Draw On It

Oh no! You want to draw on top of your painting but it’s too glossy from all the acrylics. Not a problem! This trick is great for painting on surfaces that are difficult for paint to adhere to, like metal leaf, plastic and glass.

TECHNIQUE ONE: Clear It

Step 1

Paint a very thin layer of clear gesso or absorbent ground on your surface. Wipe off any extra and let dry.

Step 2

This will give your surface enough tooth to be drawn on with pastels, pencils or charcoal.

Step 3

Spray with a workable fixative to set your drawing before painting or putting on a varnish.

TECHNIQUE TWO: Just Do It

China markers (or wax pencils) will draw on most surfaces. They comes in four basic colors, but because they are wax, they will resist any acrylic that you put on top of them. Stabilo pencils and Sharpie paint pens are a better solution when you want to add acrylic layers on top. They come in a huge assortment of colors.

TECHNIQUE THREE: Trace It

Paint a very thin layer of clear gesso or absorbent ground on clear polypropylene plastic. This will give your surface enough tooth to allow you to draw on it with pastels, pencils or charcoal. Place an image underneath. Draw on the plastic. Use a workable fixative to set it. You may also draw directly onto the plastic using the Sharpie paint pens or Stabilo pencils without having to use clear gesso. You can now do a Crazy Easy Transfer to place your image anywhere on your painting or page.

For more information on the Crazy Easy Transfer technique, visit createmixedmedia.com/mixed-media-revolution.