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Distressed Ink Collage

Lea Cioci CPD CPT
acioci@sbcglobal.net
Guest Artist
Rubber Road Adventures Ezine

Collage opens a world of expression and vision for me.  Even as a child I loved the fact that I could create something that expressed a view or feeling or just go surreal and play with images the way I wanted.

When I was younger, “decoupage” or collage used shellac.  Shellac is smelly and caustic and, with my allergies, this was not a way I could make a true collage.  I wanted to do something fast and different than using the gluey decoupage mediums that were out there.

I was so inspired by Ranger products and the inks they formulate.  For a long time Adirondack inks with their muted, natural colors were my favorite inks – UNTIL – Distressed Inks came out!  The first series of inks were in shades of browns and sepias to a dark brown-black and black.  Next, the colored inks were introduced; I was in heaven!  These inks allowed me to experiment and play with my collages as never before. 

With incorporating a fast way to create collages using double-sided adhesive sheets, Distressed Inks, leafing or mica powder, and Glossy Accents, I was able to recreate the look of shellac without having harsh smells. 

You never know where collage can lead you…it is a personal journey for me that sometimes takes new directions as I am creating!

Supplies:

Book board, Davey board, or any smooth hard surface you want to work on (I used black because if mica powder is used, the background shows through)
Double-Tack Double-sided adhesive sheet (Grafix)
Collage papers of choice – store bought, magazine images, newspaper, collage sheets, etc.
Ranger Distressed Inks-Various colors (available in colors as well as light to dark brown tones)
Glossy Accents Medium (Ranger)
Teflon Scissors (Tonic)
Mica Powder or Copper Gilding Leaf (USArtquest, Inc.)
Tape Runner (Pentel Arts)
Texture Sponge (USArtquest, Inc.)
Foam brush
Soft, mop brush and small round brush (Loew Cornell)
Optional – Glaze Pens (Sakura of America)

Instructions: 

1.        Cut double-sided adhesive sheet just a little bit bigger than your mat board.  Following manufacture’s direction, remove one protective liner from the double-sided adhesive sheet and place face-down on your surface.  An easy way is to hold each end of the adhesive sheet bowing the center and letting the center of the sheet touch the surface first.  Next, slowly adhere and smooth one side of the sheet at a time.  This will insure there are no bubbles or wrinkles.  Trim sheet with Teflon scissors. 

2.        Burnish the surface with your fingers/hand to make sure adhesive sheet is firmly embedded on the surface of the mat board.  Remove the second protective liner, but be careful as the stickiness of the double-tack sheet will be exposed. 

3.        Start collaging your piece beginning with the focal point (I plan some basic images like a focal point before starting to collage).  If there is a spot where a collage piece overlaps another, use the tape runner to adhere that small part. Continue to build on your collage leaving open areas for leafing or mica powder. 

4.        To apply leafing:  Press leafing pieces into sticky areas of mat board that are left exposed.  Using the texture sponge burnish leafing on surface – save extra leafing that falls away with burnishing; this can be used over.  To apply mica powder:  Dip small brush into mica powder – a little goes a long way!  Tap off excess powder in cap.  Brush mica powder on sticky areas of mat board that are left exposed.  Using the mop brush, brush over the whole surface of the mat board burnishing the mica powder and removing excess on the surface.

5.        Choose colors of Distressed Inks you want to use.  I like Antique Linen for a very light effect, Tea Dye for medium effect, and Vintage Photo for a dark Effect.    Note about Distressed Inks:  Distressed inks are non-permanent until they dry.  Once dried they are permanent. If too much ink is applied, have the small foam brush damp and ready to help move color. 

6.        Rub the foam brush over the surface of the ink.  You might want to experiment with using a little water to dampen it (do not get it real wet) to help move the ink along.  Work the ink onto the collaged surface aging and antiquing it.  Vintage Photo is great for dark accents and the edges of the work; the Tea Dye and Antique Linen are great for surface coverage.  Also, some of the Distressed Ink colors to add yellows, pinks, light blues, and greens can be fun to play with. 

7.        Once the collage is distressed, cover the whole surface with 1-2 coats of Glossy Accents.  A dry foam brush can be used, but I like to use my fingers! 

8.        An optional way to finish your collage is to use the Glaze pens to accent and bring out areas of your collage.  Glaze pens work on non-porous surfaces; so, once the Glossy Accents is dried, you can draw right over the surface.  The Glaze pens are slightly dimensional so they will need to dry as well.

Any other embellishments or ways to finish your collage is left to your creativity and imagination.  Charms, buttons, fibers are cool accents.  Mounting collage to another mat board or framing is, also, another cool way to finish your work.

Check out Lea's fantastic samples:

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