My Mixed Media art process for BOOK PAGES!
I truly put the mix into my mixed media! And eco-printing papers for the substrate, the backbones that hold the art, is a super great way to let nature do the talking in the art piece. I incorporate natural materials from around my home into my art, book arts, and journals. I gather, steam, iron, pound, and dye with rust, coffee, forest and garden plants, and tea to create a natural palette!
It's so exciting to see the patterns and tints which add to the overall feel of the art piece. Textures and tints not only add delight to explore and feel, but help carry the message in paper, fabrics and fibers. The fun is in the process, the wonder comes after.
I used a beaver chew log to wrap paper/plant leaf sandwiches around and steam in a crock pot for three hours. The results are surprising! I use inks and paints in conjunction with the natural eco-printing to add pizazz.
Art Transfers, two methods! Printing digital images to place on dyed fabrics is a way to use my drawings and apply and alter them in collage. Once the fabric is dyed, distressed, or altered, I may add my own art as a transfer. This is a digital image of my art, usually a black and white sketch. Sometimes I use scanned pencil sketches or digitally drawn art in my iPad ProCreate art program.
I can print the image on regular printing paper in reverse so it can be applied with a gel medium or PVA glue onto the fabric. Or I can print directly onto the fabric to be altered, layered, and stitched onto the substrate.
Stitching by hand and machine to create texture. By free stitching on machine I can use scraps and fibers to create a book cover or piece that adds layers of color and meaning such as in a forest floor. Seen here I toss the scraps onto thin fabric, then lay a piece of stabilizer over and sew freely. Later I rinse to remove the stabilizer to reveal the sewn cover. It's ready now to create the front of the book or add elements to the piece.
Handmade Papers shredding old books and junk mail I pour pulp in mold and deckle frame salvaged stretched canvas frame with screen stapled to one. Then place and press in dyed lace bits, gold and mica flecks, tea blends (some with seeds and flowers), threads and cheesecloth, text and music, and even plant roots into the pulp. Drain well and place on waxed paper, sponge out water and hang to dry! I love how they come out and could do this all day every day! Check out the textures and colors on these sheets.
3D Pen Art is a fun way to create stencils for making prints. I love the line and using the pen to make things to go inside the books and on to the art piece. I can paint the piece or cover it in paper pulp. 3D pens are another tool in the artist's drawer.
