In my notebook, well, Notes app, I had the theme ‘altered images’ written down for August’s art journal session. Pondering this at 4am one morning (don’t you just hate a creative brain mulling things over in the early hours?) I looked up Altered Images, the band, and their hit ‘Happy Birthday’. After that, this mixed-media layout came together nicely, blending collage, stickers, AI-image generation and a little bit of experimentation:
The inspiration
From the theme to the band, to Tesco’s for some birthday wrapping paper. It was then a matter of blending all the elements to make a cohesive layout. To be honest, the lyrics in their entirety didn’t make a lot of sense to me, and, bizarrely, there is something about a bathtub too. Catchy tune, though. I wanted the ‘birthday’ to be the main element and decided to contrast colour with a greyscale background.
The focal image
AI image generation
I used the following prompt to ask ChatGPT to create exactly what I had in mind:
For my art journaling next month, I am making an altered image, and playing on that by using the Altered Images lyrics to ‘Happy Birthday’. To that end, I’d like you to create an A5 image. It should be a black-and-white halftoned image of a kid blowing out a candle on a birthday cupcake. The cupcake should be front and centre toward the bottom of the image, with the kid behind, facing the candle. The image should be black-and-white except for the cupcake, which should be in colour and photorealistic. There should be a contrast between the two styles.
The first image was the right composition, but needed the following tweak:
May we have a little less dense background halftones, reducing the black – we will be colouring over with coloured pencils or paint.
Processing – digital
I took the AI image into Photoshop and used the ‘select subject’ option to cut out the cupcake onto a new layer. I also tried to convert the selection to a saveable path, but didn’t quite get that sorted. Instead, I imported the cupcake into Illustrator, image-traced it, released the compound path and then united everything to make the cut outline.
Back in Photoshop, I expanded the selection by 20 pixels and subtracted the initial selection to create an offset ‘band’ around the cupcake. Using ‘content-aware fill’, Photoshop created a bleed around the image ready for cutting (no white edges):
I moved everything across to Illustrator, creating a print layer (cupcakes with bleed) and a cut layer (outlines). The cut layer was exported as an SVG ready for the laser.
Processing – physical
I chose to transfer the image of the kid using tissue paper, so I taped some to a copy paper carrier to print with the laser printer. Laser toner doesn’t move with water, making it ideal for mixed-media work. I trimmed the printouts to size.
For the cupcakes, I printed several out on sticker paper, again using the laser printer. Sticker paper is laser-safe, so I popped it in my xTool F2 Ultra UV to cut out. This has the advantages of minimal charring (I also used low power, high speed and multiple passes), tab generation so the cut pieces don’t fall out and fine cutouts without tearing (as a knife-based cutter can be prone to do):
Putting it all together
Start by sticking down your choice of wrapping paper. I use Yes! Paste as it is least likely to wrinkle the thin paper. Trim off any excess. Allow to dry completely.
Add some gesso with random brushstrokes. Don’t be surprised if the wrapping paper wrinkles – the moisture from the gesso can reactivate the YES! paste. Allow to dry.
Whilst that is drying, add some paint to the reverse of the printed image. I used the shadows in the halftone image to guide placement of the different tones of grey, and I made the background white. Working on a sheet of white paper helped to define the shading. Again, painterly, rough brushstrokes add some artistic touches. Dry.
Ideally, everything should be bone dry before you proceed, but there isn’t always time for that – so more wrinkles are to be expected. Glue down the tissue paper, right side up (the unpainted side) and then smooth down using clear gesso (we need the gesso tooth for the next bit of the process). Guess what? Allow to dry completely.
And while that’s drying, find a vintage typewriter and type out the lyrics onto a manila tag (70x35mm). In the same manner as the printing on an A4 carrier, sticking down the manila tag enabled easier wind-through on the roller. Check for typos and redo…..
Once all was dry, I went in with some Polychromos colouring pencils for some light touches of colour. I added some and wiped back with my fingers for a little blending. It didn’t need much and resembled a colourised B&W photo by the time I had finished.
Peel and stick the cupcake into place – the laser makes the cuts so precise… I should have created a bleed on the B&W image too.
Stick down a complementary wrapping paper to the opposite page and trim to size.
Add a little vignette with blended distress ink.
Stick the tag down with some double-sided tape, and use washi tape to hold the string in place.
And that is pretty much it.
Why not join us next time?
In my notes, the theme for next month (September) is ‘perfect pearls’. I’ve not used them for some considerable time, so it’ll be interesting to see what I come up with! The session is at the Studio, on Monday, 7th September from 7:30pm and is £7.50 to attend – please book to reserve your place.