Artist Tape Collage Papers: A Simple Technique with Gorgeous Results

November 24, 2025

Click here to watch!

How I Discovered the Magic of Artist Tape Collage Papers

I love when a new idea surprises me, and that’s exactly what happened with this week’s project. What started as a simple experiment with artist tape turned into one of my favorite new ways to make collage papers.

The idea came from a little whisper in my creative brain that said to try painting between the tape and see what happens… So I did! I pulled out three different kinds of artist tape, my usual acrylics, and a stack of scrap paper, and just started playing. What I discovered was not only beautiful, but also incredibly fun, and now I can’t stop making them.

Let me walk you through how I did it, step by step.

First, grab your supplies. Keep it super basic – acrylic paint (your favorite primaries, I used my usual primaries: Phthalo Blue Green Shade, Hansa Yellow Light, plus black and white), Artist tapes (I tried 3 kinds), paper (something sturdy!), and paint brushes (medium to small).

I also grabbed my bone folder to help with pressing tape down.

The Basic Technique

Lay down your tape: I started by creating a crisscross pattern with the tape, pressing it down firmly so paint wouldn’t seep underneath. I wasn’t aiming for perfection, I think that funky, off-kilter lines are part of the charm!
Paint between the tape: I used a simple color palette and mixed several tints and shades by adjusting the ratio of blue, yellow, black, and white. Each little taped box got its own color or variation. This is a fantastic way to explore paint mixing and values.
Let it dry and reveal: Once the paint was dry, I gently peeled off the tape… and wow. The clean lines and color variation created something really special.

What I Learned Through Experimenting

Each type of tape gave me a slightly different result:

Repositionable tape worked well but let some paint bleed under.
Frog Tape gave much cleaner lines, but not perfect.
Nichiban masking tape was the big winner! Super clean edges and easy to work with.

I also discovered that fragile paper like sheet music can tear when you remove the tape unless it’s prepped with a coat of gloss medium. Once I started coating the paper first, the tape peeled beautifully, and the final result was stunning.

One of my favorites was when I layered a sheer wash of paint first, let it dry, then applied the tape and painted again. The underlying texture peeked through the grids in the most magical way.

Why I Love This Technique

There’s something really satisfying about the mystery of the reveal, peeling tape to see the perfect little blocks of color. It’s like opening a present every time.

Even better? These papers are incredibly versatile as they add graphic structure and color harmony to your collages.

And just like with all my favorite collage paper techniques, this one encourages you to follow that inner voice that says, “What if you tried this?”and that’s where the real magic always lives.

If you try this, let me know how it goes, and don’t be afraid to experiment! Happy taping and painting!

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notified when I post new art demos!