Check out part two of creating stunning collage papers using soap bubbles with a whole new technique
If you loved part one of playing with bubbles, then you’re going to love part two! In this video, I experimented with different techniques and materials and got stunning results that I am soooo excited to share with you!
The materials are super simple and most likely, you already have them in your art supply closet – dishwashing liquid, children’s bubble mix, your favorite acrylic paints, plus white and iridescent gold, small paintbrushes, a spatula, a straw, cups, and a palette. For this technique, heavier weight drawing paper, mixed media paper, and watercolor paper work best.
Start by mixing up a little bit of acrylic paint with water until it’s watery. You can also try playing with acrylic inks or watercolors for this technique.
Like with my first bubble video (see link below), you simply blow bubbles with a straw onto your paper. Now dip a brush into the watery paint and lightly apply it to the bubble creases. Watch as honeycombs form and the bubbles pop, leaving behind beautiful patterns on your collage papers. You may want to alternate between trying dish soap and children’s bubbles because each offers a different “type” of bubble pop and leaves different designs behind on paper.
I love this technique not only because it’s a blast, but its so simple to do, much simpler than my first bubble video. By the end of this bubble-blowing, paint-dripping experiment, I had some gorgeous collage papers with abstract designs that I am absolutely obsessed with! I even managed to turn what I thought were mistakes into some of my favorite papers. It just goes to show that sometimes the best art comes from happy accidents.
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Supplies Used
Drawing paper 80 lb
Mixed Media paper 108 lb
Watercolor paper 140 or 300 lb
Dawn dish soap
Children’s bubbles
Spatula
Straw
Cups to mix suds in
Petrie glass dishes
Nova Acrylic Paint
Also works with watercolor paint and acrylic ink
*Some links are affiliate links which pay a small commission to support the production of this art demo series, while not costing you anything more.
Fab bubble creations!
So glad you liked them!
The alcohol ink was pretty big drops so the bubbles collapsed. Try putting the ink in a dish and try the brush.
Great suggestion. Thank you for sharing.
I tried using kids’ bubbles which I have had quite a while but they didn’t work . They just collapsed and left color blobs. I used 140 lb watercolor paper and Golden hi-Flo acrylics. At first I added water to the paint but thought that’s why it didn’t work. I then used straight paint but same result. Could it be that the soap bubbles age out? I am perplexed. I also tried Golden fluid acrylic in gold but same result. Water was added to that paint. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks!
I tried a different brand of watercolor paper and it absorbed much better and worked. So problem solved!
I’m so glad that you found a solution that made this work for you. I too had to use heavy weight paper to make this work, and not all papers behave the same. Enjoy making more bubble papers!
After your bubble patterns are formed, is the paper too wet to draw into? I’m wondering how long you should wait until you can apply drawing with pens and paint markers.
I would wait until the papers are totally dry, which should take less than an hour. You might want to try drawing first on a small corner to make sure you don’t get smearing. If it does smear, you will want to apply a fixative before you draw.