Bird and flower box collage

Series: Collage Makers Summit no.4

Collage Makers Summit from Drew Steinbrecher
Workshop: Box collages
Host: Jennifer Penick website – Instagram

I’ve often seen opened-up boxes used to make collagraph printing plates, but I don’t recall seeing them used as the base for collages before; however, that is exactly what this workshop wanted us to do.

The first task was to find a box that was neither too small nor too large and that could be deconstructed without damaging it (the glue used on some boxes is surprisingly heavy duty). Once I had done that and opened it flat, I laid it on a sheet of paper and drew around the outline so that I could plan the collage. I sketched a stylised flower, using the shape of the box as efficiently as I could and creating a reasonable space for a focal image.

Choosing the collage papers was pretty straightforward for a change. I picked out various book pages to create a neutral background and a selection of painted papers in pink and green for the flower and leaves.

I had a search through my collected vintage digital illustrations to find something to use for the focal point. The workshop leader had used a portrait picture, but I will choose nature over faces any day and so I picked a bird instead. I printed that out at the appropriate size and then glazed the paper with a paint to match the painted papers.

I covered the box with the book papers and while I was waiting for that to dry, I cut out the individual petals and leaves, using my sketch as a template. I had originally planned to brush a thin layer of white paint over the book papers to tone the texture down a bit, but I forgot. I did somehow remember to paint the back of the box, but not the front…

Then I glued all the flower pieces in position on top of the book papers. I think it was at this point that I realised I had forgotten to do the white paint and set about outlining the elements in walnut ink to add the missing contrast. Then came the traditional staring and trying to figure out what else was needed. As is often the case these days, my answer was GOLD. Though actually I ended up choosing the copper gilding flakes for a change.

For the edges of the petals and the centres of the leaves, I simply painted on the Pebeo gilding paste (not a paste, very liquid) with a small brush, but I wanted a more subtle distressed feel for around the centre of the flower. So I took the opportunity to try something I’ve been meaning to for a while: using a piece of sponge to try and create a more random effect with gilding. (I also want to try it with Versamark and embossing powders.) I was a little heavy-handed so the end result was a bit too solid in places; nothing that couldn’t be fixed with careful use of some fine sandpaper though. I touched up some of the walnut ink outlines and decided that I was happy with the result.