Tape and glue: image transfer with artist Julie Guyot

Applying packing tape to an image

Here's what I learned at Tuesday's Visual Journaling class with artist Julie Guyot at the Thomasville Center for the Arts in Georgia.
There are many ways to transfer an image -- make it go from a picture on paper to some other medium, such as paper ... or wood ... or fabric... Here are two methods Julie demonstrated. When I got home I tried them, and you can see my results at the bottom.

Tape transfer method

Julie recommends 3M brand packing tape. Lower-quality tape makes the image transfer  less detailed, less complete. Julie says clear contact paper also works. 

Here are her steps: Saturate the picture in water and then gently scrape the paper off. You should end up with a picture on your tape.

Glue it to your base.

Simple! I think I get it:
1. Put tape on top of your picture.
2. Soak it in water so the picture paper kind of disintegrates.
3. Rub the paper off the tape: voilá! The ink sticks to the tape.

Right now I am having lunch and when I finish I'm going to try this. Of course, I have to stifle the obvious: Why am I doing this, anyway?

To make layers. If it works (really, I'm wondering ... ) If it works, I can put this picture on top of another image, and parts of that picture will show through the empty parts.

Soaking tape-covered picture in water

Acrylic medium method

 Use gel medium. Julie used Golden brand heavy gel. Brush it on all one way.

Brushing medium onto the image

Dry until all the tacky feeling is gone (as little as 15 minutes, but preferably overnight). 

Brush another layer of sticky stuff, going in the other direction..

Dry.

Soak. Rub it gently so the paper comes off. Again, the ink is supposed to stick to the top. You have in effect made your own packing tape with a picture on it. There are various types of medium. You can choose shiny or matte surface. 

Rubbing the paper off

In her fourth class Julie also discussed adding text to your art. Basically, write with whatever you want, whatever you can; in choosing text, consider its scale, size, style.  Options include pen and ink, paint, printing. You can use maps, letters, recipes, songs, music, poetry ... 

OK, now here's my first attempt. What didn't work for me may very well be a triumph for you.

3M tape ended up blank. That's the nearly-clear tape, and below it a mess of paper I rubbed off.
I was impatient.

 Great oak tree soaking
I brushed on two layers Mod Podge, because I read in the website below that it works like the Golden medium But it didn't
This tree turned into paper scraps

I kind of like these trees
I used Golden medium

See that texture at top right?
It's the paper I was rolling off the hardened medium

Here are two that "worked"
The little one is a sunset

Here's a website I consulted on how to make photo transfer with gel medium: 

http://stacyalexander.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-to-make-photo-transfer-for-collage.html