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

I decided that I wanted to make a little accordian-style books with some of my background papers.  In particular, I wanted to use what was left from the pink and fushia monoprinted paper.  My first experiment didn’t work out too well, as you’ll see.  I used a 1/2 inch paper punch and crocheted the pages together with an oversized hook.  The crocheting went fine, but the holes were way too big!

My second attempt resorted to a standard office-style paper punch and a smaller hook.  Much better!  I trimmed the rectangles to get rid of the large holes, and cut two more pages out of another piece of background paper.

Step by step instructions

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Making a crocheted book

The Prodigal

Once I’ve got a great big stack of background papers to work with (like the monoprint background papers we made recently), I like to take a few days or weeks (however long they last!) and do some collage projects with them.  Before cutting the papers up, I usually scan them so that later on they’ll be available for mixed media digital collages too.

Prodigal is a piece that came to me all in one flash.  It’s not very complicated, but the concept of the prodigal had been rolling around in my mind for a few weeks, and all at once I knew how I wanted to visualize it.

Step by step instructions

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Making a collage with monoprint papers: The Prodigal

Animation Unleashed: 100 principles every animator, comic book writer, filmmaker, video artist, and game developer should know
by Ellen Besen, Illustrated by Bryce Hallett

Animation Unleashed moves you through a logical progression: from the principles of cartooning, through story boards and framing, sound and animation styles, special effects and abstract animation.  Honestly, I never knew there was so much to it!  I’m not an animator, but my daughter has played around with it, and I think it’s an exciting potential field for mixed media artists to consider.

Make your animation say what you want it to say. Animation’s potential as a powerful tool for communication is just beginning to be understood. This book reveals key principles, useful for both professionals and beginners, which will help you harness the full power of this exciting and ever expanding medium.

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Book review: Animation Unleashed

Artist: Brian Thomas
Website: Brian Thomas

Snow is rare these days in the South West of England – so when this busy robin interupted his duties posing for Christmas cards to visit my frozen fish-pond I had to record the event in a sketch. I like the resulting watercolour.

Sculpting the blanketed foliage of the rockery proved a more difficult problem than it appears. The pure white of virgin snow had to be protected while adding subtle shadow to form shape. For me it’s hard to beat watercolour for depicting the light of a bright winter’s day.

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Snow art: Brian Thomas

Finding creative uses for old items is nothing new to artists, but the spirit of preserving the planet is more important than ever before and GreenCraft Magazine is here to honor and inspire those who find artistic applications for normally discarded resources.

GreenCraft Magazine will provide ideas for repurposing trash to treasure by showcasing projects where waste is repurposed into ecologically chic creations.

To be considered for our Publication, please submit your recycled, reused and repurposed items to GreenCraft Magazine no later than April 14, 2009.

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Call for entries: GreenCraft Magazine

Get out your paints, if you didn’t already do it yesterday, and let’s get started!  A world of beautiful one-off backgrounds awaits you 

Step by step instructions

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Making monoprint background papers

Monoprints are a world of fun to make.  You simply never really know what you’re going to come up with.  You can use them as  backgrounds, tear them up as collage elements, or sometimes even keep them “as is.”

Tomorrow, I’ll outline the simple steps, but in the meantime, gather together your paints, watercolor or stock paper, and prepare a flat surface with freezer, contact, or waxed paper!

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Monoprints