Stories & Memories
art journal
Stories & Memories
Hello lovely creative!
There is something so mysterious and fun about image transfers. I especially love them in black and white because it creates plenty of translucent areas that reveal the layers underneath. And something else that feels mysterious to me are vintage, black and white photography portraits. So image transfers and vintage photos are a match made in heaven!
This was the starting point for my latest art journal page, which I will be sharing in a lesson for Wanderlust 2022. The idea was to use a vintage portrait as the starting point: it could be a complete stranger, a favorite person like an author or an artist, or even a relative, an ancestor… I chose a photo of my sweet grandma as a young woman.
Last year my mum lent me my grandparents’ wedding photo album so I could scan and restore some pictures to their original beauty (through the magic of Photoshop). The original photos are tiny but absolutely gorgeous, with that wonderful, glamorous retro vibes of the 1950s. I had never seen those photos before and I became utterly fascinated with them. What a treat to discover my grandparents as a young couple, from the time of their engagement, to their wedding and then their honeymoon, and their first rented little house.
Looking at these pictures on my computer screen, zooming in to remove dust and scratches, I found myself staring into the young faces of these two love-birds and feeling like they were looking right back into my eyes.
My grandpa passed away a few years ago and my grandma, now 95, lives at the nearby nursing home. These past few months it has become harder and harder to communicate with her, and it feels like she’s not really “there” anymore. So it was incredibly sweet and soothing to my soul to feel this connection with her as I created my page.
The photo I chose was taken shortly before they got married. They were newly engaged and I can imagine that this time was full of joy, hope and possibility. After growing up in the war, and falling in love as teenagers, they were now young adults ready to build a life of their own and embrace it to the fullest. I guess that's why my page ended up full of flowers!
who is she?...
Of course, I have always known my grandma as… a grandma. But there is so much more to her than I will ever know. Looking at this portrait, I can see a young woman in full bloom, ready to start the adventure of her own life, to embrace new freedom, new projects and adventures (new challenges too). I can feel so much joy, hope and confidence in her smile, so much energy and warmth in the twinkle of her eyes. And the bright spark of love as she was probably looking at my grandpa behind the camera!
When I decided to create a page from this photo, at first I felt a little reluctant because I was worried it might end up a bit sad and nostalgic. But as soon as I got started, all my fears disappeared and everything seemed to fall into place. Looking at her, I started to intuitively gather some collage materials, patterns and colors that just "felt right" and seemed to fit with who she was, what she felt. It all came together to create a youthful, joyful and feminine atmosphere (with a slightly vintage vibe!).
a personal story
Above all, as I was creating, it felt like I was spending a precious moment with her, like we used to, and it felt so sweet and soothing to my soul. I even found some pages from a favorite novel where the main character, a young woman on a magical journey, is reunited with her two grandmas and gets to bake and cook with them once more. I used the pages in my background and I love that some of the words are showing through her face. I like this idea that we hold our stories right under the surface… I also circled some of the words that spoke to me, which then became a starting point for journaling with my own words.
I also played with cut-out words from magazines, letting serendipity do its thing. I often feel that it’s not just me playing and writing in my journal, but rather that my inner soul is writing to me on the page, telling me something I need to hear, providing gentle guidance and support from deep within.
trust the process
Like I shared in my previous article, there is magic to be found in a simple starting point. Here, I just wanted to play with a fun technique: an image transfer of an old photo. When I got started, I could never have imagined the journey it would take me on. But that first step mattered so much.
Whatever we create in our art journals, in the end I believe it is always about who we are, our stories and memories, our feelings and imagination. Even when we create a page about somebody else, whether it's someone we know or a complete stranger, eventually, it will still end up as an authentic reflection of our heart and soul.
This page is telling the story of a woman who embraces life with all its possibilities, who chooses love and joy above all else, even through the challenges. It tells the story of a brave, blooming soul, a seeker of beauty, a chaser of dreams, a simple, youthful heart who cherishes the sweetness of everyday little things, and knows the magic of a smile.
This is her. This is me. Maybe this is you too?
image transfer technique!
Image transfers are so much fun. I've been meaning to do a video tutorial for a while, so hopefully I'll get around to doing it soonn but in the meantime, here is a quick recap of my favorite technique:
Use a laser copy or photocopy so the ink won't bleed (black and white gives the best results). Regular home printer ink won’t work.
Reverse your image (especially if there is text) and print it on ordinary paper.
Choose where you want to place your transfer and make sure there’s some interesting background there, as it will be visible through your image. But make sure this area is not bumpy or textured, transfers work best on a smooth surface.
Apply a layer (not too thick) of matte gel medium to the face of your image, where the ink is. My favorite is Liquitex.
Apply another layer of gel medium to your page where you want your transfer to be.
Place your image face down and really burnish it to make sure every little bit adheres. A bone folder works wellfor this. Be mindful not to tear the paper.
If glue sips out from under the image, push it away with a flat brush. You don't want any glue on your paper.
Let dry fully (ideally overnight)
My very best tip! Use a small pottery sponge (the cheap round yellow kind) and wet it slightly. Start applying water to the paper. You will see the image appear.
Rub gently with your sponge in circular motions to remove this paper. You can also use your fingers. The paper will start peeling off. Take your time!
Once you've removed most of the paper, dry the image quickly with a heat-gun or hair-dryer. You will see that some areas become cloudy again, which means there is still some paper left and you need to wet and rub some more.
Once you're happy enough with your transfer (and there’s a goood chance that it will not be perfect, which is great!), let it dry completely.
Then add a layer of gel medium to seal and protect the ink.
If any areas still look a bit cloudy, you can go over those with a little bit of diluted permanent ink and a fine brush.
I hope this page will inspire you to spend some time creating in your art journal today! If you have never tried art journaling before, or if you need a little nudge to keep going, you will find plenty of free resources and inspiration HERE. And if you feel ready to take the next step and joyfully embrace the magic of art journaling, I would love to be your guide in one of my online classes.
Keep blooming and keep creating!
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