Make
a Collage: What’s the Best Glue?
a Collage: What’s the Best Glue?
To make a collage that will last for years, you need to use
a glue that’s up to the job. Collage artist Jonathan Talbot gives his
recommendations and tips. This article
originally appeared in the March 2011 issue of The
Artist’s Magazine and scroll down to learn how to make your own
collage paper–combine these two approaches for creative mixed media
explorations!
a glue that’s up to the job. Collage artist Jonathan Talbot gives his
recommendations and tips. This article
originally appeared in the March 2011 issue of The
Artist’s Magazine and scroll down to learn how to make your own
collage paper–combine these two approaches for creative mixed media
explorations!
Above: For On the Run (paper, paint,
wood, metal, fabric and plastic objects on plywood panel, 36×40), Jonathan
Talbot used a variety of adhesives and techniques: wet acrylic medium, dry
acrylic medium (for fusing with an iron) and epoxy. He attached some
three-dimensional elements to the panel with screws
wood, metal, fabric and plastic objects on plywood panel, 36×40), Jonathan
Talbot used a variety of adhesives and techniques: wet acrylic medium, dry
acrylic medium (for fusing with an iron) and epoxy. He attached some
three-dimensional elements to the panel with screws
Collage artist
Jonathan Talbot answers:
Jonathan Talbot answers:
Q: What’s
the best glue to use to make a collage? The surfaces I work on are canvas
and watercolor paper.
the best glue to use to make a collage? The surfaces I work on are canvas
and watercolor paper.
A. My choice of collage adhesive is gloss
acrylic medium. My preferred brand is Golden. Gloss acrylic medium is clear, permanent
and waterproof. It won’t discolor with age. It’s more adhesive than matte
acrylic medium. You can use it to adhere paper and fabric to canvas or canvas
and other fabrics to paper. Acrylic medium doesn’t contain dangerous solvents.
It won’t stain collage materials as time passes. It allows
you to combine acrylic paints with collage.
acrylic medium. My preferred brand is Golden. Gloss acrylic medium is clear, permanent
and waterproof. It won’t discolor with age. It’s more adhesive than matte
acrylic medium. You can use it to adhere paper and fabric to canvas or canvas
and other fabrics to paper. Acrylic medium doesn’t contain dangerous solvents.
It won’t stain collage materials as time passes. It allows
you to combine acrylic paints with collage.
Sealing your support surface with the acrylic medium helps
create good adhesion. When you’re adhering paper or fabric elements to a canvas
surface, you may need to apply more than one sealing coat to the canvas. Liquid
medium goes on smoothly, but it’s sometimes more easily absorbed than gel
medium. Gel medium is less likely to be absorbed but more likely to streak and
create texture when applied.
create good adhesion. When you’re adhering paper or fabric elements to a canvas
surface, you may need to apply more than one sealing coat to the canvas. Liquid
medium goes on smoothly, but it’s sometimes more easily absorbed than gel
medium. Gel medium is less likely to be absorbed but more likely to streak and
create texture when applied.
Normally, collage artists use acrylic medium as a wet
adhesive. Apply it with a brush to individual collage elements. Then press the
elements into place on the support surface. Sometimes frustrating wrinkles
develop. Minimize these by applying a primer coat of the acrylic medium to the
element. Allow this to dry before applying the adhesive coat of medium to the
element and then placing the element in position.
adhesive. Apply it with a brush to individual collage elements. Then press the
elements into place on the support surface. Sometimes frustrating wrinkles
develop. Minimize these by applying a primer coat of the acrylic medium to the
element. Allow this to dry before applying the adhesive coat of medium to the
element and then placing the element in position.
You can also use acrylic medium as a dry adhesive.
First coat collage elements and the support surface with medium. Then allow the
medium to dry. Next, iron the elements onto the surface. The heat of the
iron melts the dry medium and fuses the layers. Note that the support surface
needs a rigid backing during the ironing. If the canvas is prestretched, a book
will do. Also, the elements must be protected with silicone release paper
during the ironing process.
First coat collage elements and the support surface with medium. Then allow the
medium to dry. Next, iron the elements onto the surface. The heat of the
iron melts the dry medium and fuses the layers. Note that the support surface
needs a rigid backing during the ironing. If the canvas is prestretched, a book
will do. Also, the elements must be protected with silicone release paper
during the ironing process.
Other Adhesives to Make a Collage
Two other types of adhesives are worth considering when you
make a collage. Polyvinyl acetate adhesives (Lineco or Jade 409) aren’t waterproof
but have the advantage of being less shiny. This means they’re less
visible than gloss medium and epoxy. Epoxy, on the other hand, is stronger than
acrylic medium and sticks to almost anything. This means it can be used for
fastening solid objects—including metal and glass—to collages. Note, however,
that epoxy darkens with age and therefore must be hidden behind glued objects
or covered with paint.
make a collage. Polyvinyl acetate adhesives (Lineco or Jade 409) aren’t waterproof
but have the advantage of being less shiny. This means they’re less
visible than gloss medium and epoxy. Epoxy, on the other hand, is stronger than
acrylic medium and sticks to almost anything. This means it can be used for
fastening solid objects—including metal and glass—to collages. Note, however,
that epoxy darkens with age and therefore must be hidden behind glued objects
or covered with paint.
Author
Thanks to Artist Network for great information, I happen to
use the same glues in the collage workshop and students find it a great glue to
paste papers, transfer images, mix in paint, and to draw over on almost any
surface. I can show you how to use the acrylic medium.
use the same glues in the collage workshop and students find it a great glue to
paste papers, transfer images, mix in paint, and to draw over on almost any
surface. I can show you how to use the acrylic medium.