Mixed-media artist Darlene Olivia McElroy has a surface that she’s excited to tell us about: the transparent plastic sheets most of us know as Plexiglas®. Darlene’s new October Art Lesson features tips on how to dissolve images, ways to use water slide decals, how to layer images with your printer, sand over stencils, use Gampi paper, and, you guessed it, how to use Plexiglas in your art. Scroll down to go behind the scenes with Darlene as she shares her passion for the art of the image transfer, and discover two tips for using Plexiglas. Enjoy! ~Cherie
Idea: Use Plexiglas with an Image Transfer by Darlene Olivia McElroy
I can remember years ago while doing art on my kitchen counter, thinking that I wanted to know everything I could about image transfers. Years later I wrote a comprehensive book on the subject,Image Transfer Workshop. A mistake I often see art newbies make is they just stick an image down on their artwork without blending it in with the other elements of the piece. In Art Lesson, Image Transfers: The Extra Touch, I’ll show you my latest favorite techniques to push your image transfers to the next level.
I sand the images I use in every piece I create. Besides loving the physicality of sanding, the technique changes the look and feel of the art. In this Art Lesson, you’ll learn how sanding makes art more interesting.
You’ll also discover how dissolving images abstracts them and creates a great base or layer in a painting. And, I love the depth you get by combining some or all of these techniques on Plexiglas. I have drawers of ephemera that I layer underneath and on top of Plexiglas, and the depth it creates magically takes the art to a dreamlike state.
Tips for working with Plexiglas
• Before painting, remember to take off the protective sheet, as it’s often clear plastic. I have had a student put a lot of work on the Plexiglas only to realize too late that she was working on the protective coating.
• A mixture of cleaning detergent and warm water works well for cleaning the Plexiglas. Always use a soft cloth rather than a paper towel when cleaning it… Click to continue and download Art Lesson, Image Transfers: The Extra Touch
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