While I was at Maine College of Art several weeks ago, I took a workshop on "Copies and Transfers". One technique involved using a photocopy (not an ink jet copy from your printer) to make a transferred image onto another piece of paper. We used wintergreen oil (can be obtained from a pharmacy), bone folders (could use tongue depressor or back of spoon), and various types of papers to transfer the image. One could experiment with other essential oils, blender markers, or acetate. The wintergreen oil leaves an minty odor for some time on your finished picture! I choose an image of a little girl at the beach to photocopy. I placed the photocopy face down on a sheet of smooth watercolor paper. (It shouldn't move, so you may want to tape it in place.) Using a brush, I painted a layer of wintergreen oil over the back of the photocopied image. Using a bone folder, I rubbed the back until the entire image had transferred onto the w.c. paper. The new (reversed) image can then be painted or embellished with other mediums. This technique allows the artist to make multiple images of their original art, as well as use any photocopied design in their work.
Oooh, that's wicked cool! The transferred image has a really great texture to it! I also really love the muted colors! Thanks for sharing this interesting technique Jane!!
ReplyDeleteWhen I saw the original at Apotheca, I thought the way the image was transformed after the transfer was striking. Sounds like a fun process!
ReplyDeleteTransfers are so much fun! It was a really popular technique when I was in college. I hope you worked in a well-ventilated area with the wintergreen oil. It may smell better, but it's about as healthy for you as breathing in turpentine. My sister didn't know this, and worked with wintergreen oil in her small enclosed dorm room. Both of her pet rats died. But as long as you're safe, have fun with it! Your pieces look lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy roommate used to do this in college. It always made the room smell great. I love how the ink picked up on the texture of the watercolor paper. Great piece.
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