Fiber Paste - Making a Skin

I was going through a book, Surface Treatment Workshop by Darlene Olivia McElroy & Sandra Duran Wilson and came across a chapter on Fiber Paste. Well, it just so happens I have some Fiber Paste from Golden that I had gotten years ago and never used. So better late then never. I read the chapter and decided it didn't look or sound too hard. It is really cool stuff that looks like paper when it dries. You can paint, stamp, mold, rust, cut, rip and stencil on it once it is dried. The only drawback is you have to wait for it to completely dry, which I find very hard to do. The directions below are for making what is called a skin. You can use it directly on a canvas, watercolor paper or panel but this project is for a skin.

Supplies:

Palette knife

Fiber paste ( I used Golden)

Parchment paper or Plastic Wrap

Acyclic paint ( I used Adirondack acrylic paint dabber Gold) I absolutely love the dabbers - they are so easy to use.) You can use whatever color you want.

Art Glitter (Gale Glitz Gold) optional

Step 1: Using the palette knife, spread the fiber paste onto your surface of choice, whether plastic wrap or parchment paper for a skin. While the paste is still wet, add texture if desired. Let the fiber paste dry completely before painting because it will be mushy till dry.

Step 2: You can lift it from the plastic wrap or parchment when dry, and you have a fibrous, flexible paper. If you are going to print onto it, a digital ground needs to be used to ensure a crisper image.

Step 3: Paint

Step 4: Add art glitter. (Optional)

Step 5: Allow paint to dry completely.

I stamped on the smooth side of the fiber paste after it dried with Archival Ink Jet Black. Then I cut out the shape I wanted and using a paint brush, I painted Diamond Glaze over it. A little trick I learned to help get rid of bubbles in the Diamond Glaze: give it a small spritz with alcohol, if all of them don't disappear give it another quick spritz. Set aside to dry completely. Do not touch while wet - it will leave finger prints.