Waste Canvas Textures

Because I don't have dedicated art studio space, I typically do art journaling at the breakfast table. Since I have to pull out the needed art supplies for each phase, I like to work on multiple pages at the same time. The simplified phases are backgrounds, collage and journaling. The focus today... creating unique background textures.

I've created a bunch of backgrounds in my second official altered catalog. Yes, I started a new one! The tools... Golden thick-bodied acrylics, a soft rubber brayer and waste canvas.

Waste canvas (aka needlepoint canvas) is useful for creating textured backgrounds for art journaling or artist trading cards. The blue texture on the right page of the catalog (left photo) was created by rolling a brayer first in paint then on a piece of waste canvas, and then on the the page. Instead of painting the page with the brayer, you can also turn over the waste canvas and stamp it on the page to get the lighter textured look on the left page. I added layer upon layer of color and stamped with found stamps - like wine corks - and now the pages are ready for collage or journaling.

What to do with your background?

• Write in white pen (i.e. Sakura Glaze pen). Check out my posts Journal Lettering Part 1 and Part 2 to learn more about writing on textured or dark backgrounds.
• Journal or write a quote by hand and attach it to the page... Art Journal: Childhood is an example.
• Paint a square with black or white gesso and write in the square.
• Collage images to the page. You'll find examples in Altered Book: Live in the Now, Altered Catalog Rev 22/30: Do Something and Art Journal: White Flower.

By creating a background for your page, you are simply creating an environment for contemplation or creativity!

 

If you are interested in creating texture in your art journal backgrounds, check out Bubbled Brayer Backgrounds, Plaid Backgrounds, Acrylic Backgrounds, Altered Catalog: Shiny Circles.