final finish on art journal pages

by sabina
(canada)

Mixed Media Art Questions

after having finished the painting of the pages, collage and journaling, do you apply a finish to the entire page or just leave it as it is please? I have watched Teesha's videos but can't seem to find anything on the final finish. Just wondering if you use varnish or decoupage finish or anything else?
thank you so much.
Sabina.


Mixed Media Art Questions answered by Milliande

Hi , and thanks for your question

My art journal pages tend to be left unfinished for the most part ...unless I use any art supplies that require fixing ..

~ For instance charcoal drawings, pastel drawings leave a loose residue that would smudge onto the neighboring art journal page when the art journal book is closed so I would fix the page once I am finished ...

~ I tend to use spray fixative for fixing pages like that ... look out for a colorless fixative that has a transparent non glossy effect and literally just seals the pastel colors or charcoal in without altering the actual design in your art journal page

~ when I have used heavy mixed media collage pieces on an art journal page...gel medium, especially matte gel medium can be added as a sealant during many stages of the layering process...gel medium can also be slightly tinted with any of the golden fluid acrylics for instant to add an aging effect to your page ...thus giving the finished piece a cohesive look.

~ Over all my art journals are about process... rarely about a finished product...so I tend to see them as such , not sealing or protecting them like I would with an artwork that is meant for display

~ Altered Book Art Journals that are meant to be on display, aka they maybe similar to a sculptural work that has a specific theme and is meant to be displayed for viewing, may require sealing , especially if the product is going to be touched ( ie by people looking at the different pages in an art gallery etc)
Then I would always apply a topcoat of spray fixative...and even spray varnish either matte or gloss as desired to increase the longelvity of the piece. .

~ when choosing any kind of fixative or varnish it pays to look out for archival products ( archival meaning preventing yellowing and cracking over age)

hope this helps

milliande

Mixed Media Artist