Making Layers, Week Two

Week 2 

Welcome to the second week of "The Thread That Weaves."  During this week we will explore matte medium in more detail and use different papers and fabrics to make backgrounds for our collages.

We will also be making a mini-book, and covering it's pages with a loose, spontaneous collage of textures and patterns.
There are two project videos and descriptions during this week.

(Photographed here are different pieces of art showing layering, not all are shown or discussed in the video).

Supplies for Week 2

*Note: Substitutions are always fine! 

Matte medium 

Gesso 

Old paintbrush, water dish, paper towels

Water color paper, torn or cut for your surfaces,
gessoed muslin or cotten

(4 x 5, 5 x 5, 4 x 4... your choice!)

Scraps of other papers, textured, rice, napkins

(anything goes!)

Lace, burlap, netting

Photocopied images of rugs or tapestries 

from different countries,

This page shows you images of rugs from India:

And stamps from different countries,

This page shows stamps from Italy:

(You get the idea!)

Print them out to sizes that will fit into your pages.

Here is the first video:

 Making Layers

https://vimeo.com/51090652

In this video I demonstrate the different ways that I use Matte Medium to make layers.  I use lace, burlap and different papers to achieve different effects.

password: goldenthreads

And the second video:

Making Layers 

continued...

https://vimeo.com/51302532

In this video I demonstrate making a book within a book.

password: goldenthreads

On the work table at  my Camano Island workshop 

pages in construction by Binky Bergstrom.

Making Layers

1.   Lay out your pre-cut or torn paper or fabric surfaces on one side of your work table, and on the other side the things you will be attaching, (pre-cut or torn lace, burlap, decorative paper and photo-copied images). 

2.  Cover the area of your first surface with matte medium, place the lace or textured paper over it, and then add another layer of matte medium on top of it. 
3. Dab with a paper towel. (This gives a natural look to the matte medium when it dries, without any brush strokes showing).

4. Use this technique with  all your items.  You will see more examples in the video.(Other items you could use are pieces of screens or mesh, dried or pressed plants, cheesecloth or ??)

On the work table at  my Camano Island workshop pages in construction by Heidi Redfield.

5. Print out some images of rugs and stamps from the internet.  There are some links above in the supply list. 

If you drag the images into your photo program, (I use Iphoto for this), you can size them to fit into the pages of your book,  4 x 4, 5 x 5 or 3 x 4, your choice!
6.  Cut or tear out the center of the image, (see the video), so that you can use the outer part as a border.
7. Add matte medium to your background paper.  Lay the image border on the paper.  Cover with matte medium and dab with a paper towel. (The image might fade slightly, but  this can make it look more like a painting and less like a photograph).

8.  Repeat  the process using different images.

You should have several pages done that you will be using for your book.  If you can help it... don't glue them down yet, just attach them with paper clips, (the large kind) so you can change your mind and try out different designs. I also have something else planned before you attach them! 

 pages in construction by Seth Apter

Making A Book Within A Book

During this part of  Week Two you will be making a little book to go inside of your larger book.  
1.  Start with a piece of watercolor paper and some colored or textured rice paper all about 6inches by three inches. (I like to have my pages slightly different sizes).
2.  Fold them in half, and experiment with slipping them inside of each other.  Then tear or cut them so that they are uneven.  (I love this look, but if you want your book to be more perfectly done, that's fine too!)
3.  Fill up the pages of your little book with what ever you like, left over photo copies of rug patterns, colored paper, text... anything! 

 these are pages of little books by Kim Henkel from my October online workshop.

*The process continues, 

tearing and cutting, 

arranging and re-arranging, 

putting your images on top of other images
 to see what looks best to you......

         We will be stitching and attaching the book later using a pamphlet stitch.  If you love making these little books, make two or three...

Collecting and Writing:

Take a walk outside, near your home or to a nearby park.  Collect five different leaves, twigs, buds or seed pods or whatever else captures your imagination.  

Bring them home to your worktable.  Arrange them or pile them on a piece of your own art, writing or fabric.  Try different arrangements and groupings, large to small, smallest in the center, grouped in a mandala.

Make a list of what you have collected including a brief description. 

Photograph them in different ways. Photograph them with your list.  Cut up the list and "label" each object. And then photograph that!