Notes on my collage technique

 

250 lb Bockingford paper

Substrate

1 Canvas board

2 Stretched canvas

3 Heavyweight paper 200lb and above

Found papers for collage 

1 Text from magazines

2 Coloured tissue paper - staining and non-staining

3 Dressmaking patterns

4 Wrapping tissue paper

5 Coloured patterned paper

6 Gelli pad designs on paper and strong tissue paper

7 Holiday and promotional brochures, postage stamps, maps, inside patterns in envelopes etc 

Glue

1 Acrylic Matt Medium - peels away easily from the fingers when dry- my favourite

2 Others Mod Podge, PVA or wallpaper paste.

3 It is best to moisten heavier papers to avoid creases- the glue is applied to the substrate and the collage paper.

4 Tissue paper should be applied with glue on the substrate only and lightly brushed over when in position. 

5 Synthetic flat brushes are used for the application of glue.

Collage Placement

1 For landscapes I normally paint the sky in acrylic to just below the horizon line and in watercolour on paper.

2 I placed the paper randomly below the top horizon line either vertical or horizontal and avoiding diagonal lines trying to vary the shape of each piece and completely covering the surface on the canvas.

3 I tend to keep the stronger warmer colours to the foreground. Tissue squares are placed across areas to have a gradual change in tone.

Penwork

1 Waterproof black ink

Acrylic 

1 Opaque Titanium white to define the shapes and transparent acrylic to change the colour if necessary.

2 Transparent colour glazes for the darks to allow the collage pattern to show through. Never black or Payne's grey for the shadows.

Others

1 Stencils and stamps can be used as well as alcohol pens

Sealing

1 UV sealant to prevent the colours from fading.

2 Two to three coats of varnish to finish either matt, gloss or satin. My choice is matt.

 

Outdoor Sketching at Dunbar and finished painting

 

Sketch from over the drawbridge on my stool with my back to the rock outcrop using a black pen on a 20x16 inch canvas board. Inset shows the view. It was getting cold so I returned to the cottage.

Some coloured tissue added to the buildings and dressmaking patterns to the harbour area.

Returned later in the day to photograph the returning fishing boats. Our cottage was just to the left of the orange buoy up the steps.

The finished painting by adding the boats, lobster pots and just indicate some detail along the quayside.