Since I started creating collages I have asked a few friends for advise, and came up with my own solutions. Typically almost everyone will use a Matte Medium of some kind to do their collage work, but I have discovered that it is not as clear as most gloss mediums. Matte medium works a little like plain white glue, when it dries it is slightly opaque while gloss medium dries like glass, transparent.

I am finding there are pros and cons to both. Gloss medium has seemed to punch up color when it is applied as a varnish, and when you plan to add a final gloss coat using it to apply the collage is an excellent idea, it will avoid the clouding caused by matte medium. Gloss is nowhere near as forgiving as matte, it requires a lot more massaging to prevent the paper from puckering or wrinkling.  Excessive massage of the paper is dangerous for tears as the medium dries. The idea is to squeeze out as much medium from under the paper as possible.

Matte medium is much more forgiving for application of paper. When you lay down the paper and massage out the excess it is not necessary to be as thorough, the matte medium will flatten wrinkles that are mild as it dries. Being a perfectionist I must remove as much as humanly possible when applying paper, wrinkled collage makes me insane.

The above image shows the pieces after their final gloss coat, the blue piece was done with gloss and the magenta with matte. There are still small wrinkles in the blue piece that you cannot see unless inspecting it closely, but they are in fact there. On the matte piece, the wrinkles disappeared as the medium dried and shrank.

At this point, I am using diff technique for gloss and matte when applying a collage piece. Either way, I have found that you should let the piece cure a MINIMUM of 24 hours before applying the collage, 72 hours would be better especially when using matte medium and wiping away the excess with a wet cloth.

Matte:

1. Apply a liberal amount of Matte medium to the area where the collage is to be applied (spread even with #6 brush)
2. Apply a liberal amount to the back of paper to be applied (spread even with a #6 brush)
3. Position the bottom of the paper while holding the top off of your piece.
4.  Squirt some matte medium on top of the paper while holding it up, for lubrication.
5. Using the same #6 brush, start at the bottom and brush hard from side to side as you lay the paper down a little at a time.
6. When the paper is all the way flat, use a damp cloth to wipe away the excess around it (not touching the paper)
7.  At this point I rub out the excess medium from under the paper with my fingers
8. Wipe off excess again
9. Using same brush, make a few light passes over the paper to make sure the medium brush strokes go in the same direction as the paint.

Gloss:

1. Apply a liberal amount of Gloss medium to the area where the collage is to be applied (spread even with two inch wash brush)
2. Apply a liberal amount to the back of paper to be applied (spread even with a two inch wash brush)
3. Position the bottom of the paper while holding the top off of your piece.
4.  Squirt some gloss medium on top of the paper while holding it up, for lubrication.
5. Using a #6 brush, start at the bottom and brush hard from side to side as you lay the paper down a little at a time.
6. When the paper is all the way flat, use your fingers to squeeze out any excess
7.  Use two inch wash brush to spread the gloss evenly across the paper and painting
8. Use fingers to remove excess again if necessary
9. Using same brush, make a few light passes over the paper to make sure the medium brush strokes go in the same direction as the paint.

Remember to work AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, both mediums dry very fast, the gloss faster than the matte, even though it appears to be opposite to the eyes. Gloss medium will require more work to keep the paper flat, working fast is key.

At this point the mediums we speak of are “Liquitex Matte Medium”, and “Liquitex Gloss Medium And Varnish”

©2010 James H. Pickett

As a photographer desiring olympic greatness there are no clear cut competitions, there are no qualifying shoots and there is no “talented enough”.  Some of the worlds best shooters will be working the olympic events, but there are some that just don’t belong there. The sad truth about photography is that the business is almost entirely who you know, and has nothing to do with how good you are. Audi USA has done an amazing job at illustrating what it takes to achieve olympic greatness as an athlete with their film “Truth In Motion”, A documentary about the US Ski Team’s journey to Vancouver.

On the off chance that anyone is looking to hire a photographer for Vancouver on very short notice, clearly I am available. (And will donate half of my earning to a deforestation charity.) As it stands there are no films about my lifelong struggle to be a legend in our industry, and I doubt there ever will be. Most of us do not sacrifice our lives and our selves the way I have, and no one will likely notice how close my struggle has been, to the struggle of every olympian that has ever lived. It has been a tragic story of lost love, emotional and psychological battles, determination and perseverance. One day I will achieve what I desire, I just wish it was now, as the struggle has taken its toll on me. Hopefully I will be at the next worldwide winer games, even though it would be nice to attend on my own continent.

My heart and wishes of luck go out to all olympians, especially the US ski and snowboard teams.

Not to worry if you are a client or a potential client, with the knowledge base I already have, most of my work at FIT will be time I would be shooting for myself anyway, now someone will just be judging the work and adding a GPA to it. I am looking forward to the experience, I should have done it a decade ago.

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Images © 2010 James Pickett Photography

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