Where did you get that? #mixedmedia #craft #art

"Fragments" 24x24 Mixed media on gallery canvas

Every once in a while, someone will ask me where I got a specific image or paper or text.. and almost always, it is something that I have made for myself. I thought I would take a minute to list some ideas on how you too can make your own embellishments to use in your art. 

Word Probably my favorite tool is the ol' computer. Using any word processing ap, you can type words, copy and paste them into any arrangement and print them using toner. These toner copies make rad image transfer materials that you can use again and again. Want the look of "rub ons" but tired of the scrapbook feel that is available in mass market? Viola.

Copier Grab a piece of printer paper, scribble all over it, copy it. Boom.. more fodder for image transfers. I use more image transfers in my art than collage, so a seemingly invisible application of text onto a painting is very attractive to me.

Photoshop Photo editing software sounds difficult, but it doesn't have to be. Use these apps to reverse images, crop, flip and rotate and layer images OR text. Sister photo storage apps like "Adobe Bridge" offer an easy way to organize and store all of your new files. I have an "art vocabulary" of common words that usually end up in my art. Use different fonts to print and flip the words so that you always have a stash on hand to use.

Stencils Take a day to cover the garage floor with deli wrap and/or papers. Spray paint basic shapes (I like common shapes like letters and numbers because I can fit them into any arrangement) repeatedly, taking a moment every two or three sprays to mono print the stencil onto more paper. Think black too... black paper with white paint makes a statement in your art. For extra credit, use ledger paper under the spray paint too!

Journal page with spray painted and mono-printed stencils on vintage ledger paper.

Pencils and Ink No copier or spray paint? Use charcoal pencils to scribble and make marks all over paper that you can use as collage in your art. Spray fixative onto the papers before you use them in your paintings. Make sure the ink you are using is archival.

Hand made papers. Scribble pencil or charcoal and use as collage.