Monday, August 15, 2011

Adding texture to a collage using modeling paste

I had a general idea of elements when I began my current collage project, but it was hazy, so the piece keeps evolving in front of me in unexpected ways. I decided to add some texture to the piece and wanted to blog about it. I have a favorite modeling paste, Lascaux Modeling Paste A. It's thick but very smooth, like pudding. I applied a think layer of modeling pasted on the area I wanted to texture, using blue tape in areas where I didn't wanted any residue. Then I used a foam stamp picked up at a hobby store and stamped away in the wet paste.





After drying, this is what it looked like:


And here's a section where I spread the modeling paste over a color before stamping. Bonus!

For the result in the top pic, I painted a layer of Golden Quinacridone Gold Fluid Acrylics over the dried modeling paste and then Burnt Umber Golden Acrylics, making handy use of a paper towel until I reached the color I wanted.

2 comments:

Aine Scannell said...

Hi Dear Cathy

I always enjoy reading through the daily (or almost) email subscription I have with you.

Seeing this post makes me think of the blessing it is to be a printmaker, as in when you are approaching a collage - as one is more aware of 'strategies' such as this i.e., using an application of the Lascaux product and then impressing a texture......it just adds a lot more strings to ones bow !!!
I have not tried that special plastic (sorry I can not remember the name but I know it is here on the blog somewhere) although now that I think about it - I have something coming up soon that requires very small size prints - do you think it will be good for that?..take care

Aine

Cathy Savage said...

Hi Aine!

That cel-tec stuff (I just did a post about Jill Alo and she has used it as a surface for a collage) works great for small editions if you're doing a drypoint. I've pulled an edition of 40 on it before but the early prints held a better line. A straight up collagraph would be fine. The material compresses after the first run or two, but after that it's pretty stable. It can be used as a relief print too using lino or wood carving tools. I've never used it as relief, but I've heard good things about it. I would enjoy seeing your results so do send a jpg when you get around to using it!