The Generosity of Others

©Aurore Brunet

Aurore took my 2-day workshop in Jacksonville in May. I had the pleasure of sharing a meal with her and her friend Clair on Saturday night. What a nice way to spend an evening with two friends who had come together to the workshop, yet invited me into their circle for dinner.

Since this was a 2-day workshop, the students had homework, which was preparing their own collage papers prior to the class. I must say that Aurore had the most original papers. She told me she painted them with acrylic house paint and spray paint. They were so lovely, and I oogled over them so much that she gave me a sheet. Much of the gold and white in the top of the head and the lower left neck of the Dalmatian are from her wonderful paper.

After posting the Dalmatian, I emailed Aurore and asked her if I could purchase more of her papers from her, they were so very different from anything I created here in my studio! Guess what she said? She said, "Give me your address, I'll send them to you for free."

I am always thankful for the generosity of others in art. People who donate books to me (Jessica Carter), who find frames at garage sales for me, and who share with me their painted paper.

I promised Aurore a glass of wine, at least. Until then, I tip my glass to all the wonderfully generous people who have given me not only collage materials, but titles for my work, inspiration, and advice.

See Aurore's work here
See Clair's work here

Painting Collage Papers, Part Four

Dry Brushing

This is a nice example of the dry brush technique. First I took this sheet of art paper and dry brushed dark green onto it with a dry brush dipped very lightly in fluid acrylics. I zipped the brush lightly across the sheet without much pressure. The nature of this paper is very absorbent, so the ink sinks right in and does not spread much.

After I let the dry brushing dry in the sun for about 10 minutes, I took the paper back into the studio and mixed up some lime green (analogous color, see older posts) with much water so that it was very translucent. I quickly but completely brushed this color over the top of the dark green dry brushing, to cover all of the art paper.

The effect is a nice green toned paper with much texture that would be very good for grass or tree leaves. I really like the way this sheet came out!

Painting Collage Papers, Part Three

Monoprinting

For monoprint, I create a pattern with the brush and heavy body acrylics, painted directly onto the plexiglass/trashbag surface. Then, I press the paper into the paint and pull a print. This process is very good for showing brush texture and interesting patterns. Typically I paint the paper a shade first (in this case the paper is yellow with fluid acrylic), let it dry, and then monoprint a complimentary color in heavy body OR fluid acrylic (in this case ochre in heavy body).

You can also monoprint first on white paper, let that dry, and paint over it with watered down fluid acrylic so that the monoprint shows through. Experimentation is the name of the game, using colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel, or analogous colors, look pleasant together because they are closely related. Orange, yellow-orange, and yellow are an example of analogous colors. Sunflowers by Vincent Van Gogh is an example of a painting that utilizes this type of color palette.

Painting Collage Papers, Part Two

It's all in your technique!

Beyond just loving and using fluid acrylics, I have some interesting techniques when it comes to painting my own collage papers. I don't just paint them solid colors, I spatter, I dry brush, and I monoprint, to name a few. 

Above is a photo of my workspace, I have a table in my studio on which I have a piece of plexiglass covered in a trash bag. I found out the hard way that if I let the painted paper dry directly on the plexi, it sticks! So now I know I have to let it dry on the trashbag if I need to let it dry indoors, then I can peel it off successfully. This time around, I just took them off the plexi and right out on to the grass so they could dry in the sun. That works best. 

I start with Japanese Washi paper (white rice paper, very absorbent) and art store papers. The art store papers offer textures and a variety of thickness. I also often buy art papers with some printing on them (and or glitter in them) that will show through the fluid acrylic application and offers nice texture. I also paint Connor's old workbook pages and book pages from old library books and used book stores.

The sheet of paper above is an example of the blotting technique. This is white Washi paper that I purchased on a roll. I tear off a sheet and keep it on hand to "blot" the excess drips and globs of paint from the trashbag between painting other sheets! Let nothing go to waste, I say. I can also enhance the blotting feeling of this paper by spattering some paint directly on to the trashbag and then blotting the Washi into it. Not only does this technique clean your work surface by sucking up all the leftover paint (remember, very absorbent?) it also makes for some wonderful collage paper when you get the color combinations right!

PS, that wrinkled look you are seeing, is the texture of the trashbag transferred into the paint, a happy accident!

Painting Collage Papers, Part One

Making a Mess!

I spent several hours this morning hand painting papers for future collage work. Every couple of months I pull out the paints and the plexiglass covered in a trash bag, and the brushes and the papers and I make myself a bunch of custom colored papers. It's so messy and time consuming that I only do it when I am really motivated. My friend and fellow collage artist Jo Reimer suggested  that I try fluid acrylics, since they retain their intensity when watered down. I said to her, "Jo, are they REALLY better? Because they are REALLY expensive." Well she said "YES" and I took her advice, guess what? They are REALLY AWESOME! 

You can water down fluid acrylics and spatter and splash and blot into them and they stay very intense in their color. This paper painting session I used them to the full extent! I loved experimenting and seeing what kind of new effects I could achieve.

Today it was really HOT in Florida, with a mild breeze. I knew this was perfect weather for letting the papers dry on the grass outside my backyard studio. My son Connor came out to help me by picking up the dry papers and bringing them in to me, what a help!

Stay tuned for some specific techniques and photos.

Hand Painted Papers

Apple Blossoms, 24 x 20, collage of hand painted papers

Finished! I embellished the flowers and added some white square cut papers in the background to complete this piece from my previous post. 90% of the papers in this piece are hand painted or hand stained by myself or by collage artists I've traded with. There is still some Starbucks bags in there, as many of you know I am addicted to them. Also in this piece are stained book pages, an ink stained coffee filter (yes!) and a little bit of maps. The buds are 100% hand painted paper provided by Jo Reimer, her papers are fantastic!