Skins

Had to share this new technique I found for transferring images with gel medium. I was at the bookstore Saturday and found the book Image Transfer Workshop by Darlene Olivia McElroy. In it, she shows you how to create an image skin from a Yupo painting. So, off to Jerry's for some Yupo and misc. items. I actually had an image at home that I had planned on cutting up and using in a journal, so I decided to just use that. In my lack of thinking and my excitement about trying something new, I didn't realize that the image was on Mylar and not Yupo - but it worked anyway. Before we get started, let me just explain - I suck at following instructions. I just don't listen and I hate reading them. I don't know if I just think that I'm too smart for it or it is just me getting overexcited and just wanting things to hurry up and get done, but my enthusiasm usually wins out and poor results ensue. So just remember do as I say and not as I do.

Here's what you need:

Yupo, Mylar (or I'm guessing any sort of synthetic paper will work that will hold a waterbased image well)

Soft gel medium

Spray workable fixative

watercolor or acrylics (including inks)

Create your image on the paper you are using and let dry. Once it's dry, spray on a layer of workable fixative and make sure it thoroughly covers the image. Allow the fixative to dry completely before laying a thick layer of gel medium. Don't be stingy because once the gel medium is dry, you will need to peel it off the paper. If you aren't generous with it, when you peel it, it will stretch or break easily. Also, you want to make sure the gel is completely dry - you'll know it's there when it is clear. A small word of caution, it tends to stick to itself so be careful while pulling it off.

Here's the results of my impatient skin.

I haven't decided how I will layer this into my journal, but I think I will probably create more skins from the painting that I have and actually follow my instructions for once.