Monday, April 11, 2011

Altering Preprinted Papers

The goodies.....!!!
And we're OFF! (well, *I* am, at any rate....) This is a fairly simple technique for changing the appearance of any printed paper that has a matte finish. It's a great way to use up pieces of scrapbook paper that just don't appeal to you, but were in a pack.
Yes, I am a tightwad. What can I say.
I love flowers but knew I would NEVER be doing the daisies in the photo-pack I bought, so they seemed good for the demo. Remember, I'm using the less expensive, thin paper, which will have certain effects that thick, good quality paper will not. Think, ABSORBENCY.
Also, I always have my work area covered with waxed paper. When one side gets nasty, flip it over and use it again.

Stamp selections; yes-there-is-a-skull-in-there.....
I chose three different styles of stamps for this so you can see what each will do. First, the skull is a pretty *solid* stamp~~the frilly lines on it will not show. Second, the damask pattern is fairly well defined but I know I will lose some of the detail and that is okay. (really...it is!) And third, on the upper right, the small swirly clear stamp~~I have used it before, and know what it does.
So we have three different depths of texture to work with.

Batter up! The damask is first in the drink, or gesso.....
Put some clear gesso onto a waterproof surface. My palette is an old microwave tray---glass; cleans perfectly, can take a lot of stress (unlike me) and allows plenty of room for things to run without dripping to the work table.
Get your first stamp ready and then you will smooth out the gesso with whatever your tool of choice should be--a palette knife, stray piece of foam, an old credit card.....you pick. You just need it somewhat evenly dispersed.
(I discourage using a good brayer because this stuff is really hard to clean off if it dries....)

It should look something like this.....
Then pounce your stamp in and it will look somewhat like the photo below if you don't have waaaaay tooooooo much clear gesso on it!

Hmmmm, gessoed myself too---clean extra off the stamp at this point.....
Then flip the stamp over and firmly press on the paper. You will be able to see where you have stamped, and there may be some higher edges from the gesso, which is alright too. Remember, do not use REGULAR gesso!!!!

Placing another of the stamps.....

That skull looks pretty happy, I think~~ :-)
After finishing the whole area of paper you want to print (stamping at very regular intervals, or randomly~~whichever YOU prefer), wash your stamp IMMEDIATELY! I use cold water and a soft paint brush, making sure all the gesso is out of the fine details. If you are working on a larger piece of paper, it might be a good idea to clean and dry the stamp at some point so that it does not have gesso dry in tiny edges and diminish the quality of the stamp.

A note on clear gesso: It gives a slight tactile surface to whatever it is put on, so when doing normal painting, the paint has something to grab to. I don't know if it is a very fine silica mixed in the polymer, but that is why I stress keeping your stamps cleaned.

Stamped completely and ready for.....
....high tech drying! (yes, it's my blow dryer...)
I always speed things along with a blow dryer because usually the table is so full I don't have room to let it dry by itself, so consider that. Everything I have done has been heat dried. It might work different if it air dried; I honestly don't know.
Also, I tend to forget that papers fly around when the drier is running full blast so grab a paint bottle, or anything heavy and secure at least one edge. You don't want these flapping in the breeze......or flopping up onto your clothing.
Don't ask.....
When the paper is all dry, you should have something that looks like the last photo:

This is the small clear swirly stamp. Hopefully the lines show well enough for you to see.

And that is where we are stopping for today. Blogger has been good and I really don't want to push the envelope.
Plus, if you are doing this, you need time for things to dry.
Should the paper have curled in the drying process, turn it right side down and lightly press with an old iron. I have a very useless, cheap studio iron. It gets used for ironing paper, melting wax and other things you should never do with a good iron. (I still starch and iron.....I am a remnant of another world....)
Next time, the magic of what the clear gesso does!
Tune in again; Same Bat-Time, Same Bat-Channel!!!
Or something like that.
Here.  LOL!!!


Pax....

17 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh wow...what a great technique...although I have to admit it scares me, something about putting gesso directly on my stams...I love the slightly spooky effect.

Thanks for sharing...I'll give this one a try!

Dolly Smith said...

okay, so I took time off from eagle cam to read this...and you do not finish. Not good with delaying gratification here, woman. Your instructions were clear and I can see where this is going, so I wait, breathless Dahling, for the big payoff :) ps. Your nails look very fine.

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

This is only part one! It gets better!
The clear gesso is totally different than standard gesso---this is much more like an acrylic paint medium.
Have fun!

XXOO~~
Anne

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

HAHAHA!!!
Hey Dolly....I have to get people to return!
Too much for one post, plus there are three different paper techniques, sooooo....
Go back to the eagle cam and then return when I get the next post thrown into order!
Oh, the nails are totally gone now....broke three right after I finished the shoot.
Pfffft!

XXOO~~
Anne

Janet Ghio said...

Oh good-something to use that clear gesso for-that I bought for a class and don't really like so much!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Janet, I think if you use it in manners other than what it is intended for (the way I use most everything! LOL!) you'll find it's useful.
I can't imagine just *painting* on it.....but I suppose, maybe, depending on the substrate...

XXOO~~
Anne

Silke Powers said...

Oooo, very cool! I like your stamps and once I get some clear Gesso, I'll have to try this. Can't wait to see what happens next!! Love, Silke

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

I am not sure, but I think Liquitex is the only company that makes it.
That said, there are probably others...LOL!!!
You'd have fun with this.... :-)

XXOO~~
Anne

audrey said...

Well, Anne, now I have something to use that Clear Gesso for ~ I bought it for use during the deMeng class ~ not sure I will be gessoing any plastic cows any time soon. (I know someone who probably will be though - hahahaha).
I look forward to using the info in this tutorial. So nice of you to do this. I keep telling you you're the best!
♥ audrey

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

Hey Audrey......

MOOOOOOOOO!!! (I have cows gessoed but traditionally...I had some difficulties with parts...they're in the pasture for the moment!)
Good, glad you can use it!
This is pretty quick and easy~~♥

XXOO~~
Anne

Cathy Bueti said...

Anne, this looks like fun. I am excited to see the final product! Cause you know I have no patience to wait! lol I would blow dry too! lol

Jan said...

I should be doing something else today but I'm going to follow your tutorial real quick so it will be ready for your next one. Thanks anne, easy to follow. now where did I put that clear gesso?????

Robbie said...

I want to play...I want to play!!!

Robin said...

Oooooohhh!! I can't wait to see more! The suspense is killing me!!

Robin said...

I hope Blogger doesn't break down again!

Anne Huskey-Lockard said...

@ Robbie~~PLAY! PLAY! (whenever you can!)

@Robin~~ I'm not so much worried about Blogger as *me*...LOL!!! Trying to get the plethora of photos in order has my poor little brain in spin-cycle! hahaha!
Hang tight!

XXOO~~
Anne

*Ulrike* said...

I am always amazed at what you do!

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Talk to me Dahling!
I'm waiting, breathless...... ;-D