Creative Paint Workshop for Mixed-Media Artists

Which Goes Down

First: the Collage or

the Paint?

A successful mixed-media collage is often a process of
moving back and forth between paper and paint. If a blank
support scares you, try painting it loosely all over with a thin
layer of one of your favorite colors, Don't spend time making
it perfect, or you might not want to cover it with collage,

Alternatively, you could begin by gluing on a background
layer of less important imagery or small print. This will
then be covered either with a layer of transparent color
(a glaze) or translucent color-such as Zinc White or Titan
Buff- to partially obscure it. Planning layers is a bit like
planning moves in a game of chess or cards, Some of the
early moves appear trivial, but if the player knows where
she is going next, the moves add up to a careful strategy
designed to achieve victory, In mixed-media painting it
is best not to play your trump card too early, If you glue
down your main image too soon, you will find yourself
ti ptoeing around it to avoid obscuring it. The best advice
is: start with the small stuff, move on to the supporting
images, and finally add your focal point This approach
allows you plenty of room for adding paint and other
media as you go

Of course, you may be the intuitive type, in which case go
with the flow!

Jenkins Green fluid acrylic is being loosely painted over the

whole support, providing a background for the first layer

of collage.

70 I CREATIVE PAI N T W ORKSHOP

TIPS FOR GLAZING WITH

ACRYLIC FLUIDS

• Before dipping your brush into the paint, be
  sure to wipe off excess water on a sponge
  or paper towel. This will help to eliminate
  bubbles or foaming.


• Mix some acryliC medium with the paint to in-
  crease transparency or reduce intensity of color.
  Paint with a nylon brush. It holds more fluid
  than a bristle brush, so the paint will go on
  more smoothly.


• Clean your b rush thoroughly with water be-
  tween glazes, making sure that you squeeze
  it out before applying the next glaze.
  Change your water often and keep separate
  pots for washing out light and dark colors.


• Allow each layer to dry completely before
  applying the next. It is often tempting to rush
  on to the next glaze.


• Occasionally glaze with a translucent paint,
  such as Titan Buff or Zinc White, allow to dry
  thoroughly, and then glaze over with a transpar-
  ent color. The effect can be quite mysterious.
  Try glaZing with a sponge: Pour a pool of paint
  onto the support, and use a slightly damp
  sponge to spread it evenly. Glazes can also be
  rubbed in with a strong paper towel.


• To achieve an antique texture, dab into a
  glaze with a paper towel or newspaper.


• Glazing fluid is slow-drying, so reserve the
  gloss for the final layer to create even greater
  transparency.

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Text in various sizes and orientations has been glued down

as a background. This will/ater be partly or even mostly

obscured.