Textured tissue paper backgrounds and layers
Technique Tuesday!
There are so many ways that tissue paper can be incorporated into mixed media work that I decided to do a short series on it! Just like with the last series on image transfers, I really hope that you’ll send me pictures to share with everyone of the work you’ve done that incorporates these techniques. And please use the comments section below to share your own tips!
We’re going to look at two really simple textured tissue paper background today. I’m using white tissue, but remember that you can always multiply your options by using colored and patterned tissue as well.
Gather your materials. You’ll need liquid acrylic medium (also called polymer medium) in either gloss or matte, your choice. You’ll also need stock paper or watercolor paper, tissue paper, a foam brush and a sponge, and acrylic paints of your choice.
Apply a thin coat of medium to the substrate paper. Place a larger piece of tissue on top, and allow it to wrinkle as you adhere it to the medium. You can pretend that you’re trying to get the larger piece to fit the smaller one. Flatten gently, without losing all the texture you’ve created.
You don’t have to wait until it dries before beginning to paint. Use the sponge, and allow the thinned paint to gather in the folds and valleys. Acrylic paint will finish the job of sticking down the tissue paper…it actually is acrylic medium with pigments added.
Paint with as many colors as you desire. When the piece is dry, flatten it under some books to take out the curl.
A related method is helpful when you want the tissue paper painted in this style, but not attached to a substrate. Maybe you don’t want the tissue paper as a background, but want to use a thin layer elsewhere in one of your collages. Use freezer paper or waxed paper underneath this piece so that you’ll be able to release it when it dries:
Thoroughly crumple the tissue paper. Smooth it out slightly and pour or spray very thinned acrylics (or thin inks, dyes, or other paints) all over the tissue. Let it dry undisturbed. Peel it up carefully and use it as one of your collage layers.
I scanned this piece and used it in the digital collage that I showed you yesterday for Make Art Monday!
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Collage, Mixed Media, Paper, Technique Tuesday, Tutorials & Techniques
13 opinions for Textured tissue paper backgrounds and layers
April
Apr 11, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Wow, what a beautiful job. i just love it. thanks for shareing. I think i will try this.
Cyndi
Apr 11, 2007 at 1:10 pm
Great, April…give it a whirl! Please email and share your results if you want to :-)
Genevieve
Apr 11, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Hi Cyndi… Tissue paper is my friend! In addition to the methods you described, I start with stretched canvas, then apply crumpled tissue paper with gesso. You can either apply it to the whole surface, or selectively only for certain parts of the paintings.
Cyndi
Apr 11, 2007 at 7:47 pm
What a great idea, Genevieve! Much less expensive than covering the whole canvas with textured gel medium too. Thanks for the suggestion :-)
Elizabeth Sgraffito
Apr 11, 2007 at 8:40 pm
Beautiful Cyndi. I was very impressed. I was thinking whether you could then layer the coloured
tissues themselves ? Have you tried that? Another idea is tearing pieces of the coloured tisues
and applying them on the substrate or sewing/embroidering them as though a crazy quilt before attaching to the book.
Cyndi
Apr 11, 2007 at 10:21 pm
Thank you for all these ideas, Elizabeth! Tissue paper makes wonderful layers with either more layers of tissue or by adding images through the use of printed paper napkins and other printed papers. We’re all about layers upon layers here…LOL!!
Layers Upon Layers: Mixed Media Art » Tissue paper inclusions
Apr 17, 2007 at 9:03 am
[…] piece of tissue on top. I like to smooth out most of the wrinkles for this technique, but making it wrinkley like we did last week would give you a whole new set of […]
Creating backgrounds for artwork
Apr 9, 2008 at 8:17 am
[…] Textured tissue paper backgrounds […]
Leatha
May 4, 2008 at 8:33 pm
I made the most beautiful tissue paper background, dark purple, dark and sea foam green both with a pearlized medium…then tried to do a transfer with the Talbot clay transfer paper…wrong move. Transfer looked great while still wet, then it started drying..turned white. I am pretty disappointed. Guess I will either try again or try the lazertran on the background…grrrr
Cyndi
May 4, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Bummer Leatha! Is is just paper “bloom” from the transfer paper? You can’t rub it off? Maybe try a babywipe on it… ?
Leatha
May 4, 2008 at 9:43 pm
It could be ‘bloom’ from the paper. I’m afraid if I rub too much it may may mess up the tissue paper underneath. I will try the wipes tomorrow.
Karen Schoch
May 20, 2008 at 10:47 am
This was a terrific post. I tried it out and had a ball making papers. Reinspired my creative juices.
Thanks,
Karen
Cyndi
May 20, 2008 at 11:21 am
Karen, I’m so glad! Thanks for letting me know :-)
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: