Mixed media collage and photo transfer to canvas

 

 

If you would like to create your own mixed media/collage/photo transfer,
here is how its done:

What you need:
• Inkjet photo (printed on STANDARD PRINTER PAPER) or a laser photocopy of your photo
• Collage materials such as: newspaper or magazine clippings, designer or hand-made papers, wrapping papers, stamps, shopping bags, junk mail etc.
• Acrylic or water paints
• Any type of glue such as school glue, PVA or Mod Podge
• Any type of transfer medium such as Mod Podge or gel medium
• Canvas or wood panel
• A water spray bottle
• UV-resistant clear finish

1) Gather your collage materials and lay them out in a design of your choice on any size canvas or wood panel. Adhere the collage pieces onto the surface using school glue or mod podge.
2) If you are using mod podge make sure to cover the collage pieces with Mod Podge so it doesn’t only adhere the papers to the canvas but also protects it to all eternity (or at least a few years).

3) Once your collage is thoroughly dry you can paint it with watercolor or acrylic paints. I like to use different shades of a color, paint the center with the brightest shade and then go darker toward the edges.

4) The next step is to convert the photo of your choice to black and white. In some cases color photos will work as well but black and white often work better with this process as they stand out more over the background.
5) You can use either a xerox photocopy of your image or an image printed from your inkjet printer. If you are using an inkjet, print out a mirror version of your image into a standard printer paper (not a photo paper!).

Since I decided to work with a 16″X20″ canvas panel I had to divide my photo and print out 4 sheets of 8″X10″ papers.
6) If you are using an inkjet print its a good idea to protect your print with spray fixative to prevent smudging.

7) Next, cover your image with Mod Podge and press it face down into the collage. Rub gently with your fingers to smooth out any air bubbles.
8 ) If you are using an inkjet photo you will have to wait only about an hour or two for the Mod Podge to dry and for the transfer to complete. If you are using a photocopy let it set for a few hours, preferably over night.

9 ) Spray the back of your photo with water and gently remove and rub off the excess paper with your fingers in order to reveal the transfer. If you are using a photocopy you will have to repeat this step as many time as needed until the excess paper is completely gone.

10) At this point you will notice that there might be some paper left behind which is difficult to remove. Also the transfer looks quite rough and does not blend nicely with the background. So in order to better unify the background and the photo transfer, paint over the edges of your transfer using the same color you used for the background. Next you can paint over the white areas of your transfer with similar shades of the background behind them. Water down your paint and dub it onto the white areas with a paper towel. For the smaller areas you can use a cotton swab . Make sure not to paint over the ink (black) parts of your photo, just the white areas where the paper can still be seen.

Take a look at the next picture: The left area was painted while the right side is still covered with the white paper and had not been painted yet.

 

And this is the final image:

 

11) Preserve your art work with a protective finish such as “preserve it!” by Krylon for inkjet or Krylon Crystal Clear if you used a toner based photocopy.

 

 

20 Responses to “Mixed media collage and photo transfer to canvas”

1. Audrey Grissom says:

   January 28, 2012 at 9:34 am

   terrific ideas
2. Jian says:

   February 3, 2012 at 8:49 pm

   This is amazing. Your instructions are very easy to follow. I wish my picture would turn out as beautiful as yours.
3. Gillian says:

   February 5, 2012 at 11:10 am

   Love the step by step! I always worry that I’m skipping something or getting it wrong. Seeing your work at its various stages is so reassuring.
4. Maria Little says:

   February 13, 2012 at 10:00 pm

   Thank you, thank you, thank you.
5. Stephen W. says:

   March 10, 2012 at 2:22 pm

   I tried this, and although it worked a bit, much of my transferred image rubbed off with it. It has a neat vinage effect, but is on the line of being so much rubbed off you can’t tell what it is. Suggestions?!
6. Nitsa says:

   March 11, 2012 at 11:50 am

   Its hard to tell what went wrong, maybe you need to wait longer for the transfer to take place, maybe try to rub the paper off gently… I’m not sure but I can tell you it takes some practice to get it right so don’t give up. Here is one of my first transfers: http://nonphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/xeroxtransfer.jpg as you can see it is far from perfect.
7. Patti says:

   April 16, 2012 at 12:43 pm

   Is there any special way to paint the collage? Does it need to be smooth? Do you recommend one over the other? Watercolor vrs acrylic?

   Thanks!

   Your work is amazing!

   Patti
8. Nitsa says:

   April 19, 2012 at 8:33 am

   Patti, I prefer acrylic for this mixed media transfer and no, it doesn’t need to be smooth, in fact the more texture the better
9. laura says:

   June 7, 2012 at 11:18 am

   LOVE this tutorial. Great job. Can’t wait to try it with my kids this summer!
10. Corey says:

    June 18, 2012 at 9:44 am

    This is amazing. Do you think you can transfer more than one photo? Say, to maybe create a collage on top of a collage? Thoughts?
11. Nitsa says:

    June 18, 2012 at 11:25 am

    Yeah, for sure. This will make quite an interesting visual. Start with one layer and then build on top of it in the areas that have less details.
12. Fynn says:

    June 25, 2012 at 1:14 pm

    Very nice tutorial and outcome Nitsa! I’ve been experimenting with this technique also but I have a major problem (and already ruined 4 canvas-es)…

    When I rub off the paper with water it looks nice, but after about an hour the transferred image gets very misty and grey. Some transferred images are so misty (not sure if this is the right word) they become unrecognizable. When I wet it a bit the picture is visible.. but becomes misty again after an hour. I can’t rub more paper off because than I would remove the image entirely.

    I have tried a lot of varietes (different paper, prints, amount of mod podge, amount of drying times) but nothing seems to help

    Do you have experience with this problem? I’m kinda lost here.
13. Nitsa says:

    June 25, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    I know exactly what you mean. Once you apply the protective finish, especially if you use a glossy one, it will bring the image out and the grayish – ghosty appearance will go away.
14. Juab says:

    July 19, 2012 at 6:57 am

    I was wondering if there was a problem with me letting it dry for about 48 – 72 hours, I started it last night but now i have to leave town and wont be able to finish until i get back.

    I hope i didnt ruin a perfect piece of wood.

    Thank you!
15. Nitsa says:

    July 19, 2012 at 8:57 am

    It should be Ok. But also, keep in mind that the great thing about mixed media and layering is that when something doesn’t come out right you can always cover it with a new layer and start all over.
16. Jocelyn says:

    August 1, 2012 at 12:38 pm

    Like the step-by-step. You seem to have transferred on top of collage. When I tried that, both layers came off. Any suggestions? Perhaps I shouldn’t be transferring – just adding collage. (I want to do scenes of my town on a map).
    Joc
17. Maria says:

    December 20, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    Hi
    I am trying to transfer a photo of my children by using matte gel medium on the canvas I can transfer the photo but after the transfer I would like to paint over the images with out smearing them with acyrlic paint so that I can get it to look like a painting…this is not quite it but has anyone ever done this or have any info on where I could find out how….Thanks
18. Nitsa says:

    December 21, 2012 at 11:05 am

    Maybe this article can help: http://nonphotography.com/blog/photo-craft-projects/photographic-art/hand-coloring-and-painting-photos-2/
19. Denise says:

    February 17, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    This tutorial was by far the most helpful and the most comprehensive that I have found! I finally did my first photo transfer to canvas last night and I’m super happy with the results. The tip to help seal it with Fixative is something I had been wondering about, but no one addressed it. Most people just say you HAVE to use a laser printer. I found that the best way to get rid of those last bits of white paper was to spray it again and rub lightly with super fine grit sandpaper. It worked really well. Thank you again!
20. Nitsa says:

    February 18, 2013 at 11:45 am

    Thank you for your tip! I’ll give it a try and if it works I’ll add it to the second edition of my book (credited to you of course!)