Create Messy Art Journal Papers

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(at the bottom of this post)

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Overlap 15-20 papers in front of you.

I like to use a variety of papers, but this method would work just fine with plain paper, too. Here’s a few ideas for where I get my papers. Pages from old dictionaries or books, security envelopes, file folders, deli paper, old manuals, junk mail, graph paper, ruled lined paper, watercolor paper, printer paper, cardstock, kraft paper, sewing patterns, basically any form of paper you can find.

2. Add acrylic inks / high flow fluid acrylic paints

Drip inks over the top of your spread out papers. Use your spray bottle to drip the color between the pages. Try different techniques of spreading the color around. Pick up the pages and let the ink drip from one paper to another. Place paper on top of the other papers. Get messy and spread the color organically across your papers. Add water with your spray bottle and/or a wet brush making marks as you go.
Don’t be afraid to add water onto your pages. If you continue to move the papers around they won’t stick to each other and tear. Although, the more you use different types of papers and discover what is in your stash - you will learn which papers are more delicate and which are more sturdy. The same goes for which are more absorbent or resistant.
**One thing to be cautious of is the colors you use. Since you will be using fluid paints and lot’s of water, the colors that you use will mix. This is neither a good or bad thing in and of itself. But, we can use this fact to our advantage. Try some experimentation, so you can know what colors you like together. After some trial and error you won’t get muddy colors, but more of what you desire.**
Once you have added as many colors as you desire it is time for the next step.