My Favorite Supplies- The Basics
Last week, my husband asked me for a shopping list of art supplies I’d like for Christmas because my son wants to do some shopping. Currently, I’m not out of anything, but it got me thinking about the supplies I use all the time. These aren’t fancy tools, but I’d be lost without them.
Golden Matte Medium
I’ve tried just about every adhesive, I think, but Golden matte medium is my favorite. I apply it with a brush to adhere my collage papers to the substrate and as a layer over the top. I rarely get air bubbles and the hold is excellent. I like the effect I can get from sanding and peeling off papers that I’ve adhered to watercolor paper. Plus, there is that additional joy of peeling glue off your fingers.
Speedball Hard Brayer
There’s nothing worse than coming back to work on a piece and discovering air bubbles have distorted your papers. That starts a messy project of trying to cut them open to force in more glue that usually ends up failing. I’ve tried using my hand, a barren, a credit card, deli paper, bone folders, and weights to secure the papers, but nothing has been as successful as my brayers. I have both a Speedball brayer and one that has no brand name that was in a box of free art supplies at an estate sale. After I glue, I roll over the paper a few times to squeeze out extra glue and make a firm seal. I might have to dab a bit of excess glue off with a paper towel, but otherwise, it’s a clean, fast process. I could cover the collage with deli paper before I roll, but I never have the patience for that added step. I end up with a brayer textured with dried glue and bits of thread pulled from book pages, but that mess sometimes adds interesting textures to the papers in the collage. Every so often, I’ll peel the collected mess off the brayer.
Exacto Knife
There’s nothing I like better than an Exacto knife for cutting down a hardcover book to create collage materials. I like my Olfa utility knife, but it’s got a bit of flexibility in the blade that the Exacto doesn’t have. The thin tip is also great for getting under a well-secured collage element that I want to peel off. I just need to remember to change the blade more often.
Glue Brush
I used to wash my glue brushes after each collage session and would often find out the next day that I hadn’t done a stellar job and ended up tossing the brush into the trash. Now, I leave them in a glass of water that I occasionally remember to change. The Dura-Handle Short Handle Flat brush (½ inch) is a perfect size and it holds up to my constant mistreatment.
Wooden Handled Awl
I purchased an awl to use for bookbinding, but use it more to add small textured details to my collages. I can scratch lines or pierce the papers to create tiny holes. I also use it to create guide marks when I want to stitch into my finished collages. I like the rounded, wooden handle because it’s more comfortable than the thin metal types.
Metal Ruler
My vintage Woodward metal ruler is one of my favorites to use. Not only can I tear papers on its edge, but I can also make marks using all the different shaped stencils. Plus, there’s the nice memory of an early morning outing with my son to an estate sale and the fun we had looking through the box of art supplies. This one would work just as well.
Fabriano Watercolor Paper
When I first began collaging, I’d work on inexpensive watercolor paper, usually Strathmore, but moved onto Fabriano watercolor paper. This is a 140lb, cold press paper that I buy in blocks of fifty sheets. There is some buckling with this paper, but it’s a good practice paper.
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