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How to Transfer Acrylic

Painter Robert Rauschenberg pioneered the art of transferring printed pages onto canvas in the mid-1900s. Transfers were originally done with paint thinner and other harmful chemicals, but art students are now being taught how to create transfers from printed pages onto canvas using acrylic paint, gesso and mediums. This is much faster and healthier than soaking the canvas in harmful chemicals. Acrylic transfers can be used under both acrylic and oil paints, and are very popular in mixed media artwork.

Things You'll Need

  • Canvas, wood or artboard panel
  • Acrylic paint, gesso or medium
  • Paintbrush
  • Magazine picture
  • Brayer
  • Sponge
  • Water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Brush a medium on to the canvas in the area where you will place the picture. Do not allow it to glob, but make sure the entire area is covered. Learning the correct amount of medium to use is the hardest part of acrylic transfers.

    • 2

      Lay the image onto the surface exactly as you want it to appear. Press it firmly into place, and press down using a brayer, a spoon or a block of wood. Do not allow the image to slip around on the surface.

    • 3

      Allow it to dry to the touch. You may have to lift a corner of the paper to check on the progress.

    • 4

      Gently peel back the paper. Most of the toner will stay on the surface of the canvas. The paper may not come off in one piece. Wet a sponge and rub in a circular motion to remove any leftover paper fibers after the transfer process is complete.

Fine Art

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