Glues...what's that all about?

Water...too much or too little makes a big difference in the reactive effect to the papers you use.

If you have paste glues it will not soak in as fast  but if you have wet glues with more water in them it will soak into your paper source which the reactive effects with that is like a sponge.  It will expand and with no were to go but to curly. did you ever wonder about that?  why paper curls and wrinkles in the glue process.

Does this matter...sure it does.  If you just gluing some thing you found along your day into your sketch book you might want to use a glue stick...fast and the right product for the job.   Will it be permanent?

Probably not but for a sketchbook the spontaneity of the moment lends itself to the raw edges and the imperfect application.  Not sure if you every picked up a sketchbook that has been really used...there is a sacredness. It's like you've capture the moment with the artist or creative maker.  I'm a romantic for a good trashy art journal.  

So what if you want to use old books and papers from long time ago....that paper might be made from different plant fibers...like the parts of the inner bark of a tree and when processed to make paper it's already in a major state of decomposing...so when adding glues to the papers to glue down..it's good to be aware of this if you want to put in to find art then you will want to kind of preserve it a little and seal in the decomposing parts against other papers...Coat them with acrylic mediums can preserve them..not for every but longer then our life time for sure. 

Some use natural Methyl cellulose a plant base, won't rot or attract bugs.  Bugs...who needs to worry about bugs...Oh we might want to be aware of their antics. Some eat what ever taste good.  I've heard of people making a natural glue and adding wintergreen oils in there to help detour the little critters.   the Methyl Cellulose is a natural adhesive. 

What if you wanted to really get serious about gluing papers and making some artwork.    Well not proud of it but using an acrylic medium of sorts is an artist product and it's made to last a long time. (acrylic mediums are made from oil which is made into a plastic product and used in acrylic mediums for artists)  Despite that it's a wet glue and will soak into the papers and the dry paper like shared above will want to expand.   This is why serious artist that want more control over their papers and the after effect of gluing will first coat the papers- both side with any acrylic medium and the surface they plan on working on. After the papers calm down and dry then they will have a coat on them so when you really get ready you can glue them down have more control over the way the papers relax on the surface they are glued to.....Lots of stuff to think and know about just to glue papers right...?

The way I look at it is to be aware of the items you are using will be most helpful for the end results you are trying to achieve. 

If interested in a list of glues and what they are good for I've saved it for you Here- Glue List

We will be talking about this all today in Open Studio at Mayslake Peabody...where I teach. 

Know your mediums and tools you use is important but to get to know them better,  I say let's play around and sometimes break the rules...get to know them and why but then take risks and test the limits of the products and yourself. 

Prayer Flags

Still continuing my personal Creative Question....hard some times but oh so cool.  I'm envisioning the end results...I just want to see the winds and how these prayers and flags will be let go and become one with all around it...I'm sure the frayed edges will be use for some nest....

Well best get a move on~  Life is Calling and Answering to it is where I want to be.

P.S.  my thumb received a steroid shot-Dang that hurt, and now it is on the mend....I'll try not to abuse the tools (hands)