Background Paper Tutorial

From Turp Paper to Graffiti Paper

I'm adding this comment from Bea,

because it says it all. 

Thanks Bea!

Excellent! If people knew how much FUN it is to make these background sheets. There are so many uses for them besides graffiti walls, too.

I take all my finished background sheets to the printers and make color copies of them. I rip them up and use them in other project, journals, make envelopes, etc. out of them. SO MUCH FUN! :)Bea

Remember the turp (turpentine) paper I made awhile back?

Click here to see all my examples

and the process I used.

Also there is an article in the Jan/Feb issue

of Cloth, Paper, Scissors

about this kind of paper making,

except they use Citra Solv.

I could not find this product so

that is why I used the turpentine

to get the same results.

The turp paper does not have a smell any longer.

Some said it would have the turpentine smell forever,

but I have had these papers in a ziplock bag all this time

and when I opened it, the smell was gone.

NOTE:

One thing the article did not specify was,

you have to use the older National Geo mags

because their pages are clay based. 
I have read that others use newer mag pages

and it is not working the same.

I have made quite a few graffiti background papers for myself

and also for the Graffiti Project I'm in with

Bea at Dog in the Hole Studio.

 Today, I will be showing three of the papers I am keeping,

and telling you how I made them.

Later I will show you the papers I receive from Bea

and from Kris (erosion bundle project) Henderson.

I will also show you the papers I will send out to them.

PROCESS:

I started with 140 lb. weight cold press watercolor paper,

size 12 in by 18 in.

I took my turp paper

and glued them to the watercolor paper with

a glue stick and pressed it down well.

I didn't worry if there were bubbles or wrinkles,

as this just adds to the look.

Next, I added a thin coat of gesso

all the way out to the edges,

but not covering every square inch.

I wiped some of this off with a paper towel.

Next, I began to add watered down acrylic paints

covering mainly the edges. 

I let this dry and then picked up some of the paint

with a paper towel.

I also used some masking tape

 (which I may save and add to the final piece)

to pick up some areas,

to make it look like it had peeled off.

I kept wiping with a paper towel.

Stencils were added here and there,

but not much because these are

background papers,

not the finished piece where

most of the graffiti words etc. will be added.

On some of the sheets I dripped paint from the top,

 so it would run down the paper.

Then let it all dry.

For some of the papers I tore up old paper

 and put on the watercolor paper

 before adding the turp sheets in the beginning.

This way there are multiple layers of paper on the page.

I mainly wanted the look of a wall

that had been papered and painted on

for quite a few years.

Things look like they had faded in the sun,

been ripped off and

some old graffiti was still showing through.

That's it!

If you create some turp paper or

graffiti background papers

let me know and I will put your link up.

Go see graffiti background papers here:

Dog in the Hole Studio

 Brain Bubbles

How to Make Turp Paper

I made turp paper today. It was stinky but it turned out great! These photos are my favorite pieces.
You have to do this outside as this is very stinky and you don't want to breathe in a lot of these fumes, so take precautions please. Wear rubber gloves for this project.
First you have to find old National Geographic mags that are 2004 or older because the pages are clay coated and that's what you need for the technique to work. I found mine at a thrift store for 39 cents a piece. I found out that all the pages in the magazine will not turn. Most will, but not all.
You need turpentine and a sponge brush and a container to keep your magazine in while it is soaking. Also you will need freezer paper or something to put the pages on to dry.

Take the book and tear the covers off. Discard them. Take out any paper cardboard pages. Tear the book into several sections making it easier to handle. With the brush start covering each page of the book with turpentine.

I covered all the pages in the whole book and let them sit stacked up on each other in the container for 3 hours or so. Then after I knew the process had taken place, I separated the pages one by one. Do not let them dry out during that 3 hours before the turpentine has time to "melt"the ink on the pages, as this will stop the process. As the process is taking place you can smush the pages around to intermingle the colors.

When you separate the pages lay them on freezer paper to dry, which should not take long. The smell will last for awhile I have read. Then when you use them for your journals and cover the pages with sealer or paints or gesso or whatever then the smell will not be there anymore. I have read that you can also buy a product called Cytrasolv or an odorless turpentine, which I have not found either one.

I love the way the pages came out and I will be using them in journals. The paper is strong and does not get weak and tear when it is wet with the turpentine so be sure and soak it well when you are doing this. I hope you try this as it is very unique and you never know how your pages will turn out. When you peel the pages apart it makes unique marks on them. Depending on what is on the page originally will determine the outcome, so colorful pages make the best turp pages I think.