Turn Your Shopping Bag Into A Beautiful Collage In 60 Minutes!

continued from page 1

Step 3

Begin gluing all your collage elements to the canvas by applying Golden Self-Leveling Clear Gel or a Soft Gel Semi-Gloss to each piece with a flat paint brush #11 or 12. Be very generous with the gel. First spread a thick layer of gel onto the canvas. Next, apply gel to the back of the cut out image. Adjust the position of the element to a desired placement and apply a layer of gel to the front of the image. Self-Leveling gel will dry to a high-gloss sheen. Make sure to overlap collage elements to the sides and back of your canvas by applying additional layers of gel to both, back of the canvas and the paper.

If you'd like to attach your shopping bag's handle to your artwork, first apply gel to both ends of the handle and onto the surface of the canvas' backing. Once your handle is in desired position, usually centered, use a stapler to permanently fasten it to the canvas. For best results I suggest at least two staples on each end of the handle.

Step 4

Once all your elements are glued to the canvas, it's time to let it dry. I like to place my collages in between dryings next to the heating vent. You can use your blow dryer, too. Place a warm (not hot) blowing air couple inches away from the surface for up to 1 minute then let it stand for few minutes. You may repeat this procedure one or two more times before the surface of your collage is dry enough to proceed to the next step.

Step 5

Mix 1 part Golden Liquid Acrylics paint with 4 parts Golden Glazing Liquid (Satin) using a palette knife. Apply a thin, watered down layer to the surface of your collage, including a handle, with a paint brush. You may want to use a piece of paper towel to produce some color variations throughout. Next, using your palette knife, spread small amounts of paint on selected elements. Try to accentuate certain features of an image itself (a shadow or an outline) and the overall texture of your collage. In my artwork I aimed at simulating a patina-like texture. Don't be shy with the paint, it's acrylics after all, you can always 'retrace' your steps with a wet paper towel! Be spontaneous and adventures, let yourself have FUN! Once you're finished with painting, let it dry for couple of minutes and then take your collage back to the hair dryer…. Just one round of fast, warm drying will be enough.

Step 6

Using the same paint/glaze proportion as in the previous stet — 1-to-4, mix Golden Glazing Liquid Satin with Golden Liquid Acrylics Quinacridone/Nickel Azo Gold paint. In this step use only your paint brush. First apply a thin coat of paint/glaze mixture to the entire surface. Next, accentuate edges of the images, outlines and the 'spots' of dried white paint. Leave your collage to dry for couple of minutes and then take it for one more blow drying session.

Step 7 (Optional)

At this point your collage is completed. But there is, however, a bit more to do, if you so choose. In my artwork, I decided to go for additional layers of texture in order to create a 'pop-out effect' for some singular elements. To accomplish that layering effect, you can spread 1-2 thin layers of Golden Acrylics Heavy Matte or Gloss (I used Matte) with a palette knife.

Once the gel layers are dry, apply two coats of Golden Polymer Varnish with UVLS (Satin). This type of varnish will protect your artwork from the damaging effects of UV radiation on paint and mediums, such as discoloration. Additionally it will seal the surface of your artwork against accidental spills, etc.

Last, but NOT least, sign your art!

IT'S FINISHED! You've treated yourself to a wonderful gift of creative fun and exploration. I sincerely hope that you will PROUDLY display your artwork as a constant reminder of your ever-evolving creative nature! •

Tatiana Kuzyk is an intuitive artist, writer, and a spiritual teacher. Tatiana's personal prescription for a so called 'creative blockage' is a complete surrender to the Sacredness of the mysteries of one's Creative Process. More »

4/6/09