Glue Resist Art: Step-by-Step with Gloss Medium and Stencils

October 1, 2024

Discover the secret to perfect glue resist collage papers

I want to share an exciting technique that will add a unique flair to your mixed media projects: a glue resist technique using gloss medium and your favorite stencils.

The star of the show today is gloss medium which I dispense from a condiment bottle to make it super easy to pour. You will also need some of your favorite stencils, palette paper, flat brushes, and almost any type of paper to work on.

A quick tip about gloss medium: if you don’t have it, you can always use PVA or Elmer’s glue. For those of you who have taken my Collage Kickstart class, you’ll know we explored a similar technique using glue. The only drawback with glue, especially Elmer’s glue, is that it will yellow over time. However it still works for this technique.

Begin by laying your stencil over any type of paper, and with a flat brush, paint a thin coat of gloss medium over the stencil, which will take about an hour, depending on how thick you applied the medium.

Also try drawing freehand onto your paper using a condiment bottle filled with gloss medium. The lines you create will take a bit longer to dry because the medium is thicker, but the results are worth the wait.

Once the gloss medium is completely dry, apply a light coat of acrylic paint over the gloss medium. Then use a wet shop towel to wipe away the excess wet paint, revealing the design underneath. Each collage paper will show different amounts of the white paper beneath the glue still on your paper, giving it depth and texture.

One of the joys of this method is the element of surprise – you never quite know how the paint will interact with the gloss medium until you start wiping it away. Each one tells a different story, with colors and textures that are uniquely captivating.

Subscribe to my YouTube and get notified every time I go live for my Tune in Tuesday art demos!