Ready, Set, Transfer!

So it seems to be a bit of an epidemic lately... the blahs. Man, I hate feeling blah. So - let's shake 'em - I propose a WORLD WIDE BLAH EMBARGO. I fought all day with this Pencil Crayon Tiplet. I tried a couple of different things and after a few total BOMBS they lead me to THIS. I'm cool with the direction BUT I feel like it's not the destination... just a step closer. Like all things... right?

Come on - play with me...

This is called Twist and Shout because it's a bit of a twist on a few elements and ideas you're already familiar with... plus, maybe a new option to think about. A modern day 'shake up' so to speak.

Step 1 - Find your muse. I love this photo. I down right love it. It's blurry and it's got poor Dan's head cut off... but, it was SUCH A GREAT DAY and I took the picture while riding beside him one handed and swerving into traffic on a downtown adventure. It called to me like it needed something WORTHY of the moment. Ooooh, I like that idea... I like that idea SO MUCH!! Life should be worthy of the moment...

Step 2 - Black & white is nice. I like to switch a lot of my photos to black & white in Photoshop. I feel like the simplicity of a single colour really helps me to see what's happening in the image - design wise. IT'S NOT IMPERATIVE THAT YOU DO THIS FOR THIS TIPLET... I like to because I'm related to a BUNCH of accountants and number crunchers and their cheapness cost effectiveness rubs off on you just by breathing in the same air... and black & white saves my colour toners on my HP laser printer. Fine then.

Step SUPER IMPORTANTÉ - Print & Pick. Print out your image on regular cheap-ass paper (you could also photocopy the picture you want to use and size it that way instead - all good.) CHOOSE SOME CORRESPONDING PATTERNED PAPER. AKA scrapbook paper. (I used We R Memory Keepers Comstock Collection called COTTON CANDY. What a mouthfull) Okay - patterned paper - that's just a suggestion... you can choose any old paper you want. I wanted to use patterned paper to see what happened if I did. You can use toilet paper if you're feeling it - I don't care. Just grab something.

Step 3 - Graphic Transfer Time!! Whoooo! Maybe you've heard of this - maybe you haven't. Either way - this is a FANTASTICALLY ORGASMIC GREAT technique to use. Typically - for important pencil crayon, chalk pastel or pencil work I will draw the image on sketchbook paper and when I'm happy with the sketch - I will transfer it over to beautiful paper and then apply colour. WHY? The more you draw on a surface the more you break the paper fibres and make little indentations that are hard to fill. It's frustrating and easy to wreck an expensive sheet of paper. PLUS, erasers contain an acid that eats a little of the paper and changes the surface... I DIGRESS - this technique (GRAPHIC TRANSFER is what I know it to be called) is used by many, many artists, big and small, famous and unheard of, because it's handy. Try it! YOU NEED A 2B or 4B pencil to get started... (don't give up, don't give up, don't give up on me yet!)

Step 4 - Apply the graphite. (Okay - if you think that pencils are made with lead - you are just plain super wrong. The 'lead' of a pencil is actually a graphite mixture.) Apply a thick layer of graphite to the BACK of your printed (or photocopied) photo. THIS WILL NOT WORK ON PHOTO PAPER (hence the print or photocopy). THIS WILL NOT WORK ON PHOTOS. THIS WILL NOT WORK ON PHOTOS. OH MY GOODNESS THIS WILL NOT WORK ON PHOTOS... It has to be paper thin enough that the pressure of the pencil will take effect. Make sure you have good, thick coverage.

Step 5 - Stick it. Secure your photo ONTO THE PATTERNED PAPER where you want it and secure it with tape. TRICK: stick the tape to your pants or your arm first to remove the SUPER STICK. This will reduce the risk of ripping your paper when you REMOVE THE TAPE.

Step 6 - READY, SET, TRANSFER. Alright - grab either a ball point pen or a pencil crayon and trace the photo print out. Yes. TRACE. NO DRAWING SKILLS REQUIRED. NO EXCUSE NOT TO BE ABLE TO DO THIS. Cool, eh?? Make sure you don't miss anything that you don't want to miss AND MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING A MEDIUM to STRONG PRESSURE.

Step 7 - Remove the photo print CAREFULLY and CHECK THAT OUT! Your photo has been transferred to the paper AND magically turned into an illustration. Neat! Super Neat!

Step 8 - Get Inked. I wanted the line to be permanent and smooth so I used a Fineliner black marker to ink in the pencil lines that I wanted to keep. You can use some kind of beautiful acid-free pen contraption that you already have... it's ALL GOOD. After you do this - you can lightly erase any stray graphite lines or marks. G - E - N - T - L - Y. REALLY - how cool is that?

Step 9 - Throwdown some colour.  This is the going-downhill-fast fun part. I am going to colour it like a colouring book. Nothing fancy because I want the juxtaposition of the patterned paper and the line drawing to make nice with each other. The quality of your pencil crayons mixed with the type of paper you choose mixed with the alignment of the moon mixed with the date of your birth - will all have a different effect. This tiplet might do some crazy things. NO FEAR. It's all good and whatever is happening is whatever that was supposed to happen. Totally remember to stay in a completely zen-like chill.

Step 10 - Keep at it. Just keep on applying your colours and using the colours in the papers to help you out. Change things! You will notice that in REAL LIFE Dan (the hot dude in this photo and also my husband) was wearing a brown shirt and green shorts... SO WHAT!? Change it up for the sake of art.

Step 11 - DOODLEBUGGERY. This is my favourite part - ADD STUFF. Draw lines - add words - EMBELLISH any way you like to embellish things. Add stickers! Rub ons! Paint! Be crazy - you made it past the new and scary stuff. CONGRATULATIONS! (You totally deserve a treat because this was a LONG post and you did it.)

Too cool. This is my finished piece. I think I might frame it and send it to work with Dan. Thank you so much. You made it to the end of the post and you learned a true to life ART TECHNIQUE  (YOU ARE AN ARTIST NOW FOR SURE) and you combined it with scrapbooking stuff. I think it's so cool when different genres collide.

So cool and so grateful that you took the time out of your busy day to read this. You rock.

Comments

[Ronda P.]

That is way to cool and makes me want to grab my pencils. WOW Kal....you have done it again....inspiration found....down with the BLAHS!

[Leah]

oh my gosh! i'm so doing this tonight! loooove it. thanks for the tiplet :)

[Emma]

Oh I love it!! I want to rush upstairs and do it right now!! maybe I'll do just that, in fact. Pretty sure I've got at least one or two graphite pencils up there :) Thanks Kal!!

[Ronda P.]

BTW...you have been tagged...if you are up for it...come to my blog for details...

[Jaymie]

This sounds so fun! Can't wait to try it (have to go to the inlaws for the weekend, so it might have to wait. . . . but can't wait to try! Thanks for all the tiplets! ~Jaymie

[sarah the kiwigirl]

that is so cool, love it, I am so excited as I am planning to come to the classes in North Carolina next year...yep all the way from New Zealand...yay!!!

[Joy]

this is fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!

[cate stilwell]

ditto,ditto,ditto - I can't wait to try this! Thanks for your generousity and time.

[Danielle Mezza]

Definately trying this tomorrow :)
btw I love that you have a light pink polka dot positioned over his cheek... very cute.

[Jennifer]

No Kal, YOU ROCK!

[Lisa]

What FUN! I have to admit I've use the graphic transfer technique many times before but have never done this with patterned paper..that would really make it a quick and thrifty way to get a great background. Thanks for a way to use those old paper scrap supplies.

[Idan Asinely]

very cool!!
i'm going to try that..

[Tina]

man Kal...it's so cool to see your step by steps. This turned out amazing! Love it ;) Hope it helped with the blahs!

[s.patel]

this is so fantastic, kal! trying out some of your tiplets this weekend and am so excited! will send you some links once i get the scanner set up (just moved--what a mess!)

[Kimberly White]

Inspired again! So looking forward to trying this! Have a wonderful day Kal! Kim

[Laura Reaux]

Kal! I. LOVE. This. I can't wait to try it! I have so much to do today (company tonight + messy house = frantic me), and I am dying to make the time to try it out.

[Kasie]

Oh Kal! This is sooo cool! You are a fountain of inspiration. LOVE, love, love it!

*And I meant to comment yesterday and say; It's okay to take care of yourself. It's okay to rest. It's okay to cry (for no reason at all.) Your body is making a new life and that's a super-awesome and pretty tough job!
(((Hugs!)))

[Martha M.]

Wow. Wow. Wow. I have used this technique myself a number of times, but your idea about the patterned paper takes it to a new level! You are awesome!
Thanks, once again, for a great Tiplet!

[Gillian]

Fabulous tiplet. Your best yet. I've used that transfer technique before too, but to put it on patterned paper would not have occured to me. Must dig out all my scrapbooking paper again. Thanks Kal.
Have a great weekend. xxx

[Maria]

WOW.....this is so absolutely FABULOUS! Thank you for the inspiration! I needed some Kal infusion this morning....and you've just done so much more! Thank you again and again! I just read about the Inspired workshop next year! Wow...how very cool. I really, really, really would LOVE to go.

[Jana]

Love your tiplets----you really know how to break down a lesson into steps, something I need to learn! Especially love your narration during the process---it's so real and speaks to people so comfortably! Always inspirational :)! Thank you.

[Chrissy]

You are so freakin' cool.

I am definitely going to do this!

:)Chrissy

[Chrissy]

You are so freakin' cool.

I am definitely going to do this!

:)Chrissy

[maile]

I love it! I did this once for our sign when we opened our first studio in 1996. We were too poor to have a real sign maker do it, so we bought wood at the craft store and painted it. The letters had to be taped together, but it actually turned out really cute! It's a great technique!

[girlfriday]

love it! love the love-life :)

[nicole]

this is so awesome! I can't wait to try it...

[Kirsten Williamson]

This is an AWESOME and easy technique! Thanks for sharing - I am so inspired to go make something!

[Kirsten Williamson]

This is an AWESOME and easy technique! Thanks for sharing - I am so inspired to go make something!

[tiz]

I love this tiplet, thanks a lot!

[Jen K]

your end product from the tiplet is SO COOL!!!thanks for sharing!!!

[cheryl]

what a wonderful tip (for those of us who CAN'T draw!) Love it! Thanks!

[Theresa]

thank you so much for this tiplet. I will be trying it out later on.:)

[Linda Woods]

This is an excellent Tiplet!!! My fave part: Totally remember to stay in a completely zen-like chill.
FANTASTIC!

[NancyB]

Fantastic! I did something t0 this effect back in high school in art class to get our basic border of our image to recreate it on paper or canvas! But using a personal photo image! This rocks! Got to try it! You have inspired me! Thank you!

[Helen (PBear)]

This is such fun - thanks. Can't wait for the next tiplet!

[Anne Marie]

Oh my goodness, I feel like I've died and gone to heaven in finding your blog today! This is sooo inspirational. You're going on my fav-blogger-check-it-every-day list! :) Your new friend in central Florida, USA!

[Greta]

holy moly guacamole! This is awesome! Thanks for the awesome tutorial, I am going to bookmark this for sure.

[Lee L]

Man, that is flippin AWESOME!!!!

Totally adding your blog to my faves.

Thanks heaps for sharing!

Cheers,

Lee in Australia.

[SusanH]

One question - will this work on photos? (sorry, couldn't resist)
I've been using this technique all of my life and didn't even know it (you know, when you need to "forge" Mom's signature on the note from the teacher but you're lousy at forgery? That seriously works!!)
Thanks - love this and must go try it now!

[fia]

This is great stuff. I live in the Netherlands and I didn't see such thing here. You have a lot there,we can't buy here. I love your work,looks great,hope it will be in the stores here,so I can use it.
greetings Fia