Product Info Tip of the Week 5/23/12 - Adding Texture to Giclee Prints

[Blick Art Materials]

Adding Texture to Giclee Prints

Are you considering selling giclee prints of your work, but you want to make them a bit more special than just a plain print? Many artists are enhancing their prints by adding texture, or even painting over some areas of the print. This is fairly easy to do, but you do need to keep in mind that even the best pigmented inks can run or smear if they get wet. Because of this, it is very important that you spray a barrier coat over the print before you start adding to it. You can do this with any good quality clear finish coat. Spray a few fine layers, being careful not to saturate the print. The easiest way to do this is to lay the print on the floor, and spray with the can held at hip height.

Once you have your barrier coat in place, you need to decide what sort of texture you want to add. A popular choice is to simply add the appearance of brush strokes. This can be done using a clear acrylic medium and a slightly stiff brush. A synthetic brush is recommended for use with acrylics. Simply “paint” over the print using the medium. Gel or regular, gloss or matte can all be used depending on the effect you are trying to achieve. You can also use acrylic paint to highlight areas of interest, and even add textural elements such as pumice.

Becky
Product Information Specialist

For further assistance using art supplies, feel welcome to contact our Product Information Department at 1-800-933-2542 or e-mail us at info@dickblick.com. Hours of operation: M-F, 8:00am-5:30pm CST