually while I am working I jot down a poem about each piece as I am creating it.

Unite In Art

What kind of training did you have which helped you achieve your current level of artistry?
I started making the collages for myself and posted a few on my Myspace page. I got such a positive response that I started to take the work more seriously and enrolled in a collage class at Parsons. The instructor opened my eyes to a variety of archival materials to elevate my work. I haven’t looked back since.

Is there a tool or material that you can’t imagine living without?
My glue spreader, matte medium and my digital camera.

Self Portrait 2

What inspires you to create?
I am inspired by the matrix of life all around me. Everything, especially things that most people discount as ugly are an inspiration to me. I see beauty in all things. This ability to see the possiblility in anything drives my world view.

What inspires you to keep going when the work gets frustrating or tough?
Honestly this never happens to me. I have so many things I want to express through my creative self expression perhaps the most frustrating thing I face is not having enough hours in the day to create all the pieces I see in my head.

Corner Office

What is your best piece of advice for those who would like to rise in their level of artistry?
Start with a glue stick and some paper and just glue some images down. You can always cut up the page and re-glue. Also, it is helpful to make scans of all source materials so you can print out additional copies if you make a mistake or want to repeat an image.

What takes up the majority of your time besides your art?
I run an internet marketing business, Theda Dotcom LLC and I am an avid blogger.

Financial Freedom

What’s your favorite comfort food?
I’m on a diet, but my favorite guilty pleasures are Star Wars, James Bond movies, wine tasting and street art.

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Artist Profile: Theda Sandiford