Acrylic Varnish and Mica Powder Background Tutorial

PREVIEW:

This finished piece uses: Brown Paper Bag with Brick Ink--HEAVY Varnish Mixture coverage)

Acrylic Varnish and Mica Powder Backgrounds

Supplies:
Brown Paper Bag (I used a grocery bag) or Light weight cardstock
(crumpled and unfolded several times)

Acrylic Varnish
(I used Delta Ceramcoat Varnish-Glossy)
This should also work well: http://www.liquitex.com/Products/varglossmedvarflex.cfm
(you can try watered down Acrylic Medium, but I suggest a soft gel and a glossy finish. You want the consistency of white craft glue (Elmer’s))

PearlEx or any other Mica Powders*
Sponge Paintbrush
Dye Reinker or Color Wash Spray or Fluid Watercolors or Calligraphy Ink
Disposable Bowl
Newspapers or plastic sheeting to protect your workspace.

1) Squirt out a general portion of Acrylic Varnish into your bowl. (Almost cover the bottom of the bowl) Sprinkle one or more colors of Mica Powder onto the varnish. Using your sponge paintbrush, gently mix the powder into the varnish. (You can mix completely together OR keep the colors separate. I liked to keep the colors separate… just mixing at the “seams” where the colors met in the varnish.)

2) Lay a few papers down onto your protected workspace. Pick up the varnish/mica powder mixture and quickly and sloppily brush over your papers. Pick up different colors and cover the entire piece of paper.
---There are 2 ways to approach this---
** DO NOT PRESS DOWN OR FORCE THE MIXTURE INTO THE CREVICES OF YOUR PAPER!! KEEP IT ON TOP OF THE “HILLS” OF YOUR PAPER**
OR
** COVER ALMOST ALL OF THE PAPER WITH THE VARNISH MIXTURE. LEAVE A FEW VALLEYS FREE OF VARNISH**



3) Once the papers have dried, repeat step 2 up to 4 times until you have the coloring you like on your papers. Allow papers to dry completely.



4) Take your dye reinker (or other item from supply list) and pour into a disposable bowl. (experiment with both light and dark colors…see what you like best!) Make sure your ink solution is very intense and rich.

5) Take your varnished papers and crumple and uncrumple several more times. Squeeze the papers tightly when crumpling. Flatten papers as best you can on your protected work surface.

6) Using your foam paintbrush fill your brush with your ink solution. Saturate your entire paper with the ink. (I poured the excess ink back into my bowl) Set paper aside to dry completely.

Use as backgrounds or any other way your heart desires! As with all techniques, experiment and HAVE FUN!!


*Some sites to purchase other Mica Powders (other than PearlEx):
http://www.tkbtrading.com/
(type “mica powder” in the keyword search box)

http://www.coastalscents.com/cfwebstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=11&CFID=416781&CFTOKEN=92083521

More Finished Sample Backgrounds:



Brown Paper Bag with Black Ink:
(Very Light Varnish Mixture coverage)

Brown Paper Bag with Purple Ink:

(Very Light Varnish mixture coverage)

Brown Paper Bag with Brick Ink

(Heavy Varnish mixture coverage)